Netflix viewers are absolutely captivated by the gripping real-life tale BlackBerry, as the film rockets up the streaming charts whilst garnering glowing testimonials from audiences. This 2023 biographical comedy-drama follows the meteoric ascent and dramatic downfall of the globe’s pioneering text messaging smartphone, earning an impressive 97% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Drawing inspiration from the compelling book Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry, penned by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff. Viewers who adored The Social Network, which depicts Facebook’s inadvertent birth, would undoubtedly relish this offering.
Beginning in 1997, audiences witness BlackBerry co-creators Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson) and Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel), alongside Glenn Howerton portraying ruthless financier Jim Balsillie, reports the Mirror US.
The official description states: “The true story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world’s first smartphone, BlackBerry is a whirlwind ride through a ruthlessly competitive Silicon Valley at breakneck speeds.”
Following its Netflix debut just days ago (19 July), fans have flooded social media platforms with acclaim and some have declared the film delivered “goosebumps” due to its unflinching authenticity.
On platform X, one user shared an enthusiastic review: “Watching BlackBerry on Netflix gave me goosebumps as I did have some of the greatest QWERTY models, from Bold to Passport with unique BBM to text love..”
Another admirer commented: “Rewatched BlackBerry (on Netflix, check it out if you missed it at the time) and Glenn Howerton’s performance is just as incredible as I remembered. Like putting a bull shark in a living room fishtank. Unbelievable menace and energy boiling off him at every moment.”
The documentary also evoked a sense of nostalgia among viewers, with one saying: “BlackBerry on Netflix makes me sad how great a phone like that was – and was part of a childhood that allowed us to still feel normal before it all got hectic with smartphones. Great film!”
Critics have also lauded BlackBerry, which has garnered an impressive 97% Rotten Tomatoes score, with director Matt Johnson receiving praise for his work.
The film boasts a stellar cast including Jay Baruchel and Matt Johnson as the BlackBerry co-founders, and Glenn Howerton portraying Jim Balsillie, known for his roles in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Fargo.
The supporting cast features notable names such as Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside, Martin Donovan, Michelle Giroux, Sungwon Cho, Mark Critch, Saul Rubinek, and Cary Elwes.
BlackBerry is available to stream on Netflix now.
