Documentaries
Ever wondered how people actually sell? These documentaries break down storytelling, branding, influence, and the tactics that drive what people buy.
Martha: A Netflix Documentary (2024)
Director: R.J. Cutler
Why Watch: Martha Stewart pioneered personal branding long before social media. This documentary chronicles her rise to becoming the first modern influencer, leveraging media, publishing, and product lines to build a lifestyle empire. A must-watch for understanding the roots of omnichannel marketing.
Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy (2024)
Director: Nic Stacey
Why Watch: A revealing exposé on how global brands exploit desire and data to fuel consumerism. With whistleblower interviews, environmental footage, and an ironic AI narrator, it critiques the mechanisms of modern retail. Perfect for marketers reflecting on ethics, design, and demand.
The Social Dilemma (2020)
Director: Jeff Orlowski
Why Watch: A sobering look at how social media platforms engineer behavior through algorithmic targeting. It’s an essential critique for marketers navigating the line between influence and manipulation in the digital age.
The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011)
Director: Morgan Spurlock
Why Watch: Funded entirely by product placements, this meta-documentary is both an experiment and a commentary on advertising saturation. It’s a witty, transparent look at the business of brand integration and media funding.
Top Movies, Shows, and Documentaries on Marketing
In marketing’s fast-moving world, inspiration can be as crucial as expertise. Great ideas often emerge from unexpected stories, on screen rather than in textbooks. From branding and consumer behavior to innovation and ethics, these films and shows reveal how influence is crafted. Here’s a curated list that both entertains and enlightens anyone curious about the art of marketing.
Movies
These films uncover what it takes to build a brand—from product launches to high-stakes deals. Each one offers something real about business, marketing, or leadership.
Gran Turismo (2023)
Director: Neill Blomkamp
Why Watch: Based on Nissan’s GT Academy, this real-life story blurs the line between gaming and brand storytelling. It’s a compelling example of experiential marketing, turning digital engagement into real-world impact. For marketers, it offers a powerful case study in audience activation and brand innovation.
Air (2023)
Director: Ben Affleck
Why Watch: This dramatization of Nike’s pursuit of Michael Jordan to launch the Air Jordan line is a masterclass in brand vision, athlete endorsement, and high-stakes dealmaking. It captures how a bold marketing move transformed not just a company, but the culture of sports branding. Essential for anyone studying brand identity, influence, and long-term strategy.
Joy (2015)
Director: David O. Russell
Why Watch: This film traces Joy Mangano’s rise from homemaker to product mogul. It’s a vivid portrayal of entrepreneurial grit, product innovation, and personal branding, offering marketers a front-row seat to the power of storytelling and salesmanship.
The Social Network (2010)
Director: David Fincher
Why Watch: A gripping account of Facebook’s explosive growth, this film explores platform building, virality, and digital branding. It’s essential viewing for understanding how startups craft influence and scale into cultural forces.
The Joneses (2009)
Director: Derrick Borte
Why Watch: A smart social satire that follows a fake family planted to drive neighborhood consumerism. It offers a unique commentary on stealth marketing and influencer culture before it became mainstream, making it a fascinating case study in aspirational branding and lifestyle selling.
Thank You for Smoking (2005)
Director: Jason Reitman
Why Watch: This dark comedy skewers the ethics of persuasion and lobbying. Through its satirical lens, it unpacks spin, influence, and the fine line marketers often walk between persuasion and manipulation.
TV Shows
Founders, teams, and industry culture—you’ll see the inside of how business really works. These shows break down how ideas become products, and how strategy drives growth.
The Playlist (2022)
Creators: Per-Olav Sørensen & Hallgrim Haug
Why Watch: Dramatizing Spotify’s launch, this series explores how tech, branding, and music merged to reshape media consumption. For marketers, it’s a fascinating look into disruption, product-market fit, and the strategic storytelling behind a billion-dollar platform.
Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017)
Creators: Christopher Cantwell & Christopher C. Rogers
Why Watch: Set during the tech revolution of the 1980s, this series explores how product development and marketing strategy evolve in tandem. It’s a poetic and underrated gem about ambition, disruption, and building a brand from scratch.
Mad Men (2007–2015)
Creator: Matthew Weiner
Why Watch: A defining show about the golden age of advertising, Mad Men captures the psychology of persuasion, cultural influence, and brand storytelling. It remains one of the most insightful depictions of marketing in all its glamour and grit.
Honorable Mentions
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Director: David Gelb
Why Watch: At first glance a culinary documentary, it’s also a study in brand excellence. Jiro’s obsessive pursuit of perfection becomes a metaphor for premium branding, customer loyalty, and reputation management.
Art & Copy (2009)
Director: Doug Pray
Why Watch: This film dives into the minds behind iconic ad campaigns, celebrating creativity and messaging. For marketers, it’s a reminder of advertising’s power to shape identity and culture.
The Century of the Self (2002)
Creator: Adam Curtis
Why Watch: A profound four-part series exploring how Freudian psychology influenced consumer culture and public relations. It’s a foundational watch for anyone studying how marketing has shaped modern identity and emotion-driven decision-making.
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Super Size Me (2004): A scathing critique of fast food and marketing manipulation.
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Steve Jobs (2015): A behind-the-scenes glimpse into branding, storytelling, and the man who turned a company into a cult.
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Abstract: The Art of Design (Season 2, Jonathan Hoefler episode): Typography as brand identity, subtle, powerful, and everywhere.
Marketing is as much about art and empathy as it is about analytics. These films and series reveal that behind every ad, campaign, or viral post is a deeper story of human desire, innovation, and strategy. Whether you’re building your own brand or simply fascinated by the psychology of persuasion, these titles are sure to challenge your thinking and spark your imagination.
Written by mimoza Malići
Mimoza Maliqi is a seasoned marketer with a sharp eye for storytelling and strategy. At TOML Collective, she runs the show on all things marketing and helps shape the TOML Journal, where she crafts stories that are honest, insightful, and occasionally unexpected. Reach her at mimoza@tomlcollective.com.