The Founder (2016)

The story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned two brothers' innovative fast food eatery, McDonald's, into the biggest restaurant business in the world, with a combination of ambition, persistence, and ruthlessness.

Director:

John Lee Hancock

Writer:

Robert Siegel

Stars:

Michael Keaton, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Keaton	...	Ray Kroc
Nick Offerman	...	Dick McDonald
John Carroll Lynch	...	Mac McDonald
Linda Cardellini	...	Joan Smith
B.J. Novak	...	Harry J. Sonneborn
Laura Dern	...	Ethel Kroc
Justin Randell Brooke	...	Fred Turner
Kate Kneeland	...	June Martino
Patrick Wilson	...	Rollie Smith
Griff Furst	...	Jim Zien
Wilbur Fitzgerald	...	Jerry Cullen
David de Vries	...	Jack Horford
Andrew Benator	...	Leonard Rosenblatt
Cara Mantella	...	Myra Rosenblatt
Randall Taylor	...	Owner (Ed's Drive-In)

Storyline

1954. Having worked as a salesman most of his adult life, Ray Kroc has been a hustler in most senses of the word. That hustling has made him the target of derision among certain circles for peddling what have ended up being more novelty or faddish than useful products, but it has also placed more than a comfortable roof in Arlington Heights, Illinois over his and his wife Ethel's heads. Ethel, however, wishes that he placed as much effort into being at home with her than he is in selling, his current job of peddling five-spindle milkshake makers for Prince Castle which has him constantly on the road going from one drive-in restaurant to another. It is because of the beefs he has with the whole drive-in experience (bad food, bad service) in constantly eating at such establishments while on the road that he becomes enthralled with the concept of McDonald's Restaurant in San Bernardino, California, it owned and operated by brothers Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald - Dick and Mac. ...

---

Plot Keywords:

f word | swindle | franchising | ambition | fast food | 

---

Taglines:

You've had their food, but do you know their story?

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Yiddish

Release Date:

20 January 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hambre de poder

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,404,102, 22 January 2017

Gross USA:

$12,785,093

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,945,747

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Weinstein Company, FilmNation Entertainment, Faliro House Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

At one point, Ray Kroc listens to a fictional record of "The Power Of The Positive" written by a fictional author with the name of Dr. Clarence Floyd Nelson. Some great inspirational quotes of positivity and the importance of persistance and determination can be heard in the background. These quotes are highly inspired from the words of some great speakers such as Calvin Coolidge, Ralph Waldo Emerson and more. The same words are used by Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) in the final scene before he heads out with his wife to tell the people how he found McDonald's.

---

Goofs

Scenes in San Bernardino, supposedly in 1954, show vehicles with California license plates with black letters on a yellow background (as they were from 1947-51). From 1951 until 1955 the plates were black with yellow letters. They did change to black on yellow in 1956 until changing back to yellow on black in 1963.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Ray Kroc: I know what you're thinkin'... What the heck do I need a 5-spindle for... when I barely sell enough milkshakes to justify my single-spindle. Right? Wrong. Are you familiar with the notion of the chicken or the egg Mr. Griffith, I mentioned... that there'd be costs. Well, I think it applies here. Do you not need the multimixer because, well heck, you're not selling enough milkshakes. Or are you not selling enough milkshakes because you don't have a multimixer? I firmly believe it's ...

---

Crazy Credits

During the opening/closing credits, the real Ray A Kroc is heard giving an interview about how he came to buy out McDonald's.

---

Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: James McAvoy/Nick Offerman/Kings of Leon (2017)

---

Soundtracks

Truffle Corn
Written by Jim Cox, Steve Lindsey
Performed by The Troubled Teenagers

User Reviews

The Founder!

The story of the "founder" of Mc Donald's and how he made it from a single shop to the largest leading firm in food industry.

Ray Kroc is a desperate salesman trying to sell his product, a milkshake maker that no one needs. To his surprise, he gets an order for 6 machines. He cannot believe it and calls them back if it was true and to add to his surprise, the quantity was raised to 8. He himself goes to the restaurant to see the elegant and professionalism maintained by the brothers called Mac & Dick. Their restaurant is called Mc Donald's. Ray was eager to know their story and the brothers explains all their trade secrets. Ray couldn't sleep that night and goes back to the brothers with a new proposal. Here begins the story of the business tycoon Mc Donald's.

The movie is amazing in all the ways. The director was successful in making the movie very involving and entertaining. Beautiful camera visuals, color tone and production design add to this retro tone of the movie. Performance of the actors are highlight of the movie. Rapid editing makes it a very fast movie with very less or no lagging. This movie is going to shine at the Oscars for sure.

After watching the movie, at-least half of the audience will quit McD for a few days. The market value of McD will be interesting after the world wide release of the film.

A must watch and highly recommended.

#KiduMovie