Nothing is more motivating than a good film, and when working in Sales, you need all the motivation and inspiration you can get! I would recommend watching each one of these as if they were a training video, you never know what you might pick up, and they might just give you the boost you need to get those deals!
10) Jerry Maguire
Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, is a successful sports agent. He has the most prominent clients, the respect, a beautiful fiancée, and he has it all. Until one night, he questions his purpose and his place in the world. Jerry finally comes to terms with what’s wrong with his career and life. Full of brilliant sales quotes and sales action, it’s a must-watch for salespeople out there.
9) Boiler Room
This film is often compared to Wall Street, following the life of a small-time stockbroker trying to make it big. There are some great scenes for salespeople, including a lesson on how to sell!
8) Wall Street
A classic film that has those retro sales feel to it. Gordon Gekko is a corporate star who a young Bud Fox aspires to be. Gordon takes Bud under his wing, showing that he must do anything to get to the top (which included illegal trading).
7) Two For The Money
This film isn’t as well known as some of the others, but Matthew McConaughey does an excellent performance as a sports betting tip salesman. Working for Al Pacino, his character soon feels the pressure of living the high life.
6) The Pursuit Of Happiness
One of my personal favorites, this is the film the inspire you to work hard, to work harder than anyone else can or does. Based on a true story about a man named Christopher Gardner, Gardner has invested heavily in a device known as a “Bone Density scanner.” He feels like he has made these devices. However, they do not sell as they are marginally better than the current technology at a much higher price. After seeing a stockbroker pull up in a fancy car, he pushes himself to unbelievable limits to become one and provide for his family.
5) The Wolf Of Wall Street
A favorite for many salespeople, The Wolf Of Wall Street is based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. Full of fast-paced selling, this highlights the energy needed to become super successful in sales (although should also highlight what happens if you sell un-ethically!).
4) Lord Of War
This isn’t a sales movie as such; however, Lord of War has a lot of sales references in it. Nicolas Cage does a great job portraying an on the edge gun runner who travels the world, taking advantage of the conflicts and struggles of countries and people of the world.
3) Death Of A Salesman
Salesman Willy Loman is in a crisis. He’s about to lose his job, he can’t pay his bills, and his sons Biff and Happy don’t respect him and can’t seem to live up to their potential. He wonders what went wrong and how he can make things up to his family: great acting, great actors, and a definite must-see for salespeople.
2) Tommy Boy
Tommy Boy is a movie about the world’s most unlikely brake pad salesman. After the death of Tommy Boy Sr, the family business requires some significant sales. In desperation, Tommy Boy is sent on the road to make the annual sales trip. Tommy Boy and his road companion Richard Hayden learn a lot of hard lessons before they finally learn to make the sales stick.
1) Glengaarry Glen Ross
The most famous sales movie of them all, and yet I can guarantee so many salespeople out there will never have seen it! Most will know about A.B.C – Always Be Closing, well this is where that came from. It’s real estate; it’s phones, it’s knock-down-drag-out sales. It’s awesome! My favorite quote, along with A.B.C, “Coffee is for closers”!
So there you go, the 10 films you really must watch if you work in sales. Whilst they are not your typical sales training video, there is often plenty of inspiring and motivational sales scenes within them. Some highlight or represent what can be wrong in sales, some highlight the very best of sales.
Watch, enjoy, and come back to work with the energy you need to go for the sale.
So Heroes…
What’s YOUR favorite sales movie? Let me know in the comments!
I’d love to see which is the most popular sales film out there.