Top leadership movies
by rohhit | created - 06 May 2016 | updated - 31 Jul 2016 | PublicIf you are looking on movies which provides insight into specific aspects of leadership check the list below. For e.g., if you are looking movies which displays assertiveness, you may like the movie Remember the Titans.
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1. Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
Not Rated | 132 min | Drama, War
A tough-as-nails general (Gregory Peck as General Savage) takes over a B-17 bomber unit suffering from low morale and whips them into fighting shape.
Director: Henry King | Stars: Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill, Millard Mitchell
Votes: 15,807
Some leaders may have all the qualities they may be hardworking, intelligent, respected by their team members & still fail. One reason they may fail is because their loyalty becomes hindrance in stretching the team to their fullest potential as a result leading to poor results.
2. Paths of Glory (1957)
Approved | 88 min | Drama, War
After a failed attack on a German position, a general orders three soldiers, chosen at random, court-martialed for cowardice and their commanding officer must defend them.
Director: Stanley Kubrick | Stars: Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready
Votes: 212,343
A leader has the responsibility of fighting for his team members, when he knows they are right.
3. Remember the Titans (2000)
PG | 113 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
In 1971 Virginia high school football was everything to the people of Alexandria. But when the school board was forced to integrate an all-black school with an all-white one, the very foundation of football's tradition was put to the test.
Director: Boaz Yakin | Stars: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst
Votes: 231,998 | Gross: $115.65M
You have to clearly lay down what is expected or not expected by the team you are leading. People may not like you in the beginning but ultimately they would respect you.
4. Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
PG-13 | 138 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
During the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America.
Director: Peter Weir | Stars: Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, Billy Boyd, James D'Arcy
Votes: 238,009 | Gross: $93.93M
Vision comes before friends & our own interest.
5. 12 Angry Men (1957)
Approved | 96 min | Crime, Drama
The jury in a New York City murder trial is frustrated by a single member whose skeptical caution forces them to more carefully consider the evidence before jumping to a hasty verdict.
Director: Sidney Lumet | Stars: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler
Votes: 865,567 | Gross: $4.36M
Influencing others by reason & good people skill.
6. Thirteen Days (2000)
PG-13 | 145 min | Drama, History, Thriller
In October 1962, the Kennedy administration struggles to contain the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Director: Roger Donaldson | Stars: Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Shawn Driscoll, Drake Cook
Votes: 62,719 | Gross: $34.59M
Decision making under pressure.
7. Moneyball (2011)
PG-13 | 133 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.
Director: Bennett Miller | Stars: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman
Votes: 464,819 | Gross: $75.61M
Having the right criteria for selection is important. You have to make the tough decision & do things you may not like.
8. Miracle (2004)
PG | 135 min | Biography, Drama, History
The true story of Herb Brooks, the player-turned-coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad.
Director: Gavin O'Connor | Stars: Kurt Russell, Patricia Clarkson, Nathan West, Noah Emmerich
Votes: 58,926 | Gross: $64.38M
You can overcome biggest challenge through planning & preparation.
9. Dead Poets Society (1989)
PG | 128 min | Comedy, Drama
Maverick teacher John Keating returns in 1959 to the prestigious New England boys' boarding school where he was once a star student, using poetry to embolden his pupils to new heights of self-expression.
Director: Peter Weir | Stars: Robin Williams, Robert Sean Leonard, Ethan Hawke, Josh Charles
Votes: 546,425 | Gross: $95.86M
Influencing others to think differently.
10. Lincoln (2012)
PG-13 | 150 min | Biography, Drama, History
As the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Votes: 272,718 | Gross: $182.21M
Decision making under pressure.
11. Braveheart (1995)
R | 178 min | Biography, Drama, War
Scottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.
Director: Mel Gibson | Stars: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Angus Macfadyen
Votes: 1,091,694 | Gross: $75.60M
By using effective communication you can arouse the enthusiasm of your team.
12. Invictus (2009)
PG-13 | 134 min | Biography, Drama, History
Nelson Mandela, in his first term as President of South Africa, initiates a unique venture to unite the Apartheid-torn land: enlist the national rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
Director: Clint Eastwood | Stars: Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge, Patrick Mofokeng
Votes: 167,921 | Gross: $37.49M
Leaders can inspire other leaders.
13. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
R | 144 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Balian of Ibelin travels to Jerusalem during the Crusades of the 12th century, and there he finds himself as the defender of the city and its people.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Orlando Bloom, Eva Green, Liam Neeson, Martin Hancock
Votes: 315,329 | Gross: $47.40M
Ordinary man with courage become leaders.
14. Gladiator (2000)
R | 155 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.
Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed
Votes: 1,620,924 | Gross: $187.71M
Leadership is more than about holding position.
15. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
PG | 161 min | Adventure, Drama, War
British POWs are forced to build a railway bridge across the river Kwai for their Japanese captors in occupied Burma, not knowing that the allied forces are planning a daring commando raid through the jungle to destroy it.
Director: David Lean | Stars: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa
Votes: 233,372 | Gross: $44.91M
A movie about integrity & the continuous shifting of what is right or wrong.
16. Eye in the Sky (2015)
R | 102 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
Col. Katherine Powell, a military officer in command of an operation to capture terrorists in Kenya, sees her mission escalate when a girl enters the kill zone triggering an international dispute over the implications of modern warfare.
Director: Gavin Hood | Stars: Helen Mirren, Aaron Paul, Alan Rickman, Barkhad Abdi
Votes: 91,516 | Gross: $18.70M
Understanding why people avoid making decisions because their decisions have dire undesirable consequences, it they make the wrong decisions. Also about being resourceful in helping people make these decisions.
17. We Were Soldiers (2002)
R | 138 min | Action, Drama, History
The story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.
Director: Randall Wallace | Stars: Mel Gibson, Madeleine Stowe, Greg Kinnear, Sam Elliott
Votes: 151,304 | Gross: $78.12M
Leaders lead by example.
18. Cars of the Revolution (2008)
120 min | Drama
In the years of military coup, Turkey was unable to produce its own cars. But Pasha believed that Turkish people can produce their own cars so he ordered 2 cars. Gunduz and engineers with him must produce 2 cars in only 130 days.
Director: Tolga Örnek | Stars: Taner Birsel, Ali Düsenkalkar, Halit Ergenç, Sait Genay
Votes: 12,694
Managing competent people & earning the respect through your work ethic.
19. Schindler's List (1993)
R | 195 min | Biography, Drama, History
In German-occupied Poland during World War II, industrialist Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazis.
Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall
Votes: 1,451,418 | Gross: $96.90M
Transformation of a selfish person into a leader who cares about others.
Good source for learning negotiation & networking
20. A Man for All Seasons (1966)
G | 120 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Sir Thomas More, who stood up to King Henry VIII when the King rejected the Roman Catholic Church to obtain a divorce and remarry.
Director: Fred Zinnemann | Stars: Paul Scofield, Wendy Hiller, Robert Shaw, Leo McKern
Votes: 37,170 | Gross: $28.35M
A movie about integrity & application of the law, be impeccable with your words. If you want to be honest in your dealings you must be utmost careful in your dealings, selection of words, practice of silence & when their is no way out in compliance but always in accordance with one's conscience. Their is a need to reflect on certain questions: Why we make this supreme sacrifice? How can one overcome the fear of suffering & death for oneself & those one loves?
21. Apollo 13 (I) (1995)
PG | 140 min | Adventure, Drama, History
NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy.
Director: Ron Howard | Stars: Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise
Votes: 315,712 | Gross: $173.84M
A movie about handling crisis using problem solving, team effort , determination & optimism. Best line : Failure is not an option. The movie is also good case study in how to create tension.
22. Coach Carter (2005)
PG-13 | 136 min | Biography, Drama, Sport
Controversy surrounds high school basketball coach Ken Carter after he benches his entire team for breaking their academic contract with him.
Director: Thomas Carter | Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Rick Gonzalez, Robert Ri'chard, Rob Brown
Votes: 172,174 | Gross: $67.26M
The movie teaches about the resistant to change every leader should familiarise with oneself. Change requires effort & one needs to have a strong sense of purpose to sustain it. This movie also demonstrates that we should clearly define what success means for us.
23. The Caine Mutiny (1954)
Not Rated | 124 min | Drama, War
When a U.S. Naval captain shows signs of mental instability that jeopardises the ship, the first officer is urged to consider relieving him of command.
Director: Edward Dmytryk | Stars: Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray
Votes: 29,908 | Gross: $21.75M
The most important lesson this movie teaches is that when standing for right we could only trust our conscience. We should be independent in regard to whether others support us or not.
The other important lesson to learn is that in most interdependent situations, we own some part of the conflict created, although it may be very subtle.
Good team players also loyal to their team & leader but one should clearly think about situations when doing right becomes important than loyalty.
24. Amazing Grace (2006)
PG | 118 min | Biography, Drama, History
The idealist William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end the British transatlantic slave trade.
Director: Michael Apted | Stars: Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Romola Garai
Votes: 25,696 | Gross: $21.21M
Focus & perseverance over a long period can accomplish impossible looking goals
It is good to have people who can give you right advice, feedback & motivation in your hour of need
Using dramatic ways to get attention
Sometimes it requires one to think outside the box to get the desired result
Creating burning passion for a cause
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