The holiday season is coming. Magic is in the air. And as we’re wrapping up 2024 while spending our time off with our family and friends, nothing is better than to sit back, relax, and enjoy good films with your loved ones. However, with many movies out there to choose from, you might spend a lot of time scrolling through your streaming sites and end up with no idea what to watch. To help narrow down your options, we’ve come up with a list of inspiring films about work that everyone should see.
Without further ado, let’s get right to it.
1. The Intern 
Warner Bros. Pictures
Let’s start off with a film starring the legendary actor, Robert De Niro. The Intern tells the story of Ben Whittaker (De Niro), a senior citizen who jumps back into the world of work again after realizing that his retirement life is too quiet. But here’s the fun part, Ben applies for an internship role at an online fashion startup company, where he meets a CEO who doesn’t believe he can fit in.
So, what’s the takeaway here? For those of you who run a business or a company, someone with rare skills or sought-after traits might walk into your door as an entry-level. So, it’s a good idea to not look over anyone, but rather value and learn from those with diverse experiences including older members who can bring wisdom and perspective, or young members who present their creative fresh ideas. It emphasizes the importance of adaptability and continuous learning, regardless of age, and showcases how mentorship can be a two-way street.
2. The Wolf of Wall Street
Paramount Pictures
An award-winning director, Martin Scorsese joins forces with Leonardo DiCaprio once again to tell a chaotic story behind the Wall Street battlefield by leaning towards a true event of Joran Belfort, a scandalous stockbroker for L.F. Rothschild, who made a big splash in the US stockbroking scene back in 1987.
The film demonstrates the power of motivation and building a competitive workforce, even in a high-pressure environment like the stock market. While Belfort’s methods often crossed ethical boundaries, his ability to inspire confidence and reward hard work offers a lesson in team encouragement. Leaders should focus on fostering motivation and appreciation while maintaining integrity. The famous “Sell me this pen” exercise is another takeaway, showcasing the importance of identifying candidates who understand their craft and think strategically—a valuable lesson for any professional evaluating talent.
3. The Social Network 
Sony Pictures
The Social Network sees Jesse Eisenberg step into the shoes of Mark Zuckerberg under the helms of David Fincher. This Academy-winning drama tells the story of the rise of one of the most widely used and most famous social media platforms.
As we follow Facebook in its early days, we’ll see how Zuckerberg gets the site up and running while new elements, challenges, and people are jumping on the hype train. The movie offers a good lesson for business owners out there: starting off a business isn’t a walk in the park, and you’ll surely deal with many challenges while many people will take advantage of your successful idea. It also demonstrates the importance of teamwork, effective communication, as well as mutual respect in building up important projects and achieving success.
4. The Pursuit of Happyness
Columbia Pictures
Will Smith turns an inspiring true story of Chris Gardner, the founder of Gardner Rich & Co, into a film that focuses on a father-and-son relationship where he stars alongside his son (Jaden Smith.) Directed by an Italian Filmmaker, Gabriele Muccino, the movie follows Gardner as he hits rock bottom and struggles to get back up on his feet by applying as an intern at a stockbroking firm.
While tackling many obstacles like losing his apartment, parting ways with his wife, and being homeless, Gardner always finds the strength to fight for a better life for himself and his son.
This inspiring story underscores the value of determination, hard work, and optimism in overcoming challenges. For office workers, it’s a reminder that resilience and perseverance really pay off. Just stay committed to personal and professional goals, even in the face of adversity, and you can achieve your goals in the end.
5. Up in the Air 
Paramount Pictures
Constantly firing people doesn’t sound like a pleasant task, but this is exactly what George Clooney has to do as a job in this movie. The director, Jason Reitman takes us through a comedy-drama story of Ryan Bingham (Clooney), a Corporate Downsizer who takes his young co-worker (Anna Kendrick) around the country and shows her why it’s important to meet individuals in person when it comes to firing them instead of just doing it through an online meeting.
The movie emphasizes that workforce reductions are among the hardest decisions a company faces, affecting both employees and the organization. It reminds us to see employees as individuals with value and approach such decisions with empathy and care. The film also sheds light on how professional life can feel detached without meaningful relationships. It encourages office workers to prioritize empathy and human connection in their interactions, as well as to strike a balance between work and personal life.
Conclusion
Well, that’s a wrap on our list. We hope that you enjoy these films and find inspiration in their key messages to help you grow and stay motivated once you get back to work. We wish you joyful holidays and hope that you’ll get a full recharge and be ready to take on an exciting and successful new year!
