The Founder 2017

In 1954, the story revolves around Ray Kroc, portrayed by Michael Keaton, a struggling salesman fervently attempting to sell multimixers for milkshakes to various drive-in businesses across the country. Despite his relentless efforts, Ray faces constant setbacks and failures. He’s particularly frustrated by the slow service and inaccuracies at these establishments, which often serve a rowdy teenage crowd that he doesn’t appreciate.

During a routine check-in with his Chicago sales office, Ray’s secretary, June Martino, informs him about an unusual order from a small restaurant in San Bernardino, California. Initially thinking it’s a mistake, Ray is astonished to learn they want eight of his machines instead of six! Intrigued, he ventures out to the restaurant, discovering it’s a walk-up stand called McDonald’s.

As Ray places his order, he is taken aback by the swift service and the sight of families enjoying their meals. His excitement mounts when he meets the stand’s owners, the McDonald brothers, Mac and Dick, played by John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman, respectively. Mac enthusiastically shows Ray their innovative food preparation methods, which they term the “Speedee Service System.”

Over dinner, the brothers recount their journey from Hollywood hopefuls to restaurateurs who discovered that hamburgers and fries were their primary revenue sources. By narrowing their menu and optimizing their operations, they tackled issues like loitering teenagers and dishwashing costs. They even devised their kitchen layout on a tennis court to enhance efficiency.

Captivated by their success story, Ray proposes franchising their concept. Despite the brothers’ hesitant responses—having previously struggled to maintain quality beyond their original location—Ray’s ambition seems rekindled when a unique building design catches his eye during a meeting. Pledging to uphold the integrity of the McDonald name, Ray persuades the brothers to collaborate.

As Ray battles to launch the first franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois, he faces a myriad of challenges, including securing funding and grappling with his wife’s suspicions about his ventures. Ethel, played by Laura Dern, grows increasingly concerned about the risks Ray is taking. Nonetheless, Ray pushes forward, keen to replicate the McDonald’s success in Des Plaines, as well as lobbying for sponsorship deals to boost profits, which ultimately leads to conflict with the brothers over their core values.

Along the way, Ray navigates partnerships with eager franchisees and even meets an intriguing woman, Joan, played by Linda Cardellini, who is Rollie’s wife. Ray’s personal life and ambitions intertwine as he grapples with his financial troubles and relationship dynamics, finding an innovative solution to his cost issues through the introduction of a powdered mix for milkshakes.

As Ray continues to expand, eventually shifting his strategy to owning the land where franchises are built, his relationship with the McDonald brothers frays further. The brothers eyewitnessing the growing rift, especially after Ray’s surprising decisions test the limits of their initial partnership.

Ultimately, tensions culminate as Ray offers the brothers a buyout, leading to a significant change in the company’s hierarchy. The brothers, unable to match Ray’s aggressive tactics, reluctantly sell their stake. Afterward, Ray’s relentless desire to perfect the McDonald’s formula solidifies his place in history, albeit at the expense of the brothers’ dream.

As Ray eventually establishes a competing McDonald’s location nearby, he reneges on promises, illustrating his unapologetic ascent in the fast-food empire, while leaving the original McDonald brothers’ dream in tatters. In a bittersweet conclusion, we learn of Ray’s enduring legacy alongside the dawn of a franchise that would grow to global prominence, clouded by the sacrifices and ethics lost along the way.