5 Classic Sales Movies that Coach You Hard to Close More Sales

Strategically, a watchlist every sales person should replay per year-start.

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Your first handshake during the meet and greet is like the director saying “Ahaaaaaction!” It warrants a specific version of yourself who is of course still natural and spontaneous but versatile to the distinctness of the personality of the prospects you are about to make an emotional encounter with. Right then and there, the prospects become both your audience and your co actor. The encounter becomes a movie where you are an actor (A), the writer (W) and the director (D) in one body of a true master Closer. Such, lead me to look for more Sales Tip resources aside from books.

I love reading books. However, a motion picture which graphically shows how specific remarks are executed would be a booster from the spiels you read from texts. The following movies are ranked according to the weight of sales insights I personally appreciated after watching.


5 – THE PRIME GIG, 2000

 CLOSER-ACTORS: Ed Harris, Vince Vaughn (D) Gregory Mosher (W) William Wheeler

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Penn’s pitch to Evelyn is too involving that their conversation via phone seems like an in person encounter.

I always fantasize a movie that depicts the sales industry I am in; the one-call close selling of Timeshares. This film is the closest to my field thus far. Penny’s (V. Vaughn) first sales career in the early scenes was in a vacation coupon telesales where lines are something every Timeshare closer can relate to.

The main reason though, why this is on this watchlist, is because of how excellently Sob-Credibility story is filmed. Replay the Evelyn Feller Close and this is a perfect case example on how to master using Sob Story to close your deal.

READ ALSO: HOW TO: Boost Charisma Quotient through SOB-CRED STORY

Remember: On WEALTH.

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4- TWO FOR THE MONEY, 2005

CLOSER-ACTORS: Al Pacino, Matthew McConaughey (D) D.J. Caruso (W) Dan Gilroy

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Rewind to this scene, Brandon Lang (McConaughey) closing a bet through a Pina colada.

Take note how the Pina Colada Close is executed here. Learn how knowing your prospect’s favorite stuff drives you towards a smooth sale. Involvement!

This is the only on this list which is  almost a Biopic film since some scenes are inspired from true events. The movie does not actually convince me to be worth listing here if Walter’s role is not portrayed by Pacino. His acting prowess makes the coaching more effective to the viewers as he delivers his lines weaved with pitch spiels and winning mindset.

 Remember: ON PERSISTENCE
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3- WALL STREET, 1987

CLOSER-ACTORS: Michael Douglas, Charlie Sheen (D) Oliver Stone (W) Stanley Weiser, Oliver Stone

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Replay this scene and learn how to make negotiation sounds like you are making a favor to you prospect and win the haggle. Coined this as “You-brought-my-mother-into-it” Close.

The most awarded film on the list. Douglas’ performance is indeed worth an Academy Best Actor here. His character Gordon Gekko, is 24th in American Film Institute’s 100 Years, 100 Heroes and Villains while his line about Greed is also listed 57th in AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Movie Quotes.

Scenes which dramatize sales techniques from Sun Tzu’s Art of War are also entertaining and stimuli for rewinds. Sheen acts perfectly like he is Robin and Douglas is Batman. The only reason why this is not on the 1st rank is, the next two movies have more prospect-closer scenes which Closers would really appreciate. But then with emphasis, this film is with great acting and sales content.
Remember: ON GREED
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2- BOILER ROOM, 2000

CLOSER-ACTORS: Giovanni Ribisi, Vin Diesel (D) Ben Younger (W) Ben Younger

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That rebuttal for “I have to ask my wife first”.
Tagged as the Wall Street (1987) counterpart of the 2000s (Millennium), Boiler Room perfectly depicts the sales deck scenes of hard selling and overcoming objections.
This film truly shows several scenes which Closers could identify and learn from. You smirk when you recognize a tactic you already did to a prospect while you nod when you learn something new to use on your next pitch. Lots of scenes to rewind. From Vin Diesel’s Benadryl Take Away to Ribisi’s Captain Crunch “I have to ask my wife” rebuttal.
Remember: ON BEING A CLOSER
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1-GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS, 1992

CLOSER-ACTORS: Al Pacino, Alec Baldwin, Jack Lemmon (D) James Foley (W) David Mamet

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The James Lingk – Opportunity Close monologue by Ricky (Al Pacino) was the most persuasive spiel this sales film had.

The second Pacino-starred movie on the list. Baldwin’s cameo will never be in oblivion. Scenes owned by Lemmon will always be compelling. Ed Harris, who is in the 5th film, Prime Gig did another splendid antagonist Closer role here.

This is a motion picture version of a play script by David Mamet that won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984. Script is based on Mamet’s experience being previously in a sales workplace, which makes this production appeal so realistic to sales persons specifically to real estate agents. From handling slump, honing a positive mindset, competition, red leads, handling cancellations, undoubtedly, a topnotch in both cinematography and sales coaching material. For me, the most classic among all classic sales films so far.

I’m going to tell you something. Your life is your own. You have a contract with your wife? You have certain things you do jointly? Bond there. And there are other things, and those things are yours. And you needn’t feel ashamed, you needn’t feel that you’re being untrue. Or that *she* would abandon you if she knew. This is *your* life.

Ricky Roma’s haggling spiels after James Lingk declared cancellation of his purchase the day after he signed the dotted line because of his wife’s disapproval. Use this when you overcome a one-legged attendee’s can’t decide objection. 

Remember: ON TACTFULNESS

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These films serve to me as reinforcements. Concepts from your readings when demonstrated like in the movie scenes turn you to be an effective doer in real life. Flawlessly portray your role in every sales table you have to close a deal on. Be a hall of fame Academy Best Actor throughout the befriending-pitch-objection-rebuttal-closing performance.


Do you have your own sales film watch list too?  Comment your favorite sales film.

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