Startup.com is the documentary we would hand a first-time founder, because it shows how a $60 million dot-com collapsed in 2000 despite the funding. We rebuilt this list in 2026 and added two newer films, Becoming Warren Buffett (2017) and Inside Bill’s Brain (2019).
These films teach through stories rather than slides: hiring, funding, branding, privacy, and the grind of building something. We did not verify where each film streams today, so check your usual service.
| Rank | Documentary | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Startup.com | 2001 |
| 2 | Becoming Warren Buffett | 2017 |
| 3 | Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates | 2019 |
| 4 | Steve Jobs: One Last Thing | Released after Jobs’s death |
| 5 | Freakonomics: The Movie | 2010 |
| 6 | Dogtown and Z-Boys | 2001 |
| 7 | Beer Wars | 2009 |
| 8 | Jiro Dreams of Sushi | 2011 |
| 9 | We Live in Public | 2009 |
| 10 | Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos | 2006 |
1. Startup.com (2001)
The documentary follows govWorks.com founders Kaleil Isaza Tuzman and Tom Herman from 1999 to 2000 as the internet bubble burst. The startup raised $60 million from Hearst Interactive Media, KKR, Sapient and the New York Investment Fund and did not survive.
The lesson: Funding does not rescue a company if the team cannot trust each other and deliver a better product.
2. Becoming Warren Buffett (2017)
An HBO documentary about Warren Buffett’s life.
The lesson: Patience and a long view are a business model.
3. Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates (2019)
A three-part series created and directed by Davis Guggenheim, which moves between Gates’s childhood, the creation of Microsoft and his philanthropy.
The lesson: Look at how a founder thinks, not only what he built.
4. Steve Jobs: One Last Thing (Released after Jobs’s death)
A portrait of Steve Jobs’s life and career, anchored by an interview from when he was running NeXT, the computer company he started after leaving Apple. A later film, Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine (2015), directed by Alex Gibney, covers the same ground.
The lesson: Setbacks can be the setup for a comeback.
5. Freakonomics: The Movie (2010)
Based on the 2005 book by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, the film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2010 and examines human behaviour through case studies.
The lesson: Know what motivates people and you know how to motivate customers.
6. Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001)
Directed by Stacy Peralta and narrated by Sean Penn, the documentary tells the story of the Zephyr skateboard team in the 1970s, whose style helped lift skateboarding from a backyard activity into an industry.
The lesson: Backyard ideas can grow into whole industries.
7. Beer Wars (2009)
A film about the American beer industry that contrasts the big brewers, Anheuser-Busch, Miller and Coors, with smaller craft brewers like Dogfish Head and Stone, and how advertising and lobbying shape the market.
The lesson: Small players face rules and distribution fights as well as competition.
8. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Directed by David Gelb, the film follows Jiro Ono, then 85, owner of the 10-seat Sukiyabashi Jiro in a Tokyo subway station, then a Michelin three-star restaurant. As of 2026 a tasting menu there costs at least JP¥88,000 (about US$557).
The lesson: Mastery and consistency are a brand.
9. We Live in Public (2009)
Ondi Timoner’s film follows internet pioneer Josh Harris, who founded Pseudo.com, and examines how technology and media affect privacy and identity.
The lesson: Think about what you are asking customers to trade away.
10. Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos (2006)
The film follows the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, who signed Pele in 1975 and drew almost 80,000 fans to Giants Stadium in a 1977 championship.
The lesson: If you hire the best, your company has a better shot at being the best.
FAQ
What is the best documentary for entrepreneurs?
Startup.com, the 2001 story of govWorks.com, is our first pick.
Is there a documentary about Warren Buffett?
Yes, Becoming Warren Buffett, a 2017 HBO documentary.
Is there a documentary about Bill Gates?
Yes, Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates, a three-part series released in 2019.
Which film is about a skateboard business?
Dogtown and Z-Boys (2001), directed by Stacy Peralta.
Where can I watch these?
We did not verify current streaming availability, so check your streaming service.
How we put this list together
This is an editorial list. Facts come from public film records, and the lessons are our reading of each film.
Last updated: October 2026.
