The Founder
The Founder is a 2016 American biographical drama film directed by John Lee Hancock and written by Robert Siegel. Starring Michael Keaton as businessman Ray Kroc, the film portrays the story of his creation of McDonald’s. The film premiered at Arclight Hollywood on December 7, 2016, and was released theatrically in the United States on January 20, 2017. It grossed $24 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Keaton’s performance. After encountering a Bible salesman who’s Jewish, Ray hits on the idea of franchising to middle-class investors.
Ray also divorces his wife, Ethel, who gets all his assets except any shares in his business. The brothers agree to a $2.7 million lump sum payment (equivalent to $26 million in 2020) and a 1% annual royalty, but Ray refuses to include the royalty in the settlement. He argues that the true value of McDonald’s is the name itself, which expresses all the attributes of Americana. The film ends in 1970, where Ray prepares a speech in his elaborate mansion with his new wife Joan, now divorced from Rollie Smith.
Random Citizen 