In the list of movies out now that blend historical truth with cinematic storytelling, The Founder offers a compelling narrative rooted in the fast-food revolution of America. The story begins with Ray Kroc, a struggling milkshake machine salesman in 1954 who tirelessly drives from diner to diner, facing rejection after rejection. He pitches his five-spindle Multimixer but finds few takers, highlighting both the inefficiency and the sluggish nature of most drive-in restaurants at the time.

Everything changes when he receives an unusually large order from a small restaurant in San Bernardino, California. Curious, Ray drives there and discovers a unique establishment owned by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. What catches his attention is their revolutionary “Speedee Service System,” where customers receive their food in just 30 seconds instead of the usual 30 minutes. The restaurant is clean, efficient, and remarkably profitable, despite its simplicity.

Ray sees massive potential. He convinces the brothers to let him franchise their business, although they remain hesitant due to a failed previous attempt. Under strict contractual obligations, Ray begins his franchising journey. However, it quickly becomes clear that the rigid terms from the McDonald brothers and the unreliable nature of many franchisees are holding him back.

To combat this, Ray opens a location in Des Plaines, Illinois, adhering to the brothers’ system. His franchise is a success. Along the way, he brings on Harry Sonneborn, who introduces Ray to a crucial insight: real profit comes not from selling food, but from owning the land the restaurants are built on. Ray creates the Franchise Realty Corporation, giving him greater control and stability. This maneuver marks a turning point, as Ray begins asserting more control over the business, ignoring the brothers’ original agreement.

Ray’s marriage deteriorates as his obsession with the business grows. He becomes romantically involved with Joan Smith, the wife of one of his franchisees, and eventually marries her after divorcing his first wife. The tension with the McDonald brothers reaches its peak when Ray secretly launches his own version of McDonald’s, bypassing their oversight entirely. The final betrayal comes when Ray offers to buy them out for $2.7 million, which they accept only after insisting on a verbal promise for future royalties—something Ray never honors.

The film concludes with Ray rehearsing a speech in his lavish home, crediting himself as the founder of McDonald’s. Despite starting with nothing but a sales pitch, he ends with a global empire, built through relentless ambition and strategic ruthlessness—leaving behind the true pioneers, the McDonald brothers.