Bring Your Mojo Back!
Is your sales team slacking? Are your marketers doing a "meh" job? If this is you, then it seems like your team is feeling a little uninspired. It's human, it's normal, but it won't help bring dollars, as unfortunately, this sluggishness can take a toll on your biz.
Luckily, we're here to provide a little inspiration, with a list of movies that are sure to help bring back their mojo! In this blog, Hollywood Branded shares 12 amazing movies that will help inspire your marketing team.
Movies Help Motivate!
Many of us have seen movies where salespeople and marketers are depicted as corny, corrupt, and completely ruthless. However, sales and marketing movies have their fair share of flicks that really capture the ambition, energy, and passion needed to launch a successful business or a career in this industry. Whether you’re looking for something to watch to get you motivated, have been asked for a recommendation from a member of your team or are looking for a fun and interesting movie to watch as part of a team building day or exercise, here are some of the best movies to get your sales and marketing team inspired.
Seize the Day (1987)
This movie tells the story of salesman Tommy Wilhelm who’s down on his luck after losing his job, ending his relationship, and having a nervous breakdown. After moving to New York, the story follows Wilhelm as he gets a fresh start and attempts to find the right balance when it comes to his desire for success and dealing with his personal issues. It’s definitely a great watch, even if you’re just a fan of the late and amazing Robin Williams.
Credit: Rotten Tomatoes
Love and Other Drugs (2010)
A romantic drama based on the true story of a Viagra salesman, this movie offers a different and interesting perspective on medical sales. It follows a pharmaceutical rep, played by Jake Gyllenhaal, as he becomes the top salesperson for Pfizer, shamelessly charming anybody who tries to stand between him and success – including medical professionals.
Elmer Gantry (1960)
If you’re looking for a golden oldie to watch, this 1960s drama is an ideal choice. Starring some of the best names from the time including Arthur Kennedy, Burt Lancaster and Shirley Jones, it follows the story of Elmer Gantry, a salesman who becomes a preacher, but is always peddling something.
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009)
There are plenty of comedies out there either based on or loosely based around a car dealership, but this is a fairly funny one to get into with your team. The sales team are struggling with running the dealership and there’s not much hope until Don Ready, played by Jeremy Piven, is hired to transform their Fourth of July sale into an extremely successful sales and marketing campaign.
Door to Door (2002)
This movie tells the legendary true story of real-life salesman Bill Porter, played by William H. Macy. For forty years, Bill sold Watkins Products door to door, despite suffering from a speech impediment and cerebral palsy, along with a disability as the result of being hit by a truck. The story of the man who will always be remembered as a tough and ruthless sales veteran is definitely an inspirational tale of never giving up and never letting anything stand in your way of a successful career.
Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
You can’t suggest films about sales and marketing without mentioning the Wolf of Wall Street, an energetic movie that follows the true story of Jordan Belfort, a charismatic yet corrupt stockbroker who experienced immense success before he finally served almost two years behind bars for his crimes. There are plenty of memorable sales and marketing scenes that will definitely get you and your team thinking about creative pitch ideas and more.
Joy (2015)
If you’re looking for a girl power movie, Joy is a story based loosely on the life of inventor and entrepreneur Joy Mangano, who became the founder of a hugely successful and powerful family-run company after dealing with narrow-minded executives and legal trouble. The Oscar-nominated drama is star-studded, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper.
Boiler Room (2000)
A movie about sales that could be described as one of the best about the industry, Boiler Room is a story that is all about the hard sell. It follows the story of a college dropout, played by Giovanni Ribisi, who starts working as a stockbroker, quickly picking up hard and aggressive sales tactics that he uses to strong-arm clients into making the decisions his firm wants.
The Cincinnati Kid (1965)
Norma Jewison's classic movie might be more about gambling than sales, but it’s a great story about determination and risk-taking. It follows the story of Eric ‘The Kid’ Stoner, a young, upcoming poker player who wants to make a name for himself by playing against veteran gambler and hustler Lancey ‘The Man’ Howard.
12 Angry Men (1957)
Another old classic, 12 Angry Men tells the story of Juror Number Eight, played by Henry Fonda, who realises that he is the only one who believes the innocence of a teenager who is on trial for murder and set to be sentenced to death if found guilty. The juror must persuade his fellow jurors to believe him and eventually acquit the accused. While it’s not a story directly about sales, it’s a great lesson in understanding your prospect before you pitch.
Credit: Amazon
Tommy Boy (1995)
A great movie to watch if you want a laugh, Tommy Boy stars David Spade and Chris Farley to tell the comedic story of a son who moves cross-country to attempt to save the failing family business. Unfortunately, the son doesn’t quite have the same sales prowess as his late father, resulting in a series of cringeworthy and hilariously terrible sales pitches
The Social Network (2010)
Although it’s not exactly a sales movie, The Social Network tells the story of the birth of Facebook and ultimately social media, which has become a key component in the career of any sales and marketing professional today. It follows the story of Mark Zuckerberg as a student at Harvard, creating the first social network, only to be sued by one of his co-founders and two brothers who accuse him of stealing their concept.
Whether you want some comedy relief after a hard day at work or a movie to watch for a team building exercise to get your team pumped and ready to close some sales, these are just some of the best sales and marketing related movies in almost every genre.
Eager To Learn More?
Want to learn a little bit more about movies and how to amp up your team? Check out some blogs below by our fellow HB team members!
- Creating And Maintaining Company Culture With Ian Drummond
- A Timeline Of Marvel's Top Brand Partnerships
- How We Create Team Motivation For Employees And Interns
- How To Get Your Team To Blog
- How Nostalgic Films Help Brands Connect With Consumers
Want to share some of your secrets on how you have managed to inspire your team? Become a guest on our podcast show, "Marketing Mistakes (And How To Avoid Them)."
