5 Movies That Blend Business and Heart

by Kevin Gardner

The business world is a popular choice for filmmakers and has been for decades. Often films about business deal with the cutthroat nature of the industry and frequently, the bad guy walks away with the spoils. But there are a few rare films that are set in the business world with a message that has more to do with heart and the importance of happiness. These movies teach you that money doesn't buy happiness but also that success doesn't have to darken your soul. According to these films, you just might be able to have it all. In no particular order, here are five great movies about business and the human spirit.

1. You've Got Mail

Based on a classic black and white film called Shop Around the Corner, You've Got Mail tells the story of a small, independent bookstore owner who finds herself unknowingly falling in love with the owner of a chain of mega bookstores that are about to put her out of business. On the business level, it's a classic David and Goliath story pitting Kathleen's tiny bookshop against Joe's mega-store. But in this feel-good rom-com, you see that the megastore actually offers some valuable assets and the small business is hurt as much by Kathleen's lack of business sense as anything else. She has too many employees, pays them more than she can afford and has no idea how to upgrade her business. Some innovative marketing and a few techniques such as BOPIS and she might have been able to save her store. In the end, the lead characters put aside their business rivalry in order to explore a romantic relationship

2. Joy

Based on a true story, this film has everything to say about the power of deferred dreams and the value of perseverance. Joy has spent her life taking care of the people she loves at the expense of her own dreams. When she finally decides to go after her business dreams, she encounters so many obstacles that it would have been understandable if she had chosen to give up. Joy refuses to give up however, embracing unconventional marketing methods and alternative roads to get where she wants to be. On the surface, this is a biopic about a famous businesswoman, but at its heart, it's about the strength of bonds between family and friends and the unstoppable nature of focused intention

3. Jerry Maguire

Another romantic comedy set in the business world, Jerry Maguire is a sports agent unable to make it in the cutthroat business of professional sports representation. With the support of his loyal assistant and a single unique client, Jerry finds a way to make it big while putting his focus on taking care of the people around him. The caring qualities that he has always undervalued are the very things that win the heart of his single-mom assistant and make him the most sought-after agent in his field. This film says that you can succeed in business without losing your moral compass.

4. The Pursuit of Happyness

Another film based on a true story, this movie tells the tale of an impoverished single father trying to make it in investment banking. Through hard work, sacrifice and strength of will, the lead character propels himself into a competitive internship and a highly lucrative career that changes the lives of his family in dramatic ways. A testament to work ethic and a refutation of elitism, this film will touch your heart more than you imagine any movie about investment banking could.

5. The Intern

Starring Oscar winner Robert DeNiro, this movie is set in the hard-nosed world of fashion. An elderly widower, unfulfilled by retirement, re-enters the workforce in the youth-dominated fashion world. The young CEO of the company comes to depend on his experience, wisdom and fatherly advice. A movie about friendship, appreciating our elders and the very human need to have a purpose, The Intern is a heartwarming film sure to move you to tears.

Movies about the vicious nature of the business world abound, but if you'd like a little tenderness and a few life lessons in your movies, these films are sure to fit the bill.