Eight Great Films That Any Modern Marketer Should Watch

by Jericho Miles

Most moviegoers use the cinema as a getaway from their daily lives, particularly after a long day at the office. However, the best films might motivate us to do better at our work. Watching movies is a unique and refreshing way to think about your career and learn new things about yourself. We've gathered a selection of the top movies that can inspire a modern marketer, such as a CT marketing agency and other local marketing agencies.

1. The Social Network

The Social Network tells the exciting story of how Facebook, a website that changed the world of digital marketing, came to be. As a marketer, it's interesting to see how Facebook got started, what its founders thought when they made it, the steps they took to build it, and all the ups and downs it went through on its way to becoming a social media company it is today. The Social Network shows that Facebook's rise to the top of the tech world wasn't easy, from its humble but promising emergence to its rapid growth.

2. Moneyball

The Oakland A's won the most baseball games in 2022, highlighted by a 20-game winning streak. They broke an American League record, making the team possess the third-lowest payroll in the Major baseball Leagues. In a sector dominated by teams with massive payrolls, how did this team become the best in the game? 

They carefully calculated their moves, making data-driven decisions. 

Moneyball recounts the start of an analytical approach to winning baseball that's become the status-quo nowadays. Oakland's A swapped the instinctual, conventional way of scouting baseball players for among the most unusual routes during the early 2000s.

By signing inexpensive and undervalued baseball players based on metrics signaling success to only Oakland's A and no one else — they got the most returns for each dollar spent.

So, in a sense, baseball and marketing have many in common. After all, before data drove vital decision-making, intuition did. Then, when some brave trailblazers chose data as the replacement, a massive wave of backlash went crashing down on them. But it proved worthwhile, becoming the most crucial component in decision-making for both sectors today. 

3. Up in the Air

Nowadays, it seems everyone's striving for a more balanced life. But Ryan Bingham, the main protagonist of Up in the Air, thinks differently. He works for an HR consultancy agency that helps businesses conduct employee layoffs. He almost fires his client's employees daily, so Bingham doesn't have a permanent address or a family. And he loves it! 

He believes relationships with people aren't worthwhile, considering them taxing. Bingham even conducts motivational speeches to get others to follow his unique life mantra.

But everything changed when he started a casual relationship and mentored a new hire who often challenged his values and experienced heavy moments with both. From there, he began questioning his life-long philosophy.

This movie is thought-provoking, reminding us that hard work and motivation can help you succeed. But your most precious moments will always revolve around your loved ones — not your job or career. 

4. Thank You For Smoking

Nick Naylor is a tobacco lobbyist who has a knack for persuading others. Throughout the film, you see how he cleverly defends the tobacco business in schools, TV shows, and a Senate hearing! 

Some may think that the movie is just a massive advertisement for cigarettes. But its core message is a lot deeper than that. The film showcases how knowing how to spin products correctly can convince anyone it's good for them — even if it can kill them! And that's the encouraging but harmful part of marketing: people want to trust others and get swayed. 

5. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, was one of the most visionary product designers and marketers. 

In his self-titled biographical movie, Steve Jobs' notorious personality is always shown. The film delves into the complicated reasonings for his poor psyche, provoking sympathy for him despite his brutal treatment of his employees and cold attitude towards his loved ones. And more importantly, you see how much he affected Apple, technology, and the world. 

6. The Pursuit of Happyness

Chris Gardner, a well-known American businessman, has one of the most tear-jerking and inspirational life stories ever! While watching The Pursuit of Happyness, his biographical film, you experience the euphoric highs and lows of his life as a homeless and unpaid intern — all while raising a 5-year-old son alone. But despite his hardships, Gardner pushed through and is now one of the most successful entrepreneurs. 

You can get an insight into marketing and the competition within the sector when watching this film. 

7. The Joneses

The Joneses' are the family everyone strives to become. They look fantastic, are charming, and overall have a perfect life. But too bad, everything's fake! They're professional salespeople leveraging their popularity and influence to promote products within their community. Trust me. You haven't seen peak influencer marketing until watching this flick!

8. The Founder

You get to see the life of Ray Kroc, a 52-year-old milkshake machine salesman, in The Founder, depicting his life after discovering McDonald's, a small yet incredibly efficient burger joint, and how he transformed into the most successful fast-food empire in the world today!

But even if his grit and determination to catapult the small burger place into the chain restaurant it's famous for today is admirable, his choices were despicable. Throughout the flick, you learn that the McDonald's empire comes from many shady business moves. 

It makes you wonder where to draw the line between achieving your dream and being morally good. And this is especially crucial when you're looking to establish yourself as a reputable marketer. 

Conclusion

If you're experiencing challenges in your business life, analyze them and tweak them to ensure you find the best way to troubleshoot the problem. And with the listed movies, you can improve your digital marketing skills and enjoy the process! So, what are you waiting for? Start indulging in these fantastic informative movies in your spare time for a fun time and newly gained marketing skills!