ABSTRACT
Does greed drive business? For a long time, Hollywood and economists disagreed. But today, entrepreneurs and those who run businesses have a more varied and nuanced profile in movies than many might expect. In today’s cinema, a businessman or woman has the luxury of being greedy, socially conscious, or conflicted. Perhaps not surprisingly, then, contemporary films reflect a rich resource for exploring the motivations of the entrepreneur, for good or ill. Movies such as The Wolf of Wall Street, The Founder, and War Dogs show the morally corrupting dangers of greed but also show the ways this bad behavior leads to personal and economic failure. Other films, such as Joy, highlight the personal fulfillment that comes through discovery, innovation, and economic success. Perhaps one of the most important roles film plays, however, is in how no one person, not even the rich, can avoid the practical dilemmas faced by entrepreneurs when they have to balance personal interest with fairness. More recent films have been refreshing in their willingness to explore the different dimensions to business ownership and entrepreneurship. Indeed, a more nuanced approach to entrepreneurship also allows a new appreciation for some classic movies such as It’s a Wonderful Life.
