There is no doubt that entrepreneurship can be a tough road. While it might sound glamourous, the reality is long hours, little to no income at first, and sleepless nights. Camilo  Doumat can relate to this as he experienced these challenges firsthand. Today, he is an e-commerce titan who netted almost $300,000 in 15 days when his Shopify store experienced immediate success. 

An avid exotic car fan, Camilo dreamed of owning a Lamborghini by the time he was 30. At the age of 25, he has 2. While Camilo does offer excellent advice such as having a winning mentality, staying focused, and conquering fear, he also recommends a few movies that celebrate entrepreneurship and offer a realistic look at its challenges.

The Social Network (2010)

Adapted from the 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires, Network portrays the founding of Facebook and the lawsuits that came with it. The world’s largest social media network was famously created in Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard dorm room. Starting off as a communication platform for Ivy League colleges, the network caught the attention of Napster co-founder Sean Parker, where its exponential growth began. As lawsuits arise based on theft of intellectual property and reduction of shares on the company, Zuckerberg quickly realizes than even the best ideas can have serious consequences.

Chef (2014)

This culinary comedy-drama tells the story of a celebrity chef who falls from grace. Never happy working for someone else, the protagonist buys a food truck that tours the United States and quickly achieves stellar fame. That fame is due to intensive activity on Twitter and building an organic following, highlighting the importance of social media marketing. You also see the dirty side of the mobile food business, as the truck is initially filth on wheels and needs intense cleaning.

Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999)

This movie is especially meaningful to Camilo as he is a computer enthusiast. Pirates is the true story of tech pioneers Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. We see how one titan is founded in (another) Harvard dorm room and the other one is founded in a California garage. One of the most fascinating aspects of this film is watching the young founders seek capital and partnerships to advance their rival companies. We see several stages of Microsoft and Apple as the portrayal spans from 1971-1997.

Joy (2015)

Joy shows us the human costs of entrepreneurship. This biopic tells the story of Joy Mangano, a single mother who created the Miracle Mop and went on to found Ingenious Designs. While Joy did become a multi-millionaire, the price was unstable finances, family crises, personal turmoil, and even being betrayed by loved ones. In essence, building a wildly successful business can come with steep costs, which this movie makes very clear.

The Pursuit of Happiness (2006)

Based on the true story of Chris Gardner, this intense movie tells the story of Gardner’s struggle of being homeless and raising a young son as he endured an unpaid internship. For anyone who has ever been told to never give up on a dream, this is the film to watch. The protagonist has his wages garnished by the IRS, his wife leaves him, and he lives in a subway station bathroom until he was hired for a coveted stockbroker position.

These movies cover the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and offer enjoyable viewing no matter what field you are branching into. After all, most entrepreneurs go through the same challenges and it can be very motivating to see how others overcome similar challenges.