20 Movies That Made Everyone Want the Same Job
There are plenty of movies about work, but only a handful make a career look so exciting that people briefly consider changing their entire life plan. Whether it’s glamorous offices, exciting adventures, or simply characters who seem to love what they do, some films have a way of making certain jobs look far more appealing than they probably are in real life. For a couple of hours, they convince us that journalism, archaeology, fashion, or even paleontology might actually be the perfect career.
Here are 20 movies that made everyone want the same job.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – Magazine editor
Working for Miranda Priestly may have been terrifying, but the fashion world never looked more exciting.
Jurassic Park (1993) – Paleontologist
Watching Dr. Alan Grant study dinosaurs made paleontology seem like the most exciting science career on Earth.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – Archaeologist
Forget dusty museums. Indiana Jones made archaeology look like nonstop adventure.
Top Gun (1986) – Fighter pilot
The movie inspired countless aviation dreams with its high-speed action and unforgettable flight sequences.
Almost Famous (2000) – Music journalist
Traveling with rock bands and interviewing musicians made entertainment journalism seem like the ultimate dream job.
Legally Blonde (2001) – Lawyer
Elle Woods turned law school into something surprisingly fun and proved that intelligence and style could absolutely coexist.
Night at the Museum (2006) – Museum curator
Technically Ben Stiller plays a night guard, but the movie made museums feel magical enough to spark interest in museum careers.
Twister (1996) – Storm chaser
Few careers have ever looked as thrilling as chasing tornadoes across the Midwest.
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) – Magazine writer
Andie Anderson somehow made writing magazine features in New York seem like the coolest job imaginable.
Julie & Julia (2009) – Food writer
Cooking every day and writing about it suddenly sounded like a pretty great career.
Chef (2014) – Chef
The movie practically convinced audiences that quitting everything to start a food truck was a realistic life plan.
The Intern (2015) – Startup employee
Working at an online fashion company somehow looked warm, creative, and surprisingly wholesome.
The Social Network (2010) – Tech entrepreneur
For better or worse, the film made launching a startup feel like the future.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) – Photo editor
Walter’s journey transformed what seemed like an ordinary publishing job into something full of creativity and adventure.
Catch Me If You Can (2002) – FBI agent
Even though Frank Abagnale is the focus, Carl Hanratty made tracking financial criminals look fascinating.
13 Going on 30 (2004) – Magazine editor
The colorful office, fashion closets, and Manhattan lifestyle convinced plenty of viewers that magazine publishing was pure fun.
Hidden Figures (2016) – NASA mathematician
The film inspired many viewers by showing how mathematics and determination helped shape the Space Age.
The Martian (2015) – Astronaut
Surviving alone on Mars definitely isn’t realistic career advertising, but it made space exploration feel incredibly inspiring.
Moneyball (2011) – Baseball executive
The movie proved you didn’t have to be on the field to completely change the game.
Spotlight (2015) – Investigative journalist
Unlike glamorous newsroom movies, Spotlight showed the quiet determination behind investigative reporting while still making journalism feel deeply meaningful.