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Movies are great entertainers. And there’s nothing better than unwinding with a great movie over the weekend. Make it even better. Here’s a list of 13 classic movies that not only promise to be enjoyable, but will also leave you with valuable lessons on life and entrepreneurship. Happy viewing!

Wall Street (1987)
“Wake up, will ya, pal? If you’re not inside, you’re outside, okay?” These lines by Gordon Gekko in Wall Street continue to inspire. Yes, his “greed, for lack of a better word, is good,” may not sound like the perfect principle in life, but this Oliver Stone movie was a realistic portrayal of the world “out there.” The movie also underlines the importance of steering clear of the destructive values of business and capitalism, and how important it is to not lose sight of other things when you are getting lost in the thrill of the game.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)
The sequel to the classic, Wall Street is set against the backdrop of the 2008 global economic meltdown. Starring Michael Douglas again, along with Shia LaBeouf, the movie makes the audience reflect on “Is greed good?” the title of the book Gekko, out of prison and now a lecturer and an author, has written. This is a perfect weekend-watch, when you can mull over your priorities and have a good look at yourself in the mirror!

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
The movie, adapted from a play by the same title, looks at four salesmen in a New York real estate office and their desperation to come out winners and get good sales leads in a sales contest in the company. The first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado and second prize is a set of steak knives, but the third prize means getting the boot!

With enormous pressure to succeed, these salesmen (played by Jack Lemmon, Al Pacino, Ed Harris and Alan Arkin) portray all that shouldn’t be done and how a strict management may not always get people to deliver. The movie tells you that while success should be the only option, running a business also stands for honesty.

Tucker—The Man and his Dream (1988)
Based on a true story, this Francis Coppola movie personifies the entrepreneurial spirit. It looks at the life of Preston Tucker, who designs cars, post-World War II. When the U.S. government asks for designs for combat vehicles, Preston Tucker—played by Jeff Bridges—knows his moment has come. With ultimate salesmanship skills and the help of a financier, he manages to build his factory for the same. Ironically, his design is turned down since it outperforms the requirements! The movie is also said to be inspired by Coppola’s efforts to make a movie studio of his own. In fact, the movie’s tagline states: “When they tried to buy him, he refused. When they tried to bully him, he resisted. When they tried to break him, he became an American legend.” Truly inspirational, this!

Forrest Gump (1994)
Described as a comedy-drama, this movie is a classic, with lessons at every corner. With Tom Hanks playing the lead role of Forrest Gump, a man with low IQ but a heart of gold, the movie brings out the importance of good intentions. While Robert Zemeckis adds humor to situations borne from his interactions with a man who isn’t exactly bright, he also hints at the importance of being committed to what you want and having the focus to achieve the same—it’s all right if others think you are mentally challenged. The movie went on to win multiple awards and is said to be one of the defining movies of Tom Hanks’s career. Watch it to understand how easy it is to be in touch with the basic tenets of life.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Not only does this Will Smith movie make a lot of entrepreneurs identify with the challenges that the protagonist Christopher Gardner faces, but also with the emotional journey one goes through while pursuing one’s dreams. It also highlights the fact that one should enjoy and understand the pursuit as much as the “happiness,” for the former lasts longer. Based on the life of Christopher Paul Gardner, an entrepreneur, millionaire and philanthropist, the movie is a must-watch for a soul-cleansing session.

Rocket Singh—Salesman of the Year (2009)
This Hindi movie turned all the clichés about Sardars, sales and office politics on their head and made a blockbuster that is as inspiring as it is entertaining. A commerce graduate, Harpreet Singh Bedi, played by Ranbir Kapoor, stands for all that is naïve and innocent in the mad, bad world of sales. But instead of joining those he can’t beat, the movie shows how this young salesman manages to build a small company that becomes the biggest competitor to his own quasi-employer—with all his values and principles in place. A great example of how it isn’t that tough to be successful and honest.

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
This is more than just the lilting whistle melody which will stay with you long after the movie is over. Portraying leadership in testing times, this movie is a timeless classic for its significance in any given situation. Based on World War II, the movie deals with British prisoners of war at a Japanese camp, and how under Colonel Nicholson’s leadership, the prisoners construct a bridge to connect the Burma-Siam railway—only to have it destroyed by the Allies. While it would’ve been so easy for the British to sabotage the project, the bridge soon becomes a symbol of their morale and dignity under tough conditions—a point every entrepreneur needs to remember.

Lagaan (2001)
Apart from its claim to fame as being nominated for the Academy Award for best foreign language film, Lagaan struck a chord with the masses and was a hit at the box office. Not only because it was based on the two themes that Indians are obsessed about—India’s Independence story and cricket—but also because it inspired people to believe how anything can be achieved through sheer grit and determination. Lagaan is also a play-out of valuable management lessons—leadership, team spirit, strategy, HR practices and so on.

Shackleton (2002)
Based on the true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton who, with a crew of 28, went on an adventure to the Antarctic in 1914, the movie is a story of courage and presence of mind in dire situations. The story deals with the team’s ordeal on a sea that has frozen and a ship that refuses to budge. In Shackleton lies a leader who will ensure the welfare of his crew members, even at the expense of his own survival at times. Taking personal interest in his staff’s well-being, Shackleton does everything for them—from waking them up to serving them warm drinks. Ten months later, he managed to get every member of the team back to safety. A perfect lesson on how the buck does stop with you.

Seven Samurai (1954)
Directed by Akira Kurosawa, this Japanese film is now a cult classic and followed by most film institutes and film buffs. It carries lessons for entrepreneurs, too. It is based on the story of how an unemployed samurai, along with six others, protects a mountain village from bandits for three daily meals. With lessons in loyalty and bravery, Seven Samurai also inspires one to lead by example and know how to motivate, assess skills and build a team that is far bigger than any of them.

Ocean’s 11 (2001)
This should be a treat to watch—not only for its good-looking actors and perfect settings and sleek one-liners—but also for the lessons it hides behind the glitzy façade. A remake of the 1960s movie by the same name, Ocean’s 11 is a great example of teamwork, precision and planning. This cult movie, directed by Steven Soderbergh, portrays how the most ambitious plans can be pulled off, provided the ingredients are not compromised with. A thoroughly enjoyable crime-comedy movie, Ocean’s 11 should be a part of your library for some light-hearted as well as nail-biting moments that carry important lessons, too—as long as you don’t plan a heist, that is.

Children of Heaven (1997)
This Iranian movie by renowned director Majid Majidi doesn’t have any management lessons to quote. What the movie has, however, are learnings on how passion and focus drive an individual to succeed. An innocent story about a brother and sister and a pair of shoes, Children of Heaven is also an example of how one must learn to appreciate and treasure all that one has. The tattered pair of shoes, clearly, stands for a lot of other things in life.

©Entrepreneur November 2010

Tags:
Forrest Gump, Glengarry Glen Ross, Lagaan, movies, Prerna Raturi, Rocket Singh, Salesman of the Year, Shackleton, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Man and his Dream, The Pursuit of Happyness, Tucker, Wall Street, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps