Business Documentaries to Watch on Netflix 

Epic tales of the rise and fall of our world’s most interesting companies and leaders are told in the best business documentaries to watch on Netflix. The easy and fun streaming service offers anyone with a subscription a huge array of business and tech movies. Films on Steve Jobs, Enron, and Gucci are entertaining and insightful lessons on what it takes to make or break a world-renowned company.

What does it take to become a master at your craft? Ten seats, three Michelin stars, and one eighty-five-year-old chef prove sushi is much more than food—it’s art. The 2012 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi follows Jiro Ono, a Japanese sushi chef with a cult-like following. Ono’s fans happily pay $300 per meal to witness this master at his craft. The film captures the inner workings of the best sushi restaurant in the world as Ono sources ingredients, manages staff, and grooms a son to succeed him. Filmmaker David Gelb portrays how Ono’s mastery of timing, color, and texture makes him a chef, an artist, and a master of creation. This film is a feast for the eyes with a valuable lesson: obsession, passion, and a quest for perfection can transform a mere man into a master.

TED Talks: Life Hacks is a collection of 10 excellent TED Talk lectures by experts at the top of their game in psychology and business. Harvard psychologist Amy Cuddy is a superstar author, professor, and speaker. But she wasn’t always so confident. Along with her inspiring personal story, Cuddy shares tips on how to gain confidence by using her popular “power poses.” Arianna Huffington, who famously founded Huffington Post, crusades for us to get more sleep. In her talk, she condemns our sleep-deprived culture and reveals how more sleep brought her more success. This is easily one of the best business documentaries to watch on Netflix because the motivating talks on memory, mindfulness, and movements will inspire you to transform your own life.

The late Joan Rivers was hardworking, legendary, and mercilessly funny. Unfortunately, she’s better known for her plastic surgery than her talent. The film Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work aims to change that. After following the comedian for a year, it’s clear Joan has the drive, grit, and aggression required of a star comedian. Joan’s comedic talent is obvious and her merciless observations, perfect timing, and superb skill are a joy to watch. Few comedians can bring an audience to tears with jokes so cruel and truthful. But this film is good for more than laughs. It’s a portrait of a vivacious woman who gives us a valuable lesson in how to survive setbacks with bravery, strength, and humor.

The 2005 documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room follows the rise and fall of what was once called “the best energy company in the world.” It’s no surprise Enron’s crash makes for one of the most fascinating business documentaries to watch on Netflix. Once valued at a staggering $70 billion, Enron filed for bankruptcy in 2001. Enron’s fall resulted after years of inflated profits and corrupt bookkeeping. Enron created phony profit reports out of thin air and fabricated fake offshore corporate shells to hide losses. Enron was a flimsy house of cards just waiting to crash. And the fall was hard. Right before its descent, documentary footage shows Enron traders laughing about the millions they made for Enron. By the end of this saga, not everyone was laughing. Top executives Kenneth Lay and Jeffrey Skilling were led off in handcuffs and faced criminal charges. Roughly 20,000 employees were fired when the company went bankrupt. The loss was huge for the company, its leaders, and its employees. So what’s the lesson here? Enron is a cautionary tale that if you gamble, manipulate, and lie your way to the top you’ll eventually end up in a deep dark hole.

The 2010 film Freakonomics is a fascinating exploration of what motivates people. Based off the wildly popular book of the same name by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner, the film explores the scientific, economic, and psychological reasons that drive human behavior. Each section of the film addresses a fascinating question. Is there a correlation between people’s names and their success in life? If given a chance to cheat, will people take it? What’s the shocking reason behind lower crime rates? Can students be bribed into better grades? One thing is sure: the answers to these questions are not what you’d expect.

Steve Jobs is a legend. The PBS documentary Steve Jobs: One Last Thing traces the career and legacy of this revered entrepreneur, designer, and inventor. Most people are familiar with the highlight reel of Jobs’ life. We remember his legendary product presentations, tireless work ethic, and genius foresight. But many don’t know the tumultuous tale of a man who went from barefoot Portland hippy to Silicon Valley billionaire. This documentary boasts unseen footage of Jobs as well as interviews of those who knew him best. Jobs’ character flaws and the story of why he was fired from his first company are addressed in a gossipy tone. But for all his flaws, Jobs remains a lesson in innovation and leadership. One Last Thing reveals how revolutionary products, superb showmanship, and great marketing combined to make a legend.

The 2012 film Somm follows four men as they strive to earn the title of Master Sommelier. The title, which is held by a mere 200 people worldwide, is preceded by a grueling three-part multi-day test. The demanding exam has one of the lowest pass rates in the world. The men’s passion is evident as they taste, debate, and appreciate wines with an obsession usually seen in professional athletes. Drinking wine is a sport, a talent, and a life calling for these men. Besides beautiful filmography this film is one of the best business documentaries to watch on Netflix because it’s a great source of motivation. Watching these four men pursue their passion with focus and tenacity will inspire you to chase your own ambitions.

Downloaded traces the rise and gradual fall of Napster, a peer-to-peer file sharing service that flourished in the 1990s. It’s one of the best business documentaries to watch on Netflix. Music artists, legal experts, and the founders all add to this fascinating narrative about how college kids harnessed the internet to allow people to share and spread their favorite songs. The 2013 film is one of the best business documentaries to watch on Netflix because it tells how Shawn Fanning and Shawn Parker kick started this revolutionary project, which caught, and spread like wildfire. It also shows how the music industry, skeptical of the company, its creators, and the web’s potential, squashed Napster. The Recording Industry Association of America, Dr. Dre, and Metallica all sued for copyright infringement. Although the music industry won at first, the company’s legacy lives on in continuing threats to intellectual property. Napster was eventually absorbed into Rhapsody and founder Shawn Parker famously helped Mark Zuckerberg launch Facebook. The tale continues to inspire because it proves one small company can grow to revolutionize an entire industry.

From tales of famous fashion houses to the rise and fall of business giants, this list of the best business documentaries to watch on Netflix has it all. Whether you’re an entrepreneur interested in starting your own company or you just love a good story, there’s a film for you. It’s never been easier to access lessons in leadership right from your couch—so start watching!