​​If your child is interested in business and entrepreneurship, you can encourage them to pursue their dreams by exposing them to the world of business. There are many movies that can help inspire kids and teach them important lessons that will prepare them for the real world. Here are some of our favorites to enjoy together and help you teach your children important lessons about business success.

Monsters, Inc. (G) 2001

In Pixar’s Monsters, Inc., a pair of monster pals work in a factory dedicated to scaring children—until their friendship with a human child causes them to reconsider the business. To operate the city, monsters must terrify youngsters in order for them to scream. When a kid goes through, two monsters discover that things may not be what they appear. Among the bright monsters and jokes, there are some excellent business ethics and especially important lessons in reconsidering a value proposition.

Ask your children to explain what the factory was used for at the beginning of the movie and how that function changes at the end. Use this discussion to lead into the question of how do businesses balance moral values with profit when they decide which items or services to provide.

Hidden Figures (PG) 2016

This film recounts the real-world tale of three African-American women who worked as “human computers” at NASA during the segregation era, using their math and science skills to solve problems while battling racism.

This film is an excellent example for kids to learn about how brilliant and ambitious individuals must overcome difficulties in order to succeed. Ask your children what they think employers could do to prevent discrimination when hiring or promoting employees.

We Bought A Zoo (PG) 2011

Set in Southern California, a father moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo. Matt Damon attempts to move on from the loss of his wife by buying a zoo, but he and his kids discover that keeping wild animals isn’t as simple as it appears.

The film provides a lesson on the importance of due diligence and a question you can ask your children: What do you think the dad should have known before he decided to buy the zoo? Continue the dialogue with what kinds of questions your kids would ask before starting a new business or investing in someone else’s.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (G) 1971

A young, poor lad in search of one of Willy Wonka’s five golden tickets is whisked away on a tour of the candy maker’s mysterious chocolate factory.

When eccentric candy-maker Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) decides he needs to pass his candy empire on to a successor, he selects five lucky children to tour his top-secret chocolate factory, he quickly realizes four of the five children are jaded, bratty, and blasé. But Charlie Bucket, a sweet, impoverished kid, is wide-eyed with delight at the incredible inventions Wonka shares with the group.

Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder) is a famous eccentric candy maker who has decided to leave his business to a successor. After selecting five lucky children to tour his top-secret chocolate factory, he quickly discovers that four of the five youngsters are unenthusiastic, bratty, and bored. Charlie Bucket, on the other hand, is a nice, impoverished kid who is overjoyed by the incredible things Willy Wonka shows to the group.

Why it’s one of the greatest entrepreneur films: Finding a partner who believes in your idea is one of the most difficult challenges any startup faces. In the end, this entrepreneur film demonstrates that although imagination and enthusiasm may take you far, you’ll need ethics to build a firm that is worthy of handing down.

It’s a Wonderful Life (PG) 1946

An angel is dispatched from Heaven to assist a desperate businessman by depicting what his life would have been like had he never been born.

In the small town of Bedford Falls, Indiana, George Bailey grows up with big dreams of seeing the world. When his father passes away suddenly, though, Bailey reluctantly assumes control of the family Bailey Brothers Building and Loan to prevent it from being sold off by Mr. Potter, the local miser. For years, Bailey sacrifices his ambitions of travel to keep the Building and Loan going, as well as to assist working people in town rather than renting from slumlord Potter. But when the bank’s entire savings are taken away, Bailey curses his existence.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” is a famous story, and it’s one of the finest examples of an entrepreneur film ever made. George Bailey might be compared to the first socially responsible entrepreneur—by putting his community and family first, he was able to accomplish more than just business.

Meet the Robinsons (G) 2007

In this film, Lewis is a brilliant inventor who encounters a mysterious stranger named Wilbur Robinson, transporting him to an unknown time period and forming a partnership to find Bowler Hat Guy in a confrontation that has an unanticipated twist of fate.

A film that truly embodies the spirit of innovation and is based on the idea of celebrating our failures, learning from them, and to keep moving forward! It is founded on the famous Walt Disney quote, which states:

“Around here, however, we don’t look backwards for very long. We keep moving forward, opening up new doors and doing new things, because we’re curious… and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.”

Discuss with your children about how you may have failed yet kept going, and urge them to consider how they’ve confronted problems in their lives but persevered. This is a fantastic lesson for anybody interested in diving into the exciting world of entrepreneurship.

Robots (G) 2005

In a sci-fi world, a young idealistic inventor travels to the metropolis to join his hero’s firm, only to discover that it has been taken over by an evil new regime.

The “out mode” Robots can’t discover replacement components or be maintained, and they are on their way to the scrap yard as a result of the introduction of new robots to Robot City. Rodney Copperbottom becomes an entrepreneurial robot who recognizes a demand in the market and uses his abilities to meet it.

This film is all about galvanizing a movement, gaining followers, and pursuing your ambitions. As Bigweld in the movie says, “You can shine no matter what you’re made of.“

Consider what your kids are interested in and how they might make it a lifelong source of excitement and productivity. Early engagement will assist them in determining which activities and courses they want to pursue and why.