Do you know how deeply movies can impact our mindset? Do you remember, the last movie or series you watched? How long did it stay in your mind? Ever thought about it? Well, movies have the power to influence our minds by shaping our thoughts and changing our perspectives through reflection of our own selves. Henceforth, whether you’re struggling for success or you’ve achieved that, these movies can inspire you to redefine your goals and mindset.
Movies to watch before success
1. 3 Idiots (2009) – India
3 Idiots is a movie about the life of three engineering students – Rancho, Raju Rastogi and Farhan Qureshi – who, in pursuit of excellence, challenge the traditional system of education and societal expectations. This movie can show you how important is it to follow your dreams over blindly chasing grades or job titles. When you find the characters to struggle, fail and rise, you can realise that success is not about reaching the destination; it’s about enjoying the process. If you’re a student and stuck in your academic or professional life, this movie can inspire you to be authentic, and happy and embrace curiosity to chase your passion to gain growth in your life.
Awards:
3 Idiots directed by Rajkumar Hirani has over 40 awards including National Filmfare Award for Best Director, the Special Award for IIFA BIG 20 Award for Best Director, Popular Award for Best Fim and so on.
Language:
3 Idiots is originally made in Hindi Language but it was dubbed over 10 other languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Kanada, Turkish, Mandarin, Punjabi and Gujarati.
2. Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011) – Japan
Don’t mistake Jiro Dreams of Sushi as a documentary of sushi; it is a masterpiece movie which can teach you about dedication, the pursuit of perfection and craftsmanship. Jiro Ono, the main protagonist, is a sushi master, who, at 85 years age wants to perfect his craft of sushi for which he tirelessly works in his renowned Tokyo restaurant.
Watching this film will remind you that achieving success requires patience, passion and dedication to master your skill no matter what the field is. If you are feeling lost and have faced failure, this movie can inspire you not to lose hope by showing you the example of Jiro One that success is not an overnight story rather it is a story of consistency, failure and refining your skills over time.
Awards:
Jiro Dreams of Sushi has 3 awards including DFCS Award for Best Documentary in 2012, DFCS for Best Documentary Film in 2013 and Audience Award for Best International Feature Film in 2011.
Language:
Jiro Dreams of Sushi was originally made in Japanese language but it was dubbed into several languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, German and so on.
Movies to watch after success
1. The Lunchbox (2013) – India
The whole plot of The Lunchbox is centred around a mistaken delivery. This film beautifully crafted two characters, Ila and Saajan, who interacted with each other in a very unexpected yet profound way. Ila, a lonely housewife, prepares a lunchbox for her husband and mistakenly it gets delivered to Saajan, a lonely office worker in Mumbai, from where the unusual friendship starts.
Through this film, you can explore the themes of loneliness, companionships and unexpected paths life can take. Henceforth, you have reached a certain level of success in your life, this movie can teach you success is not only a material need; but it comes from enjoying some simple moments in life whether through human connection, emotional expression or the everyday joys that often we unnoticed.
Awards:
The Lunchbox has won 29 awards including the Outstanding Achievement Award in 2013, Grand Golden Rail in 2013, Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2014, Critics’ Award for Best Film in 2014, Canvas Audience Award in 2013 and so on.
Language:
The Lunchbox was originally made in Hindi language but because of gaining popularity it was dubbed and subtitled in many languages including English, French, Spanish, Italian, Mandarin, Arabic, German and so on.
2. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) – India
If you achieve whatever you want in life and your problem is not money now, this movie can teach you how to live life correctly. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Life Will Never Come Again) is a movie celebration of life, friendship and happiness. The story of three friends – Kabir Dewan, Arjun Saluja and Imraan Qureshi – who, are at their success level in life, planned a 3 months road trip for a world tour where they confront their fears, overcome them and learn different life-changing lessons.
Success demands sacrifices. In this way alone you forget about the true happiness of life. This movie gives you a reminder of what true happiness is that comes from spending time with your loved ones, enjoying every moment and letting go of fears.
Award:
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara wins 35 awards for presenting exceptional perceptions of life after success. It won the Filmfare Award for Best Director in 2012, the Filmfare Award for Best Cinematography in 2012, the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue in 2012, the Popular Award for Best Picture in 2012, the Apsara Award for Best Film in 2012 and so on.
Language:
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara was originally made in Hindi language but it got dubbed in so many other languages including French, English, Italian, German, Turkish and so on.
3. The Founder (2016) – The USA
The Founder is inspired by the true story of Ray Kroc – a struggling salesman who turned McDonald’s into the world’s leading fast-food selling company. This movie can give you a glance at entrepreneurial success but with a twist of exploring the darker side of success. You can understand the importance of persistence and the cost that success demands. This movie will remind you that the pursuit of success often comes with tough decisions and dark consequences.
Award:
The Founder is an underrated movie; henceforth it has only 1 win. In 2016, this movie won the Capri Actor Award. However, it got 5 nominations in the IFJA Award for Best Actor in 2016, Movies for Grownups Award for Best Actor in 2017 and so on.
Language:
The Founder was originally made in English language but it is also available in Spanish, French, Russian, Mandarin, Portuguese and so on.
Which stage are you at?
Now you have an idea of what kind of movies you need to watch that can reshape your perceptions regarding success. However, first, you need to be clear about which stages are you at. These are the three questions you can ask yourselves to know your position in your professional and personal career:
1) Are you clear about what you want and how serious you are to get it?
2) Do you often reflect on the meaning of success and its impact on your life?
3) Are you actively pursuing your growth?
If your answer is “yes” to the 1st and 3rd questions, you’re in the “before-success” phase and you can go with the two movies to get clarity in your life. If you answer “yes” to the 2nd and 3rd questions, then you are at the “after-success” phase and you can go with the three movies that can teach you the deeper meaning of life and success.
FAQ
Why should I watch movies before success?
Movies before success help you understand the importance of following your dreams over blindly chasing grades or job titles. They inspire you to embrace curiosity, passion, and authenticity in your pursuit of growth, offering you valuable lessons on how to enjoy the journey toward success.
What is the significance of movies like ‘3 Idiots’ in shaping one’s mindset towards success?
3 Idiots shows you that success is not about reaching the destination, but about enjoying the process. It encourages you to be authentic, happy, and embrace curiosity to chase your passion, making it a perfect movie for students and professionals stuck in their academic or career life.
How can ‘The Lunchbox’ inspire me after I have achieved success?
The Lunchbox teaches you that success is not just about material achievements, but also about finding joy in the simple moments of life through human connection, emotional expression, and companionship. It shows how life can take unexpected paths, offering deep insights into companionship and the power of human connection.
What life lessons can I learn from ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ post-success?
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara reminds you that success demands sacrifices, but true happiness comes from spending time with loved ones, enjoying every moment, and letting go of fears. It celebrates life, friendship, and the pursuit of happiness beyond professional success.
How does ‘Jiro Dreams of Sushi’ illustrate the importance of persistence and dedication?
Jiro Dreams of Sushi demonstrates that success requires patience, passion, and dedication to mastering your craft, no matter the field. It teaches that achieving success is not an overnight story but one of consistency, failure, and refining skills over time, even at the age of 85.
How can I determine which movie to watch based on where I am in my success journey?
If your answer is “yes” to the 1st and 3rd questions (clarity about your goals and active pursuit of growth), you’re in the “before-success” phase and should watch movies like 3 Idiots and Jiro Dreams of Sushi. If you answer “yes” to the 2nd and 3rd questions (reflecting on success and actively pursuing growth), you are in the “after-success” phase and should watch movies like The Lunchbox, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, and The Founder.
