Ray Kroc didn’t invent McDonald’s; he just made damn sure you thought he did. This is a greasy, golden-arched tale of theft, capitalism, and a masterclass in the art of the corporate steal.
It’s part business thriller, part morality tale, and all about the birth of modern America’s drive-thru culture.
“The Founder” is the best docudrama on a franchise takeover that I’ve seen (or heard of).
Trailer for “The Founder”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Ray Kroc stumbled on the McDonald brothers’ small California burger joint when trying to sell them milkshake mixers—and then figured out how to franchise their model nationwide.
- Kroc famously screwed the brothers out of future royalties. He promised them 1% of gross sales for life (worth billions today) in a handshake deal—then never paid it.
Watch “The Founder”
You can watch “The Founder” on Netflix.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 97/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 82/100 (Users); 80/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Directed by John Lee Hancock, who also helmed “The Blind Side” and “Saving Mr. Banks.” He frames Kroc as a complicated mix of visionary and predator. The pacing makes it feel less like a biopic and more like a tense corporate takeover thriller.
Release Date: January 20, 2017
My Review of “The Founder”
The Setup
This 115-minute docudrama follows Ray Kroc (played by Michael Keaton) as he goes from washed-up salesman to ruthless fast-food mogul.
The McDonald brothers—Mac and Dick—had perfected the “Speedee Service System” in their San Bernardino restaurant, serving burgers and fries in 30 seconds.
Kroc saw not just a restaurant, but a franchise empire waiting to happen. What follows is the story of how he built McDonald’s into the brand that would define suburban America.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Ray Kroc opened the first official McDonald’s franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 1955. That location had golden arches, a red-and-white tile building, and a 15¢ hamburger menu—the template for thousands to come.
- Ray Kroc recruits franchisees not from big investors but from middle-class couples who will treat their store like family. This move kept quality and branding tight in the early days.
- The McDonald brothers insist on keeping control and protecting their original vision. Kroc constantly pushes back, wanting bigger menus and more aggressive growth.
- When banks won’t finance his expansion, Kroc finds a partner in Harry Sonneborn. He suggests making money not from burgers but from buying the land under every McDonald’s franchise. That’s the financial model still driving the company today.
- Michael Keaton’s portrayal of Kroc is riveting. You see both his desperation to succeed and his ruthless willingness to betray those who trusted him.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Kroc’s second wife, Joan, would later become one of the biggest philanthropists in America, giving away billions from the fortune Ray built.
- The McDonald brothers’ original San Bernardino restaurant was bulldozed in 1972—ordered by Kroc himself out of spite.
- Kroc originally pitched McDonald’s as a way to make America more “family friendly” with clean bathrooms and consistent food—radical at a time when most roadside diners were greasy and unpredictable.
Wrap Up:
“The Founder” is a must-watch if you’re interested in business, power, or how the American Dream often has victims behind the golden arches. It’s a slick mix of inspiration and cautionary tale—and I couldn’t look away.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc