Top 10 Sales Movies of All-Time

Since Peak Sales continuously recruits top performing sales professionals, we thought it might be interesting to put together a list of the 10 best sales movies we’ve seen. If you have any other favorites or have any thoughts on our list, comment them below!

In no particular order, here are Peak’s top 10 sales movies of all-time:

1. The Big Kahuna (1999)

Characters Larry (Kevin Spacey), Phil (Danny DeVito), and Bob Walker (Peter Fancinelli) are novice sales representatives at a struggling industrial lubricant manufacturer. The three spend time at a major convention waiting to make their sales pitch to The Big Kahuna, a prospective customer with the ability to save the company from financial troubles. Devito’s character schools the up and coming sales rep, Bob Walker, on the facts of life.

2. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

This epic movie, starring Alec Baldwin, Jack Lemon, and Al Pacino, follows the story of regional sales reps fighting to save their jobs when their boss announces he will be firing everyone except for the top two salespeople at their New York City real estate firm.

3. Death of a Salesman (1985)

This movie, based on the Pulitzer Prize play, tells the sad story of a salesman at the end of his career. There are many versions including one in 1985 with Dustin Hofman, but this play with Brian Dennehy does a good job of capturing an important scene.

4. Jerry Maquire (1996)

This box office hit (earning over $270 million), starring Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding, and Renée Zellweger, can be quoted by salespeople around the globe with phrases like “Show me the money!” and “Help me, help you”. The movie focuses on a player agent fighting to make money and save his career.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaiSHcHM0PA

5. The Goods – Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009)

This hilarious movie stars Jeremy Piven, as a hired gun, brought in to save a used car dealership from going under. There are many tongue in cheek sales situations and behind the scenes views on sales life.

6. Cadillac Man (1990)

Here is yet another car sales movie. This one stars Robin Williams, whose character is under a lot of pressure to sell twelve cars or lose his job. In addition, he is facing pressure to pay off his debt to the mafia or face their consequences. This comedy nearly doubled its budget at the box office.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7upKCg1Rwj0

7. Tin Men (1987)

Another Danny Devito film. This time, he and Richard Dreyfus are competing salespeople selling aluminum siding. There are many dirty sales tricks and funny sales room scenes. It’s hard to find scenes from the movie online, but this one shows the top two salespeople obsessing over their fancy cars.

8. Boiler Room (2000)

This star-studded American crime drama about fast talking rip-off artists, conning prospects into buying junk bonds meets our top list of sales movies due to its many great sales scenes, especially those in which sales managers push inside sales reps to sell. The film is inspired by the firm Stratton Oakmont and the life of Jordan Belfort who’s autobiography was later adapted to the big screen in another top sales movie below.

9. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) 

This blockbuster hit, directed by Matin Scorsese and starring Leonardo Dicaprio and Jonah hill, earned nearly $400 million in the box office. This movie, as mentioned earlier, is based on real life salesperson Jordan Belfort’s rise to riches through scamming people into purchasing junk stock. The film, which emphasizes Belfort’s sales skills, earned 5 nominations at the 86th Academy Awards.

10. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) 

Finally, we have another sales movie based on a true story. This one focuses on the story of salesperson, Chris Gardner, played by Will Smith. The movie follows Gardner’s struggles with being homeless while raising his son and competing for a position as a salesperson at a brokerage firm. The film, which earned over $300 million at the box office, earned Will Smith nominations for an Academy Award and Golden Globe for best actor.

Obviously great B2B salespeople are a unique breed, but what exactly makes them go above and beyond like some of the characters in the movies above? Check out our article, The Traits of Top Sales Performers, to find out.

We have listed our top sales flicks, what are yours? Comment below!

• About
• Latest Posts

Peak Sales Recruiting

Peak Sales Recruiting specializes in B2B sales recruiting services. Our rigorous and proven scientific methodology combines role profiling, headhunting and candidate assessment, augmented with advisory services. We deliver guaranteed results, and our unrivalled success rate helps accelerate sales, reduce operating costs, and enhance HR effectiveness, company valuations and investor confidence.

Latest posts by Peak Sales Recruiting (see all)

• Austin’s Sales Hiring Landscape - November 10, 2022
• Boston’s Sales Hiring Landscape - November 10, 2022
• A Statistical Look at Toronto’s Sales Hiring Landscape - May 25, 2018