Best Business Movies & TV Shows, According To Top MBAs

The Playlist: “One of my favorite TV shows is The Playlist, based on the real-life story of Spotify and the challenges of innovation. As an entrepreneur, I resonate with its portrayal of identifying opportunities, pitching ideas, and navigating partnerships. What makes it especially compelling is how each episode is told from the perspective of a different stakeholder: founders, investors, artists, and industry leaders, highlighting their unique interests and challenges. It showcases how technology drives industry transformation, pushing businesses to adapt while disrupting traditional models. The series reinforced my belief that entrepreneurship isn’t just about having a great idea—it’s about execution, adaptability, and understanding the diverse perspectives that shape a business.”
Rocio Julissa Garcia Quinteros, University of Rochester (Simon)

The Queen’s Gambit: “Not directly a business movie, but for me, The Queen’s Gambit reflects the realities of business – not just because of its lessons on strategy, resilience, and competition, but also because, as a woman, I deeply relate to its themes of breaking barriers, proving oneself in a male-dominated field, and redefining success on your own terms.

Beth Harmon’s journey to becoming a world-class chess player mirrors the challenges many professionals – especially women – face in business. She is underestimated, questioned, and often has to work twice as hard to be taken seriously. But instead of backing down, she strategizes, adapts, and continuously refines her skills—proving that mastery comes from preparation, discipline, and the ability to think several moves ahead.

This resonates deeply with the world of finance, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Success isn’t just about talent; it’s about understanding your playing field, anticipating challenges, and having the confidence to take bold risks when the moment is right. Watching Beth navigate setbacks and emerge stronger reminded me that business, like chess, isn’t just about winning – it’s about strategic thinking, resilience, and daring to challenge the norms.”
Ruso Samunashvili, Babson College (Olin)

Severance: “My current TV obsession is Severance. This clever and creative show follows a dystopian society where Lumen, a fictional corporation, “severs” their employees’ minds, forcibly separating their personal and professional consciousnesses. Through science fiction, this show highlights the potential harm the corporation can inflict on the employee. Creators warn against the dangers of conformity and control, critiquing toxic corporate cultures that prioritize productivity over employee well-being. Through the severance procedure, Lumen dehumanizes their employees in pursuit of efficiency, power, and control. Therefore, Severance highlights the value that each unique individual contributes to an organization, and the importance of connection, individuality, and purpose. While pursuing profits and efficiency, we mustn’t forget what is most important and sitting at the core of business: the individuals.”
Danielle Sarraf, Washington University (Olin)

Shark Tank: “Despite its added drama and theatrics, Shark Tank offers valuable insights into the realities of pitching to investors. The show highlights the importance of distilling a pitch down to its most compelling points—hitting key metrics, addressing potential risks head-on, and anticipating the questions that matter most to investors. Watching the show has helped me refine my own approach, ensuring that I focus on what truly drives investor decisions.

Beyond the mechanics of pitching, Shark Tank has also deepened my appreciation for founders and the sheer dedication, passion, and grit required to turn an idea into reality. Seeing entrepreneurs put everything on the line to pursue their vision reinforces how much resilience is needed in this journey. It’s motivating for me to know that behind every great company is a founder who believed in something before anyone else did—and had the determination to make it happen.”
Austin Cai, Yale School of Management

“One show that best reflects the realities of business is Shark Tank. While it simplifies the startup funding process, it provides valuable insights into entrepreneurship, negotiation, and business strategy. One of the biggest takeaways from Shark Tank is the importance of knowing your numbers—investors focus heavily on profitability, scalability, and financial metrics, reinforcing the need for data-driven decision-making in business. The show also highlights that a great idea alone isn’t enough; even the most innovative products can fail without strong execution, market fit, and a solid business model.”
Yi Han, Ohio State (Fisher)

Silicon Valley: “For me, Silicon Valley brilliantly captures the nuances of tech startups—how to secure funding, scale, and navigate intense competition. It reiterates the volatility of startups, where strategic decision-making, adaptability, and stakeholder management are crucial. The show also reveals the power dynamics in venture capital and the ethical dilemmas of innovation. From a consulting lens, it underscores the need for scalability, performance metrics, and a strong value proposition to stay competitive in a dynamic market.”
Arpit Arya, Washington University (Olin)

Star Trek: The Next Generation: “This show, while an unconventional ‘business’ setting, offers two lessons that I’m incorporating into my career. First, it covers the importance of mission: the entire crew is dedicated to a clear purpose and viewers are reminded of that purpose at the start of every episode. I’ve found that aligning on shared goals makes teams more collaborative more quickly. Second, the role of structure: everyone on board has a role to play and each episode follows a similar arc, they’re exploring, something unexpected occurs, they react, solve, and learn. Without structure, uncertainty and impulsiveness can run rife, damaging teams and the work they do. What I find most appealing is how the Star Trek crew can remain dynamic enough to address challenges while staying true to their mission.”
Elizabeth Sun, Cornell University (Johnson)

Succession: “My favorite business-related TV show is Succession, which highlights what not to do in the corporate world. It showcases the Roy family’s dysfunctional power struggles and lack of ethical decision-making, underscoring the importance of clear communication and strong corporate governance. Despite the toxic environment, there are moments of strategic brilliance that illustrate the significance of understanding market dynamics. Ultimately, Succession serves as a cautionary tale, emphasizing that true success requires strong leadership, ethical conduct, and a positive organizational culture. My biggest takeaway is a greater appreciation for sound business practices and avoiding the pitfalls of unchecked ambition.”
Lilian de Melo Barbosa, UC San Diego (Rady)

Suits: “I always loved Suits, and its revival on Netflix demanded a rewatch while in business school. Suits captures a reality that’s often overlooked: business is as personal as it is professional. Deals aren’t just made in boardrooms; they happen over dinners at each other’s apartments, in casual conversations, and through long-standing relationships. Mike and Harvey aren’t just colleagues, they’re best friends. They all are – Donna, Rachel, Jessica, Louis. That loyalty, trust, and shared ambition make for a formidable team.

But it also comes with all the complicated dynamics that challenge any interpersonal relationship in life or in business – and that’s real too. The show depicts it beautifully. As I’ve moved through life, I’ve come to realize how the people we’re closest to can become some of our best professional partners: clients, co-founders, investors, investments, brokers, teammates, referrals, and so much more. And that those relationships require delicacy and care like any other. That is what made Suits so enticing beyond the riveting suspense and biting wit. It was professional, but it felt personal. I think that’s how business is and should be considered.”
Simi Shah, Wharton School

“For me, Suits best reflects the realities of business. It was not because of the drama, but rather the constant pressure to perform, the importance of building trust, and the role relationships play in navigating complex problems. The show highlights how success in high stakes environments often comes down to thinking critically under pressure, owning your decisions, and learning how to collaborate even when tensions are high. Harvey Specter’s ability to lead with confidence while also evolving into someone who listens more and mentors others resonates with me. It reminded me that business is not just about being right, it is about being respected, reliable, and ready to grow.”
Raghav Mahajan, USC (Marshall)

“The show that resonates with me in terms of business negotiations is Suits. Specifically, a quote by Harvey Specter stands out: “What are your choices when someone puts a gun to your head? You take the gun, or you pull out a bigger one. Or, you call their bluff. Or, you do any one of a hundred-and forty-six other things.

This quote highlights a valuable lesson in negotiation: Never feel cornered or limited in your options. In reality, there are often numerous possibilities and creative solutions to explore. This mindset empowers me to approach negotiations with confidence, flexibility, and a willingness to think outside the box.”
Precious Gozwa, Arizona State (W. P. Carey)

Ted Lasso: “Ted Lasso has the best depiction of leadership I have seen. Ted exemplifies a great leader by inspiring and uplifting those around him. He supports the team to victory by encouraging others to be their best selves. He challenges the traditional idea of success, and measures impact not only by wins and losses, but also by long-term personal development and player well-being. Coach Lasso does not change to fit an idea of what a coach “should” be and is self-aware of his strengths and shortcomings. He does not pretend to have all of the answers and surrounds himself with a leadership team with complimenting skillsets.

Beyond Coach Lasso leading the Richmond Greyhounds to success, Rebecca (owner of the team) and Keeley (entrepreneur) demonstrate leadership and business acumen. Rebecca grows in confidence and provides an example of how to delicately network and navigate professional relationships. She is a supportive friend and business advisor to Keeley, pushing her to start her own business. Keeley starts her own PR firm, despite people insinuating that she was not fit to do so. She leans on her strengths of emotional intelligence, creativity, and ability to connect to produce high quality creations.

Each character leaves me with a takeaway gift: Ted shows me that leadership success is determined by team cohesion, Rebecca shows me to step into my full power and use it to make positive changes, and Keeley shows me to lean into my strengths and make sure to advocate for myself. The players and coaching staff all paint pictures that I can take into my life both inside and outside of the corporate world.”
Ilana Solomon, Northwestern University (Kellogg)

“This is a bit of a wildcard answer, but I’d actually say Ted Lasso. I live in the early-stage startup ecosystem, where everything comes down to team, and Ted Lasso is one of the best explorations of the concept of “team” I’ve seen. AFC Richmond has many similarities to a startup: limited resources, a critical need for team cohesion, and a visionary leader at the helm responsible for inspiring people to do more with less. I often joke that to build a successful startup, you have to build a cult. That’s exactly what Coach Lasso sets out to do through his focus on “Believe” and commitment to inspiring deep loyalty within the organization. He creates an environment where players are free to be open, experiment, and be vulnerable – literally the building blocks of a good early-stage startup culture where team trust is paramount. My biggest personal takeaway from the show is the importance of endurance. I have spent a lot of time here at Booth thinking about how to focus on long-term growth and development as opposed to just short-term wins.”
Ilana Habib, University of Chicago (Booth)

War Dogs: “The movie War Dogs reflects some of the realities of business, both positive and negative, that I have seen and experienced in business school. Jonah Hill and Miles Teller play two young entrepreneurs in the arms/defense tech space who originally started a business that takes small defense contracts that larger defense corporations overlook. Soon enough, greed and hubris make their business dealings more nefarious. I learned that while you can have a great business model, consumer metrics and product-market fit, you must always stay true to a moral compass—or some set of values that are divested from economic returns.”
Julian Watson, UC Berkeley (Haas)

WECRASHED: “The show was such a wild ride, perfectly capturing the story of WeWork. It did a great job showing how Adam Neumann’s vision and charisma pulled people in, but also how things started falling apart when reality caught up. The mix of ambition, hype, and financial chaos was fascinating to watch.

What stood out to me was how storytelling can drive massive valuations, even when the fundamentals don’t add up. Adam Neumann’s ability to sell a dream got WeWork incredible funding, but the lack of a sustainable business model eventually caught up with them. It was a reminder that while bold ideas and momentum are important, they have to be backed by operational and financial discipline. It was a reminder that scaling too fast without a clear path to profitability can be just as risky as not scaling at all. It also made me think about leadership, how a founder’s vision can either inspire or blindside an organization.”
Maitri Taneja, Rutgers Business School

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