13 Best Business Documentaries to Watch on Netflix & Learn

There is so much content to consume but so little time, especially for entrepreneurs. Netflix has an abundance of business documentaries that are educational and lets you learn many things. Entrepreneurs are always on the watch out for learning new things. A good documentary is a great way to learn and entertain yourself at the same time. 

13 Best Entrepreneurs Documentaries for Entrepreneurs – 

If you have time on hand, invest in a good business documentary rather than wasting that time. Here is a list of the 13 best business documentaries to watch on Netflix and learn that also motivates you and enhances your business acumen. 

1. Becoming Warren Buffett (2017)

This documentary is about the legendary investor, Warren Buffet. It chronicles the life of Buffet, his transformation from a boy who came from Nebraska with ambitions and an obsession with numbers to one of the most famous and richest men in the world

There are many helpful lessons entrepreneurs can learn from this documentary. His modesty, his ambition, and dedication are incredible, he still lives a modest life and drives himself to work every day. 

2. Generation Startup (2016) 

This start-up documentary is insightful and inspiring. Learn about the struggles and turmoils of launching a start-up. It revolves around six college graduates who are ambitious entrepreneurs for 17 months. They risk everything to start companies in Detroit. 

Generation Startup shows the highs and lows of millennial entrepreneurs. It documents their struggles, their fears or uncertainty, and their doubts. The documentary celebrates the go-getter spirit of millennials. It will inspire you to get out of your comfort zone much like these young talents from the documentary. Watch this documentary to draw inspiration and motivation. 

3. Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)

This is one of the best business documentaries to watch to know what goes on in the mind of brilliant Bill Gates. The documentary follows this extraordinary man’s journey through little snippets from his childhood, education, experiences at Microsoft, and his family. 

As an audience, you get to see the real Bill Gates sans his larger-than-life persona. A simple man who tirelessly works on finding solutions to world problems and strives to bring about change in the world. 

4. Print the legend (2014)

This one is for people, especially from the printing background. It focuses on the 3D printing revolution in America. It explores how companies are swiftly pushing 3D printing into our lives and our desktops. This technology is here to stay and transform our lives, some may argue that it will have negative effects on us. 

More than anything else, it portrays the American ideal that encourages building your dream from zero and promoting newer ways of doing things. It does not just show what goes on behind the scenes of the 3D printing industry but also the larger-than-life personalities running the industry. These people and corporations aim to change the world with 3D printing but that comes with a lot of personal struggle. This documentary will motivate you to take that bold step towards building your dream. 

5. Burt’s Buzz (2013)

Burt’s Buzz pays tribute to the man behind Burt’s Bees, Burt Shavitz. It documents the journey of Burt Shavitz’s double life; a passionate beekeeper and reluctant co-owner of the world’s most famous brand Burt’s Bees. It tells you his life story, he enjoyed solitude and gave up almost all of the technology. He hated the comforts that he got from being middle class. 

The documentary also explores his strained relationship with the other co-owner Roxanne Quimby who eventually sold the brand to Clorox

6. Betting on Zero (2017)

Betting on Zero revolves around hedge fund titan Bill Ackman who is on a mission to expose Herbalife, a nutritional giant. He believes it is the largest pyramid scheme ever made. In response, Herbalife claims Ackman only wants to make them bankrupt and manipulate the market. 

This business documentary on Netflix will open your eyes to the complex world of pyramid schemes and how big companies deceive people with multi-level marketing schemes. They take advantage of poor and desperate people is what this documentary focuses on. 

7. The Creative Brain (2019)

Creativity is the key to any successful business. This documentary explores creativity through different people who have put their creative minds to use across different professions. David Eagleman, an author, neuroscientist, and successful entrepreneur decodes the creative process by meeting dynamic and creative professionals. It will motivate viewers to push their creative limits. This 52 minutes long documentary shows how the human brain works towards and against creativity. 

8. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

This documentary chronicles the life of revered sushi chef, Jiro Ono who runs a Michelin star restaurant in Tokyo. It shows his stubbornness and dedication to his craft. It takes the audience through his sheer perseverance to make the perfect sushi. 

This documentary also shows his relationship with his son who finds it difficult to live up to his father’s legacy. The brilliant documentation of Jiro Ono’s life struggles to become the best sushi chef in the world is cathartic to watch. The sacrifices he makes in the pursuit of perfection will motivate you to strive for perfection in whatever you do. The documentary is thought-provoking and fascinating. 

9. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005)

This cracking documentary tells the tale of Enron and other executives who ran the giant Enron Corporation. Documenting the fall of this company and shows the world the corporate corruption in America. These arrogant traders resort to unethical practices to make money and maintain their jobs.

The men behind the fraudulent company think they are the smartest guys in the room but after many magic tricks, the world learns the truth behind the crookedness of this business. This documentary is based on a best-selling book by the same name. The documentary unabashedly documents the rise and fall of Enron Corporation which was one of the seventh-largest American companies. Viewers can learn about the malpractices and underhand practices that such giants follow. The sheer greed and lavish lifestyles of the top executives land the company in trouble.

Many lessons to learn from this documentary, especially about greed, selfishness, and corruption in the corporate world

11. Food, Inc. (2008)

Food, Inc. will make you realize how much of our daily food is manipulated by big corporates. Filmmaker Robert Kenner studies the unflattering American companies that control the food industry. It gives you an insight into the food industry, how everything that comes to our plate from the farm to the processing units is all highly controlled for the benefit of these corporates. 

There are interviews with regular Americans regarding their diets and comments from experts. The unsettling imagery seen in this documentary about meat processing plants will leave you questioning your food choices. It will open your eyes to the somber world of monopolizing the food industry. There are many avenues regarding the food industry that this documentary tries to explore. Be ready to ask yourself ethical questions pertaining to food. Our fast-paced lives have made the narcissistic corporations enter the food industry and supply us with large quantities of produce. 

All entrepreneurs can learn and motivate themselves to work towards making society better rather than filling their own pockets. 

12. Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru (2016)

Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru gives viewers an insider look at everything that goes behind the scenes from Tony Robbins seminar ‘Date with Destiny’. It was attended by more than 4,500 people in Boca Raton Florida. This business documentary on Netflix perfectly captures Tony Robbins efforts to make the show and how he has a magical effect on his audience. 

If you are an entrepreneur and trying to improve your current situation and need some motivation, Tony Robbins is here to help. He has helped millions of people with his powerful approach to achieve success. He helps people take charge of their lives by evoking feelings of motivation. 

The documentary showcases his preparation and efforts behind making every show successful. His magnetic personality and intuitive genius will win you over. 

13. Freakonomics (2010)

Freakonomics is an adaptation of Stephen Levitt and Stephen Dubner’s best-selling book with the same title. The documentary aims at studying human behavior through interesting case studies. The documentary has segments exploring parenting, bribery, crime, race, and decent life. 

Four documentary filmmakers have worked on this documentary, putting together pieces of puzzles about human behavior. It explores the connection between science and economics that prompts our behavior. The combination of thoughtful analysis with humor works well throughout the movie.

The four segments of this documentary explore various aspects of behavior, Morgan Spurlock uses his style of comical satire to explore the unpleasant consequences of baby names and the disparity between whites and blacks. The corruption in the world of sumo wrestling is studied by Alex Gibney. Eugene Jarecki offers a shocking and controversial take on why the crime rate had dropped in the 1990s. Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing experiment offering money to school students to motivate them to improve their grades. It is fun to watch for understanding human psychology. 

Conclusion 

These 13 best business documentaries that you can watch on Netflix are inspirational and provocative. These tantalizing documentaries are great for entrepreneurs who need motivation and wish to learn something new. There are many life lessons and business lessons that will make you think and push your boundaries. 

Netflix is a great place to watch such documentaries and invest your time and energy in promising documentaries. Take your mind off the daily struggles and invoke the passion for business through these fantastic documentaries.