Written by Marijn Overvest | Reviewed by Sjoerd Goedhart | Fact Checked by Ruud Emonds | Our editorial policy
The 12 Best Negotiation Movies of 2025
As taught in the Negotiation Course for Procurement Professionals / ★★★★★ 4.9 rating
What are negotiation movies?
- Negotiation movies are films that highlight negotiation and the skills and techniques that negotiation requires.
- These films offer real-world scenarios, providing practical insights into negotiation complexities.
- Negotiation skills are rooted in the deepest part of our history and are often portrayed in entertainment like movies and TV series.
The 12 Best Negotiation Movies
We’ve curated the top negotiation movies below, which will not only entertain you but also offer valuable lessons on various negotiation skills and techniques. Whether you’re a movie buff, a business professional, or simply looking to enjoy a good negotiation, this list has something for you.
1. A Hijacking (2012)
The movie is all about the kidnapping and attempted release of a Danish freighter and its crew. The center of the movie is all about the negotiations between the CEO of the shipping company and the translator for the Somali pirates. It’s a suspenseful train ride as a single mistake from either party could cause serious consequences. Emotions flare up as the negotiations extend up to 120 days with either party giving up on their demands.
The Lessons Learned: It’s a prime negotiation movie where lives are at stake, so the actors during the negotiation scene are all dead-set and serious about achieving their end goals. You’ll see concessions and various negotiation styles in this movie.
Where to Watch: Prime Video and Apple TV
2. Lincoln (2012)
Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie is all about the 16th President’s negotiation prowess as he overcomes adversities while trying to get the Congressional majority to vote against slavery. He finally succeeds in the end, despite the strong opposition he faced from the plantation owners and pro-slavery politicians.
The Lessons Learned: Lincoln’s negotiation tactics change to adapt to the situation. At times, he persuades through metaphor and storytelling. There are also other situations where he appeals through logic and reason; then through pressure and incentivizing if he still can’t get what he wants using his first tactic.
Where to Watch: Apple TV
3. Big Miracle (2012)
A movie that is clearly underrated, Big Miracle is about the international effort to rescue three gray whales that were trapped under the ice near a small town in Alaska. The film is based on a true story and is set in 1988 when groups that clearly had their own interests set are united by a common goal.
The Lessons Learned: When a group of diverse, disparate, and conflicting parties realizes their own common goal through the creative use of self-interest, even the most bitter of foes can become momentary allies.
Where to Watch: Prime Video and Apple TV
4. Thirteen Days (2000)
“Thirteen Days,” tells the re-telling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. This time, it’s in the viewpoint of Kenny O’Donnell, President Kennedy’s special advisor. It’s a race against time as powerful negotiations move by a few good men ultimately save the world from a near nuclear holocaust.
The Lessons Learned: The movie shows a variety of negotiation styles. From contentious to compromising to collaborative, the Kennedy brothers are actually master negotiators and can unlock solutions to otherwise impossible-to-negotiate problems. There is a lot of debate and discussion in this movie as seen in the clip below.
Where to Watch: Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play
5. The Founder (2017)
The Founder is an amazing movie that depicts the rise of Ray Kroc’s rise to power. For those who have no idea who he is, Ray Kroc is just the businessman who transformed a small drive-in restaurant in Saint Bernardino, California into one of the biggest fast-food franchises in the world. A story about business relationships, capitalism, and avarice, the Founder is a must-see for any negotiation master.
The Lesson Learned: The movie is all about how Ray Kroc managed to negotiate his way to actually oust the original owners of McDonald’s. All throughout the film, we will see actual evidence of how poor communication ultimately eroded the trust that is supposedly seen between two partners. Or in this movie, between Kroc and the McDonald brothers.
Where to Watch: Prime Video and Google Play
6. The Godfather (1972)
Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece, The Godfather is another movie that all negotiation masters must watch. Each character is presented wonderfully and the negotiation scenes are also set in a powerful way. This movie is all about how the most powerful of men are not exactly the ones with actual money and physical strength, but those who think ahead and negotiate like a boss.
The Lesson Learned: From start to finish, the movie is all about negotiations. From Don Vito Corleone’s offer-that-can’t-be-refused to famed Hollywood director and studio head Jack Woltz up until Michael Corleone’s distributive negotiation style with Moe Green on buying him out of Vegas, the Godfather is all about hardball negotiation.
Where to Watch: Netflix, Apple TV, and Google Play
7. Tommy Boy (1995)
This is a comedy film, so why is it here? Well, you’d be surprised to know that this movie actually has fun bits of negotiation tactics. It’s hilarious, it’s stupid, but it’s good fun. So if you’re itching for a good laugh while still learning about the wonderful world of negotiation, then watch Tommy Boy.
The Lesson Learned: The film is all about the heart during negotiation. It’s a good example of showing concessions and having confidence and humanity while talking about a deal. In the movie, there’s a scene of Tommy Callahan (Chris Farley) explaining to the waitress why he is a loser salesman. He does this in order to get his chicken wings, which he actually does. Because in negotiation, “… there’s book smarts and street smarts”.
Where to Watch: Apple TV and Google Play
8. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
A crime drama starring Al Pacino, it’s another movie that highlights the importance of being cool and collected during an intense negotiation. Again, this is another awesome movie where Pacino delivered a great performance as an actor and as a petty criminal who is trying his best to weasel out of confrontations through negotiation.
The Lessons Learned: During the bank robbery scene, Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino) is completely surrounded by the police. At first, Sonny is the one holding the negotiations because the other party, led by a sweating and emotional police officer is too intense to handle the situation.
However, things turn around when an actual ice-cold negotiator, an FBI officer, informs Sonny that “… there will be no more new favors”. This is the kind of negotiation that Sonny is most aware of, so he finally starts to negotiate.
Where to Watch: Prime Video and Apple TV
9. The Negotiator (1998)
Probably one of the best action movies and a movie that’s about negotiations at the same time, The Negotiator is the kind of movie that you want to see if you want to pit two master negotiators at each other. Both Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey make convincing master negotiators, which is why this movie is on the list.
The Lessons Learned: One of the most memorable lines in this movie is probably the one where Samuel L. Jackson is taunting the negotiator on the other line with his “Never Say No” line. Just listen to it and watch how the other party reacts.
Where to Watch: Prime Video and Google Play
10. Captain Phillips (2013)
Another negotiation movie where lives are at stake, “Captain Phillips” is based on the true-to-life accounts of Richard Phillips, captain of a merchant ship that was held hostage by Somali pirates. Portrayed by Tom Hanks, it’s another movie where emotions should always be in check, or else, you won’t get anywhere.
The Lessons Learned: Watch the clip below and witness how intense emotions will ruin any chances of creating a good atmosphere for negotiation. However, it is always where a skillful negotiator shines the most when he can calm down everyone before the negotiation can begin or continue.
Where to Watch: Apple TV, Youtube, and Google Play
11. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
The Wolf of Wall Street is a movie that is based on the real story of a stockbroker named Jordan Belfort. The film reveals how Belfort and his associates engaged in unethical practices, using deceit to build their wealth and status. Despite presenting his actions as daring and innovative, Belfort was just committing fraud. The movie highlights his lavish lifestyle, excessive drinking, and the harm caused to others in his pursuit of money and power.
The Lesson Learned: Even though The Wolf of Wall Street serves as a warning, it offers valuable lessons on negotiation. The film highlights how Belfort’s charm and persuasive skills were used unethically. The movie reminds us how persuasion can be in negotiations and emphasizes the importance of honesty. Watching the movie can help you understand the negative effects of unethical tactics and the need to follow moral standards in all negotiations.
12. The Social Network (2010)
The Social Network tells the story of Mark Zuckerberg’s rise to success. It follows his journey through legal battles and disputes with former friends and co-founders, and the film sheds light on the potential personal sacrifices that entrepreneurs may have to make on their journey.
This amplifies the reality of entrepreneurship, where the balance between personal life and work often clashes. While it may not always be as dramatic as in the film, it serves as a reminder of the potential trade-offs in an entrepreneurial pursuit.
This film offers valuable insights for negotiators who must balance maintaining relationships while seeking recognition, especially when those priorities come into conflict.
The Lesson Learned: The movie shows how Zuckerberg’s determination and strategic decision-making helped him navigate complex negotiations. It emphasizes the importance of assertiveness, adaptability, and understanding of legal implications when dealing with disputes.
The film also highlights how personal conflicts and ego can impact negotiations, teaching us to remain professional and rational.
By watching the movie, you can gain valuable insights into handling legal disputes, overcoming entrepreneurial challenges, and fostering successful negotiations while maintaining relationships and reputations.
Where to Watch: Netflix, Max, Apple TV, Youtube, and Google Play
Now, if you want to just focus on the negotiation scenes within these movies we’ve made you a table exactly for this purpose!
Pro Tip: Great negotiators learn from every source—including Hollywood. But if you really want to go from watching negotiations to mastering them, dissect the scenes: What’s their opening move? How do they respond under pressure? What psychological tactics are at play? Then, apply that mindset to your next supplier meeting.
⭢ In the Negotiation Course for Procurement Professionals, we break down real-world strategies just like these—and teach you how to use them with confidence in your procurement role.
The Power of Videos and Movies
From the written form of communication, you have books, magazines, brochures, and pamphlets. While those are very easy to come by, reading too much information can cause a person to lose interest in a topic as big as negotiation. This is why for today, we focused on talking about negotiation movies.
In mastering negotiation, videos and movies are actually a big help because they are both informative and entertaining at the same time.
One of the biggest challenges in mastering negotiation is retaining focus and interest. This is why variety is essential when it comes to learning materials. This has been a guiding principle at Procurement Tactics in creating our Negotiation Course For Procurement Professionals, which is why most of our students have mastered the art of negotiation in mere months!
In any case, social media nowadays are filled with viral videos that attract millions of viewers and followers. And the subject of negotiation was not exempt from the viral video effect. There are millions of tutorial videos about negotiation on YouTube or Vimeo.
Procurement Expert’s Insights and Recommended Negotiation Movies
For this article, we asked an experienced procurement expert to share her insights and recommended movies that can help you in negotiation.
Hilce Vallenilla
Procurement Manager, Sanofi
LinkedIn Profile: linkedin.com/in/hilce-vallenilla
1. What negotiation movies do you recommend for procurement professionals to watch?
I think most of the movies have a part dedicated to negotiation, you only have to observe closely to identify the different techniques that the characters are playing.
2. What negotiation movies do you recommend for procurement professionals to watch?
- Erin Brockovich
- Pursuing the happiness
3. Can you give us examples of negotiation movies that made you become a negotiation expert or contributed to your career to become a negotiation expert?
- The negotiator
Conclusion
To master negotiation, one needs a combination of educational and entertaining resources. Traditional written materials are valuable but might not hold one’s interest in this complex subject. Negotiation movies are an answer to this challenge as they bring theoretical concepts to life through visual storytelling, making it more engaging.
The impact of negotiation tutorial videos on platforms like YouTube further democratizes access to this knowledge, making it accessible to millions and engaging to learn.
In a world full of information, negotiation movies are a dynamic and effective tool that strikes the right balance between educational depth and entertainment to captivate learners in the pursuit of mastering negotiation skills.
Frequentlyasked questions
What is a negotiation movie?
A negotiation movie is a film that highlight negotiation and the skills and techniques that negotiation requires.
What are the best negotiation movies?
The best negotiation movies are those where the plot is centered around an important negotiation.
What are the big five in negotiation?
In Psychology, the “Big Five” personality traits that play a big part in negotiation are extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness.
Learn more about Mastering Negotiation!
Join our Negotiation Course For Procurement Professionals course today and learn everything about how to become a professional negotiator. It’s as simple as watching a movie!
Talk to us at www.procurementtactics.com for more information!
About the author
My name is Marijn Overvest, I’m the founder of Procurement Tactics. I have a deep passion for procurement, and I’ve upskilled over 200 procurement teams from all over the world. When I’m not working, I love running and cycling.
