7 Best Movies On Sales Every Sales Professionals Must Watch

Grab your favorite snacks, dim the lights, and get ready for an unforgettable cinematic experience as we delve into the joy of watching movies.

As your work shift comes to an end, there's something special about settling into the cozy comfort of your home or heading out to the theater with friends or loved ones. 

Whether you seek thrilling adventures, heartfelt romances, thought-provoking dramas, or hilarious comedies, movies have the power to transport you to different realms and evoke a range of emotions.

Let the stories unfold, the characters captivate, and the magic of cinema take you on a delightful journey.

With a bowl of popcorn in hand and the anticipation of a captivating story unfolding, let us explore the joy and excitement that comes with watching movies

7 best movies on sales every sales pro must to learn while getting entertained

What better way to learn and be entertained than by watching movies?

In the competitive world of sales, acquiring knowledge, inspiration, and effective strategies is crucial for success.

I have curated a list of the 7 best movies on sales that every sales professional must watch in order to have in-depth knowledge about different types of sales. 

From riveting tales of perseverance to insightful portrayals of negotiation tactics, these movies offer valuable lessons and inspiration for anyone in the sales industry. 

Get prepared to be inspired, motivated, and equipped with new insights as we delve into the world of sales through the lens of cinema.

Let’s dive deeper into the realm of possibilities.

Steve jobs (2015)

Don’t Sell Products, Sell Dreams.

Behind the scenes 

Steve Jobs paints a portrait of the man at the hub of the digital revolution by taking us behind the scenes of the revolution. The plot develops behind-the-scenes at three renowned product debuts, concluding in 1998 with the introduction of the iMac.

Why should you watch it?

The aura of Steve Jobs can be the focus of numerous sales or marketing films. The digital age has been propelled by his passion and creativity. But his desire to transform technology was self-sacrificing. 

In the end, it had an impact on his family and perhaps even his health. They examine the struggles and successes of a contemporary genius, the late CEO of Apple Inc. Steven Paul Jobs, in this illuminating movie.

This sales and marketing movie digs into the logical justification for what he created, showing us what goes through a sales and marketing genius's head as well as how he manages his staff and maintains a healthy work-life balance. 

There are many instructive examples of both good and bad behavior. More crucially, you discover the extent of his influence on an organization like Apple, which in the modern world may be associated with both design and technology.

Learnings

Customer-centric approach

For sales experts, Steve Jobs' unwavering emphasis on developing goods that satisfied customers' requirements and desires is crucial. Every sales professional should focus on customer-centric selling which is needed in every stage of the sales process.

Simplicity and elegance

Jobs firmly believed in the impact of elegance and simplicity in design. Apply this principle in your sales strategy by communicating the value of your product in a concise way while avoiding needless complications. Present your products in an easy-to-understand and aesthetically pleasing way.

Perseverance and resilience

Jobs faced several obstacles along the way, but he never gave up. So you as a sales rep must exhibit endurance and resilience by sticking to your plans despite setbacks or rejections.

The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

How important is optimism as a trait in a  salesperson?

"You got a dream...you gotta protect it. When people can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you, you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it.” - Chris Gardner

Behind the scenes

Chris Gardner has high hopes for himself and his family, but nothing seems to work out that way. Chris has the chance to become a stockbroker, but first he must endure a taxing internship that is unpaid. 

Chris decides to do it, but he is forced to care for his son alone after his wife leaves and he is kicked out of his home. As a result, they can end up living on the streets while having financial difficulties. Chris, though, is committed to succeeding.

Why should you watch it?

Given the intense competition that a salesperson faces to meet quota targets, finding happiness in their professional lives frequently seems  impossible. However, in a world where competition is fierce, this film imparts one of the best sales lessons: unwavering optimism.

Christopher Gardner's story is told in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, which stars Will Smith. Gardner is a homeless marketer who works with hospitals to promote bone density detectors. Poor conversion rates, unfortunately. Gardner is faced with marketing a fully functioning product that offers no notable advantages above the status quo in order to sell the functional product. 

Every sales representative out there needs to maintain a very positive and resolute outlook. In the film, Gardner comes to the conclusion that despite his best efforts, he will never be able to make as many sales calls as he does. 

As customers, we are frequently turned off by salespeople who are angry, depressed, or disappointed. But in this case, despite countless hours of futile efforts, the man consistently maintains the upbeat, enthusiastic attitude that ultimately results in the sale. This is exactly what top sales reps do- they utilize sales psychology techniques to increase sales. 

Learnings

Never give up

The movie displays Chris Gardner's unshakable tenacity as he overcomes obstacles to achieve his objectives. A similar attitude should be adopted by sales professionals, who should not give up in the face of difficulty, rejection, or hardship.

Positive mindset

Gardner is positive throughout the movie despite the challenges he encounters. Salespeople can overcome problems, accept rejection politely, and stay motivated in the face of difficulties by adopting a positive mindset.

Never compromise integrity

Gardner upholds his integrity under the challenging circumstances. Since trust and long-term success are built on ethical behavior, honesty, and transparency, sales professionals should put these values first in all of their interactions with customers.

Death of a salesman (1985)

Existential purpose of a salesman

“I’ve got to get some seeds, I’ve got to get some seeds, right away, Nothing’s planted. I don’t have anything on the ground.”- Willy Loman

Behind the scenes

Willy Loman, a salesman, is in trouble. His sons Biff and Happy don't respect him and don't seem to be able to fulfill their potential, and he is going to lose his job and can't pay his payments. What went wrong, and how can he make it up to his family? are his two main concerns.

Why should you watch it?

The film Death of a Salesman, starring Dustin Hoffman, is a sombre account of Willy Loman's demise. He used to be a great salesman but is unable to accept the changes taking place in both his own life and the society in which he lives. However, if we look at the movie positively, we can see some of the hidden lessons in the plot, which may teach the most important lesson for a sales agent.

"I've got to get some seeds, I've got to get some seeds, right away, Nothing's planted," Willy exclaims in a scene. Nothing that I own is on the ground. This sentence from the movie serves as a metaphor for the selling career, even though Willy mentioned genuine seeds he planned to plant in his yard. 

It is crucial for a sales representative to remain at the top of their game in order to add more prospects to their sales pipeline stages during the course of their career. Your clients advance one level in the sales funnel thanks to prospecting. 

In conclusion, you must continually sow new seeds if you want to succeed in sales. To make sowing the seeds easier, you need an easy to use, drag and drop visual pipeline that helps you manage your sales pipeline well and keep a track of all the seeds you have added until they grow into a plant i.e. your prospects converting into customers. 

Learnings

Self-reflection and authenticity

The significance of self-reflection and remaining true to oneself is explored in the movie. To make sure their sales engagement strategy is in line with their true self, sales professionals should routinely assess their values, objectives, and motivations.

Building genuine relationships

The importance of developing genuine ties with customers is emphasized throughout the film. Instead of concentrating simply on making agreements, sales professionals should place a higher priority on relationship selling, creating trust and long-term relationships.

Impact of sales pressure

The harmful effects of intense sales pressure on people and their relationships are shown in the movie. To prevent burnout and strain on personal relationships, sales professionals should be aware of their wellbeing, ask for help when necessary, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Moneyball (2011)

Trust in Data and it never lies.

“If we try to play like the Yankees in here, we will lose to the Yankees out there” – Billy Beane.

Behind the scenes

Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland A's, is constrained by baseball's lowest salary cap. Billy needs to gain a competitive advantage if he ever hopes to win the World Series. When Billy evaluates and assigns worth to the players he chooses for the squad using statistical data, he is about to completely alter baseball.

Why should you watch it?

Baseball is the most popular sport in America, and it's a terrific sport to learn about sales and business. Billy Beane, the hiring manager for the struggling Oakland Athletics, is portrayed in the film by Brad Pitt. 

Because he lacks the financial resources that other team managers have, he comes up with inventive solutions. 

While his peers discuss which players ‘look good,’ Beane employs a statistician to conduct data analytics and identify the guys who actually make the most contributions to the success of the team. The most important sales tactics are taught in Moneyball, and they are highly applicable to a world that is always evolving. 

Data in sales is essential for making well-informed decisions about how to develop and manage your team. It can help you gain understanding of the reps' strengths, weaknesses, and additional elements at work. 

Utilizing the data and real-time insights that are at our disposal in this day and age is more crucial than ever. 

Many thanks to the resources available for sales enablement! 

The entire premise of Moneyball is built on the application of analytics in athletics, a novel idea at the time. In the present, organizations must employ more analytics to delve deeply into insights and aid sales reps in better understanding their clients. 

The sales enablement strategy is useful in this situation. By assisting sales representatives in following content throughout its entire path, the organization gains a greater understanding of what functions best when. 

Sales representatives can rapidly engage with hot leads and nurture cold leads with the right set of tools that help you automate lead nurturing and simplify your sales processes. 

Learnings

Embrace data and analytics

The movie ‘Moneyball’ demonstrates how statistics and analytics may be used to make wise judgements. To better analyze client behavior, discover patterns, and optimize their sales strategy, sales professionals might use data.

Today’s world has seen a tremendous growth in data and analytics. Sales is an industry which is highly dependent upon it. So, you need a tool that helps you give accurate data insights of all your sales efforts and Zixflow helps you do just that with the auto generated reports with utmost accuracy.  

Adaptability

The movie ‘Moneyball’ emphasizes the importance of flexibility in the face of changing conditions. Salespeople need to be open to new methodology, technology, and approaches if they want to increase their sales performance and keep up with the competition.

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Unhinged growth has consequences.

“Without action, the best intentions in the world are nothing more than that: intentions.” - Jordan Belfort

Behind the scenes

As part of a huge securities fraud in the 1990s that featured widespread corruption on Wall Street and in the corporate banking sector, including shoe designer Steve Madden, Jordan Belfort, a Long Island penny stockbroker, served 22 months in prison for defrauding investors.

Why should you watch it?

The Wolf of Wall Street, a well-known movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Martin Scorsese, is a biopic of Jordan Belfort, the real-life ‘Wolf.’ The genuine wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, said: "If you give people a good enough ‘why,’ they will always find out the ‘how’,” which is the main lesson for all salespeople in one of the best sales films, The Wolf of Wall Street.

Give your potential customers a call to action by invoking urgency: Any marketing message must adhere to the AIDA principle of Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action. Whether it's a print ad, email newsletter, or advertising campaign. The greatest technique to close a transaction is to match a product to a prospect's specific needs and make them feel as though they want to buy it because the prospect wants to buy it and is happy with their investment since they know it was their choice. 

Before determining what stage of the buying process the prospect is at, sales representatives shouldn't merely flood the prospect with follow-up emails. Belfort instructed his team by requesting that they sell him a pen as a way of introducing the concept to them. 

Learnings

Here are the sales lessons that you can learn from The wolf of wall street.

Have a simple sales strategy

In the film, Jordan demonstrates how to close a client step by step. With a sales plan in place, Jordan's team was able to focus on their ultimate objective and have conversations with clients knowing that the goal was to sell penny stocks. 

It's also not supposed to have a set amount of steps. Instead, create a sales strategy that works for your company and different types of sales. Try to be as clear and concise as you can.

Clear targets

Every sales team needs to establish personal objectives. The company's survival will be at risk if you don't know how many clients you need to lose or how much revenue you need to bring in. The aims and goals you set for your team help to guarantee that they are moving in the right direction. 

Make your goals very clear in order to prevent your sales team from falling behind.

Customer relationship is the key

Jordan never gives up on a customer without fiercely advocating for them. He would use every effort till the client was won over. He would conduct pre-planned talks, say exactly what the customer wanted to hear, and end on a positive note by fostering the client connection. Jordan discovered relationship selling to be the finest strategy for achieving success in sales, despite abusing his client. 

Jerry maguire (1996)

Focus on the customer and not on the product

“The key to this business is personal relationships.” — Dicky Fox

Behind the scenes

When a sports agent gets a moral awakening and is dismissed for expressing it, he decides to test his new philosophy with the sole athlete who remains with him and his former colleague as an independent agent.

Why should you watch it?

The character of Jerry Maguire, played by Tom Cruise, is a successful sports agent with Sports Management International (SMI) who will stop at nothing to secure the largest contracts for his clients. The film examines authenticity, a key to how to increase sales through social media.

As a sales representative today you must show that your first goal is to serve the customer by putting their needs before those of the product or quota. As a sales representative, you should delve deeply into the prospect's strategic goals and initiatives in order to establish a connection with the customer. 

Thrive to support them in reaching their overarching aims and targets. Establish a solid rapport with your clientele by demonstrating your authenticity and sincerity through actions that will aid in gaining their trust. Your customers will be more open to your sales attempts and may eventually make a purchase if you do this.

Learnings

Authenticity

Maguire's quest for authenticity inspires salespeople to accept who they really are. Since confidence and trust are fostered through authenticity, salespeople are better able to establish deeper connections with customers and more lasting relationships. 

Relationship building

The necessity of developing sincere relationships with customers is emphasized in the movie. In order to build long-lasting relationships based on respect and understanding, sales professionals should place a higher priority on communication, trust, and long-term partnerships than short-term rewards. 

If you want to succeed in the B2B industry then building lasting relationships is one of the B2B sales trends that you need to follow religiously.  

Effective communication

The movie "Jerry Maguire" serves as an example of how crucial persuasive and communication abilities are in sales. To achieve successful sales outcomes, sales professionals should improve their capacity to define value propositions, actively listen to clients' needs, and persuasively present their products.

The Social Network (2010)

Awareness first, Revenue second

Behind the scenes

The twins who claimed he stole their idea for the social networking site and the co-founder who was later forced out of the company suit Mark Zuckerberg as he develops Facebook as a Harvard student.

Why should you watch it?

In the movie, Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed as an intelligent, jealous, and socially awkward person who wants to recreate the college social scene online. Putting all of these factors aside, it teaches a sales representative some extremely important principles.

Every salesperson should first concentrate on the sales engagement process rather than attempting to skip forward to the conversion stage because doing so will only make them appear desperate at best and lose the prospect at worst. 

In the movie, Zuckerberg argued against his partner's strategy of introducing advertisements to increase revenue. Instead, Zuckerberg concentrated on developing a fantastic product that users would adore and that would attract more attention.

Learnings

Here are the sales lessons that you can learn from The social network

Understanding customer behavior

Understanding consumer behavior and sales psychology are important, as ‘The Social Network’ emphasizes. Salespeople should take the time to conduct market research, examine consumer preferences, and modify their selling strategies to fit the needs and motivations of their target market.

Entrepreneurial mindset

The movie demonstrates Mark Zuckerberg's entrepreneurism and his tenacious pursuit of his goals. By developing a proactive, self-starting attitude, exercising initiative, and looking for new prospects for success and progress, sales professionals can adopt this approach.

Watch, learn, stay entertained, and ace the sales 

These films don't always present the sales industry favorably. Few of them have a direct connection to the work we do today in terms of connecting with prospects and fostering relationships in the online world. But after watching these celebrated masterpieces, you're sure to have some new perspectives and ideas.

You'll at the very least be stuffed with popcorn and sweets. That's a sale there right now.

Well, after all the entertainment, let’s get real and acknowledge the importance of having the right SalesOS that helps you execute your sales planning. 

So try Zixflow for free right away and start making sales like a pro.