Inspired Movies about Women Entrepreneurs

I love watching movies that inspire me, as a woman business owner, to take action and try something new with my small business. We live in a world where we often sit behind a screen, watching others do things. Why? It’s not necessary. We are here to do it, and we can do it if we put our minds to it. Here are my top inspired movies about women entrepreneurs. Feel free to click on the image or title of the movie to watch the trailer and read more about the film/TV/documentaries on IMDb. 

Note: These films feature entrepreneurial women. They do not include men entrepreneurs. While there are many movies about men succeeding in their respective fields, I want to focus on women entrepreneurs.

Incredible Inspired Movies for Women Entrepreneurs

Coco Before Chanel 

It’s a story of Coco Chanel‘s rise from unclear beginnings to fame in the fashion world. She changed the world of fashion and never looked back. 

Julie and Julia

This movie is my current favorite.  Julie and Julia come from not knowing what they wanted and then finding their passion and moving into it even if they didn’t know what they were doing.  They persisted and succeeded.  

This film contrasts the life of chef Julia Child and young writer, Julie Powell.

Legally Blonde 

This is another one I loved when I was in college. It reminded me that even if you are judged, you can change others’ opinions or leave and still succeed, and you can achieve when you are a nice person, too.  This movie was written about Amanda Brown, who also wrote the screenplay. While she did not become a lawyer, she did become an author.

Erin Brockovich

An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and helps bring down a California power company accused of polluting a city’s water supply. Fight for what you believe , even if you think no one is listening. Here is some more information about Erin Brockovich.

Joy

It’s about Joy, who rose to become the founder and matriarch of a powerful family business dynasty. This one inspires me to go beyond, and if you have a vision, go for it. Find a way to make your vision or product a reality. Here is the story of Joy Mangano, the subject of the movie.

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madame CJ Walker

Self Made is a Netflix mini-series, not a movie. An incredible story about an African American washerwoman who rises from poverty to build a beauty empire (Glossine product) and become the first female self-made millionaire. While there were mixed reviews online, I felt that it showed the resourcefulness of this remarkable woman. I saw this one when it was released, but I forgot to add it here. It is a really good series. While it is what happened, to learn more about her life, click here.

Please note that these are affiliate links through Amazon, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.

Inspired Documentaries and Movies about Women Actresses and Singers

I am adding a new section on entrepreneurs to this post. They are actresses, authors, and singers. If you know anything about being an actress or singer, they are self-employed individuals who appear on TV, in Movies, write books, and perform at Stadiums. So, let’s add them to our Inspired Movies about Women Entrepreneurs. Below are some I found recently.

These movies are currently streaming, and hopefully, they will continue to be shown.

Audrey

This documentary is about Audrey Hepburn, a wonderful actress who was also a fashion icon and humanitarian. Right now, it is on Netflix. She starred in such successful films as “My Fair Lady” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” These were my mom’s and mother-in-law’s favorite movies.

Cher: Life in the Spotlight

Another excellent star is Cher. She is a legend. This documentary discusses her struggles with crippling stage fright and how she evolved into one of the most powerful figures in Hollywood. I loved watching it because you can see how much passion she has for women succeeding in a predominantly male industry.

Judy Blume Forever

This story is about a beloved author who was considered the most banned book author. She shared real stories about third graders and their experiences into adulthood over her lifetime of writing. This documentary shared, in her own words, how she evolved her career while raising her kids, experiencing two divorces, and ultimately finding her life partner. Now in her 80s, she remains sharp and kind, serving as an incredible inspiration to anyone who aspires to be an author.

Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over

This documentary interview shared the life story of the excellent singer. It shares her personal story in her own words, detailing how she encountered prejudiced people in the industry. It demonstrated her support for AIDS research and shared several discussions with famous people she had influenced throughout their careers. Showing if you have power, use it for good, and spread wealth and knowledge to others.

Dolly Parton, Here I Am

This documentary interview shared Dolly’s life and the way she learned to separate her business from her personal life. You are probably aware of Dolly Parton, but you may not know that she has written over 3,000 songs throughout her career. She was able to be a songwriter, actress, business owner, and so much more over her career. Some of the songs she wrote were performed successfully by other artists. Her song, “I Will Always Love You,” was licensed to Whitney Houston in the 1980s, and Dolly said she became rich from the popularity of Whitney Houston’s version. Although she was not an activist, she did frequently discuss women’s equality in her songs. She is a very real person who everyone adores.

Inspired Movies about Women in a Man’s World.

I believe this movie is worthy of being included on this list of inspiring movies about women. While these women are not entrepreneurs, they are brilliant individuals who challenged society and, through their strength, changed the viewpoint for all of us. This, in turn, allowed us to work independently and be our boss.  The movie is, drum roll, please…

Hidden Figures

The strength of these fine ladies changed how men and society view us in the workplace. Although we are not equal, this movie demonstrates how far we have come since our beginnings.  I hope to see women truly equal in the workplace one day.

Temple Grandin

Although this has been around since 2010, I’ve only just seen it. It’s an inspiring TV film about an autistic woman who has become one of the top scientists in the humane livestock handling industry.

Inspired Movies for Women Entrepreneur Movies Honorable Mentions

While conducting additional research, I discovered more movies you may want to watch. While they are not documentaries or about real women entrepreneurs, they are great movies to motivate you to take the plunge into the entrepreneur world!

First Wives Club

This comedic movie is about three middle-aged women who team up to create an agency to exact revenge on their exes. It’s nice to see their determination, despite the somewhat negative topic.

Chocolat

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. It’s about a woman and her daughter who move into a town just in time for Lent, and she opens a chocolate shop. Watching this movie, you realize how important timing is when starting your business. And how having a unique product makes a world of difference.

Baby Boom

It’s a movie about a woman who inherits a baby from a distant relative. She left her corporate life and moved out of the city, and created a new baby food business that became famous. It’s not a true story, but it could be. This was one of my favorites when I was a teenager. It showed me that women can succeed no matter what obstacles or changes occur in their lives.  

Well, that is it for now. I will update this post as new files come out. I saw most of them, but will be checking out the other people in the future.

Looking for someone fabulous women business entrepreneur inspiration? Check out our series called “Small Business Owner Interview Series” and get tips to help your start-up business!

What are your favorite movies about women entrepreneurs? Please leave the name of the movie below.

Please note that these are affiliate links through Amazon. At no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.

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