Looking for something entrepreneurial to watch? I’m excited to share with you my 9 favourite inspirational movies and TV shows of all time! If you’re a girl boss or aspire to be one, hopefully you’ll love this list and get fired up!
These awesome movies and tv shows have inspired me one way or another with creative ideas and motivate me to do better in business. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of inspirational movies and tv shows that empower women to fulfil their dreams and potential, right?
So today I’m sharing 9 of my favourite entrepreneurial movies and tv shows that I think every girl boss should watch:
9 Inspirational Movies and TV Shows Every Girl Boss Should Watch:
1, Joy
You know that excitement you get when watching something that fires you up.
WELL, THIS WAS IT!
This movie will definitely get you fired up as it literally shows when Joy first discovered her dream, then realising its potential of becoming something, to actually turning it into a business. Absolutely admire her perseverance and fierceness in life and when it comes to building her business.
Joy was based on the true story of the Miracle Mop which is even more inspiring! Be sure to check this movie out!
Inspiring Quotes from Joy:
“Don’t ever think that the world owes you anything, because it doesn’t. The world doesn’t owe you a thing.”
“Never speak, on my behalf, about my business, again.”
2, Molly’s Game
OKAAAAY! So many lightbulb moments came up when watching this movie!
Molly’s Game was based on a true story of professional skier Molly Bloom who ran one of the most exclusive Poker empires in the world. Her underground high-stakes Poker game attracted many billionaires, business entrepreneurs, Hollywood celebrities and even a Russian mob at one point.
My friend and I saw this movie at the cinema a while back and we just couldn’t stop talking about it afterwards. Let’s be honest, we couldn’t stop talking DURING the movie either. We kept looking at each other and saying “Oh my gosh, that’s so smart!!”. So much marketing and branding gold in this one movie.
Even though gambling isn’t something we’re interested in or support for that matter, the mastermind behind how her business came about was just astounding and you can learn so much from it. Of course, stay away from the dodgy stuff!
Inspiring Quotes from Molly’s Game:
“Life is about making choices, seeing those choices through, and living through consequences.”
“I have been hugely successful at times in my life, and I have also been in ruins. But the lessons I learned on the way up were just as valuable on the way down.”
“I’ve been rich; I’ve been poor. I’ve been successful; I’ve been decimated. And the way I felt inside didn’t change dramatically. It’s less stressful to have money, that’s for sure. But that doesn’t mean I felt fulfilled. So I’ve learned to live in the smaller moments of life.”
“I know for sure that you have to re-define power as power that comes from within. Success needs to be more comprehensive and attached to something with meaning.”
“I think, before I had money, I believed that money would solve my problems, that it would give me power and I wouldn’t have financial stress anymore, and it would completely change my life. And then, when I had money, it changed a lot of things, but it didn’t change the way I felt inside at all.”
3, The Intern
“Under promise and over deliver” was one of the biggest business tips you can learn from The Intern. Such a simple thing Jules did with her customers in terms of product delivery that made a huge difference in her business!
As much as this movie was about Ben being a senior intern in her company, it was about how Jules balances her life, family and success. It showed that not everyone can do it well and have it altogether. Another powerful takeaway from The Intern is that “You are doing way better than you think”.
Sometimes you just need that little encouragement to keep you going. Go and watch this movie!
Inspiring Quote from The Intern:
“You should feel nothing but great about what you’ve done, and I’d hate to see you let anyone take that away from you.”
4, Girlboss
Looking for something fun and lighthearted to watch on Netflix? You may want to check out Girlboss.
Inspired by the true story of the Nasty Gal brand, Girlboss talks about the humble beginnings of how Sophia Amoruso started her clothing business with absolutely nothing, worked her butt off and later turned it into a multi-million dollar fashion empire! You can easily get through Girlboss as it’s not super long. You’ll see a glimpse of the struggles and successes in both her personal and business journey throughout the show.
Whether you’re just starting out or trying to build something of your own, never compare yourself with others and remember that everyone has a start.
If you love fashion and want to start a business, watch this Netflix show!
Inspiring Quote from Girlboss:
“No matter where you are in life, you’ll save a lot of time by not worrying too much about what other people think about you. The earlier in your life that you can learn that, the easier the rest of it will be.”
5, On the Basis of Sex
If you’re feeling a bit down and in need of some encouragement today, I highly recommend watching this movie!
On the Basis of Sex was inspired by a true story set in the late 1950s when women had many restrictions in society because of their gender and status. Having a supportive partner helps when it comes to going after your dreams but nothing beats believing yourself first. Despite the challenges along the way, Ruth overcame all that and fought for what she believes! You’ll be motivated to pursue your dreams and goals after this movie!
Inspiring Quotes from On the Basis of Sex:
“Don’t pretend it’s a movement, okay? It’s not a movement if everyone’s just sitting. That’s a support group.”
“You’re ready for this. You’ve been ready for this your whole life, so go on in there and let the judges see the Ruth Ginsburg I know.”
6, Self Made
Looking for a miniseries on Netflix? You’ll finish this show in no time and probably want more of it!
Self Made was inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker and its story is about an African-American woman trying to build her own empire in a time where women had very little power and voice (let alone being an African-American). This miniseries shows how Madam C.J. Walker overcame many life obstacles and broke down the barriers of race and gender to becoming America’s first self made female millionaire.
You absolutely don’t want to miss this one on Netflix!
Inspiring Quotes from Self Made:
“Don’t let nobody steal your dream!”
“I didn’t come here to make sandwiches, I came here to do business.”
“You can’t plant a seed today and expect fruit tomorrow.”
7, The Founder
Whether you like the restaurant McDonald’s or not, you should totally watch The Founder! You’ll discover how this restaurant first started in the 1950s and how it later became a global phenomenon.
One of the things I’ve learned and I wished I had learned it sooner as an entrepreneur was creating systems for my business. When the McDonald’s brothers created the fully automated system for their restaurant, it was a game changer for them and one main reason got them to where the organisation is today! Creating systems for your business will save you a lot of heartache. Do it if you haven’t already done so!
Having a vision for your business is also super important. I love when Ray Kroc shared his vision about McDonald’s brand personality, it was amazing seeing how true that the brand has really become more than just a burger and milkshake joint. Literally anyone in the world would recognise those golden arches from afar and perhaps get a little more excited when they see them on the highway!
Inspiring Quotes from The Founder:
“It could be said that that beautiful building flanked by those arches signifies more or less the same thing. It doesn’t just say, delicious hamburgers inside. They signify family. It signifies community. It’s a place where Americans come together to break bread. I am telling you, McDonald’s can be the new American church, feeding bodies and feeding souls. And it ain’t just open on Sundays, boys. It’s open seven days a week.”
“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent won’t. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius won’t.”
“Persistence and determination alone are all powerful. Show that you don’t have to be defeated by anything.”
“If you attempt each and every day to achieve these things, the results will make themselves obvious to you.”
8, The Rational Life
If you don’t mind watching shows with subtitles, The Rational Life is a fantastic Chinese Netflix drama about a 30 something year old career woman trying to make it in the world! Despite the show being set in China, you most likely have also experienced sticky situations in the workplace in your country. Not to mention the pressure under social expectations on your relationships, marriage and life decisions by everyone. Oh, the struggle is real!
The Rational Life was a show I just stumbled across and I’m so glad I did because I love shows about lady bosses and how they play with the cards they are dealt. This Netflix drama encapsulated the true meaning of patience, resilience and perseverance. Seriously, what a superwoman Shen Ruo Xin is!
Inspiring Quotes from The Rational Life:
“As they say, we are all but little ducks swimming. Others only see what’s above the water. Peacefulness and the leisure of living. But no one knows what happens beneath the water. How our feet desperately struggling to paddle. No matter the difficulty, we can always overcome it because everything will pass.”
“Life can be unpredictable. Sometimes, you stray away from the planned route as you go along. But I think it’s not so bad when you derail. Sometimes, don’t you think it’s a blessing in disguise?”
“A truly independent woman does not need to be attached to a strong man to live her life.”
“”Strong woman?” These are not easy words. If men are strong, people say that it’s only natural. But if women are strong, we get oppressed by others. If men have goals and ambitions, we praise them. But if women have goals and ambitions, people will be on guard. Ms Shen, if you’re taking me as an example, the first thing you have to do is to not be swayed by others’ comments. Don’t retract and surrender just because you’re a woman and you haven’t reached your goals.”
“I keep saying that my dream is in Shanghai. What’s my dream? Is it a promotion or a raise? Is it to get married and have kids here? Is it for everyone to see the webtoons I drew? Yes and no. My dream is to become a better version of myself. One I can be proud of! One who can handle life’s struggles, grab all opportunities, and see a bigger stage! Then do everything possible to get a hold of it.”
9, Nothing But Thirty
Another binge-worthy show for you to watch if you don’t mind reading subtitles. Nothing But Thirty is a heartwarming Chinese drama that you’ll fall in love with and hopefully inspire you to live a life with no regrets. This show talks about friendships, love, marriage, family, wealth, career, wants and needs in life. Nothing But Thirty is a story about three almost-30-year-old women living their everyday lives in the busy city of Shanghai and how they navigate this new chapter with their different personalities and backgrounds.
One of my favourite characters, Gu Jia, is a full-time homemaker who’s super smart, independent and determined. Every time she speaks and handles a sticky situation, she just gives me that lady boss kick-ass vibe! However despite all that, her vulnerability was shown through a few rock bottom moments in the show and it was so heartbreaking to watch because of how real those scenes were. There’s seriously so much to love about Nothing But Thirty! Just watch it, you won’t regret it!
*This show isn’t on Netflix but you can watch it on Viki or Youtube for free. Make sure to avoid reading the synopsis, reviews or comments if you don’t want any spoilers!
Inspiring Quotes from Nothing But Thirty:
“No matter what circumstance a woman finds herself in, all of us should have the right to our dreams.”
“I’m willing to pay for my mistakes. Every step that someone takes, they’ll have to pay for it. I’ll pay for mine.”
“In the future, all of you will pay too. You feel that you have shortcuts and backing. That’s called distortion of values. Just like me. One day you will be corrected. What is different is I can still leave when I still have my own name. What about everyone else? You only survive through taking your husband’s last name, living within the radius of your husband’s worth.”
Grab your popcorn and enjoy!
How cool is that even in the midst of procrastination (and simply enjoyment), you can still get inspired with creative ideas and motivated to do better with your business.
I’ve shared my favourite inspirational movies and tv shows of all time, what are yours? 🙂
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“She remembered who she was and the game changed” by Lalah Delia
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