Remember BlackBerry? No, I don’t mean the deliciously tart fruit; I mean the smartphone brand that rose to prominence in the 2000s before being effectively wiped out in a single legendary press conference when Apple’s Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone to the world.
“BlackBerry” charts the smartphone’s rise and subsequent fall in a manner that definitely takes more than a few cues from “The Social Network.” You’ve got all the same ingredients, with the story focused on two close friends, whose partnership is ripped apart as their small-time business becomes a global player in an emerging field. Plus, you’ve got “It’s Always Sunny’s” Glenn Howerton going full rage as a bullish, super-shouty tech investor.
This movie just landed on Netflix, as part of the streaming service’s March 2026 movie drop, and for me, it’s one of the most entertaining biopics of the last five years. Frankly, a film about the creation of the BlackBerry smartphone really shouldn’t be this gripping and enjoyable.
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What is ‘BlackBerry’ about?
“BlackBerry” is the story of a small Ontario-based software company, Research in Motion (RIM), that went on to lead a mobile communications revolution, launching the world’s first smartphone.
The company was founded by two best friends, Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson), whose lives are changed when businessman Jim Balsillie (Glen Howerton) invests in their struggling company. Soon, BlackBerry is one of the industry’s major players in the mobile market, with its iconic clicky keyboard very much its identifying feature.
But this isn’t a story about never-ending success, and with the iPhone on the horizon, and Mike and Dogulas’ friendship tested (and eventually torn apart), BlackBerry’s sharp demise comes about just as swiftly as its impressive rise.
Here’s why you should stream ‘BlackBerry’ on Netflix now
“BlackBerry” trades a commitment to truth for narrative entertainment. The real people involved in RIM and the creation of the smartphone have noted that many events on-screen don’t resemble reality, and the movie even opens with a card calling it a “fictionalized” depiction. However, I’m totally okay with the movie opting for compelling drama over telling the most accurate story.
This biopic is seriously enjoyable, and even oddly nostalgic for anybody who was around for the emergence of the smartphone (I was in high school surrounded by classmates obsessed with BlackBerry’s BBM app). There are a few strands at play; the first is the creation and rise/fall of the BlackBerry, the second is the growing rift between the two best friends and co-founders of RIM. Then you’ve got Howerton as Balsille, fully committing in every scene.
Most of all, it’s a story of hubris. A company that initially was at the cutting edge of a technological revolution, but refused to adapt as rival players started to change the market that BlackBerry had once led. There’s a real tragic element to this biopic, which makes it all the more engaging. Plus, there’s a dramatic irony as Mike Lazaridis scoffs at the iPhone’s all-screen, no-buttons design, which would soon come to set the smartphone industry standard.
The movie was a hit with critics as well. “BlackBerry” holds a near-perfect score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, easily enough for a “Certified Fresh” badge. The site’s critics’ summary reads, “With intelligence as sharp as its humor, BlackBerry takes a terrifically entertaining look at the rise and fall of a generation-defining gadget.”
And this isn’t a case of critics loving a movie but viewers being less convinced. Its audience score is also extremely high at 94%. Recent viewers’ reviews call it “well-made,” “utterly captivating,” and “really enlightening.” There’s particular praise for Glen Howerton’s performance, and it’s certainly deserved. This on-screen spin on Jim Balsille is a shouty, but very watchable, and Howerton gets so into the role, you can see his forehead vein bulging constantly.
More of an iPhone person and not fully sold on two hours spent with a BlackBerry, here’s a rundown of everything new on Netflix in March 2026, with plenty more top streaming picks.
Watch “BlackBerry” on Netflix now
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