Movies are undoubtedly a great source of escapism, helping you to unwind after a long day at work. Whereas on the other hand, they can teach us a lot about life and help us to identify with ourselves and the people around us. The team at Factorial have gathered a selection of must-see HR films that highlight the different scenarios and issues that HR professionals experience day to day. These HR-related films can be used as a method of training for HR professionals, as they outline the various scenarios that HR departments face on a daily basis.
Each of these films covers a HR Topic that we are all familiar with, from Motivation, leadership, teamwork, resilience, problem-solving and more.
Invictus (2009) by Clint Eastwood
This film is inspiring in so many levels. Based on the biography of Nelson Mandela, president of South Africa from 94-99 and Nobel Peace Prize winner, this film expresses the importance of leadership, motivation and teamwork in each person’s professional and personal growth journey. The message in the film for HR professionals is clear: employees can easily become demotivated and pessimistic in their approach to work. Therefore, it is your responsibility as a HR professional, to bring out the positives in your employees through team building activities, parties and events. This film will help you to focus on the ways that you can recharge your employees and encourage teamwork.
Moneyball (2011) by Bennett Miller
This HR film tells the true story of a baseball team that revolutionised sports management. By cleverly using data (or people analytics) they were able to create a high-performing team at a lower cost than their competitors. The coach in the film bets against tradition in favour of numerical analysis to prove that a computer can build a team better than human instinct. Isn’t that similar to adopting AI in your recruitment process?
The Pursuit of Happiness (2006) by Gabriele Muccino.
A truly inspiring movie, also inspired by a true story, expresses how a person can survive extremely harsh living conditions without ever giving up. The protagonist’s daily struggle to give a proper life to his child represents the challenges that every professional faces every day in the workplace. This is a film that everyone should watch at least once in their lives to learn how to persevere even in the most difficult situations.
Apollo 13 (1995) by Ron Howard
This is a must-see movie for every HR professional. It tells the true story of an ill-fated and famous American space mission. The characters in Ron Howard’s epic film provides examples of how to show rational leadership during a crisis. In essence, the film is also the perfect example of how virtual team leaders can solve an almost impossible problem through teamwork, ingenuity, and rational process.
Kung Fu Panda (2008) by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson
Last but not least, this is a Human resources film that openly deals with leadership and motivates the audience to continually challenge themselves to be better. In addition, this movie highlights the importance of having good mentors.
The most important lesson this film teaches us is that some people are born to lead others. When the film’s protagonist is asked to guide a team, he finds himself unsure of his own abilities. But once he recognises his own strengths and weaknesses, he is able to inspire his friends and family to fight for themselves, becoming a rather charismatic leader.
💡 In our People Manager 2022 Kit, you’ll find free libraries of movie clips and music for use in your HR activities.
