BlackBerry Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		3.5

BlackBerry Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 25, 2026

In 2023, there was “Tetris,” which took a serious look at the creation of a beloved video game, transforming business dealings into a spy film of sorts, with the production trying to wring some suspense out of contract negotiations and corporate villainy. Released in the same year is “BlackBerry,” which offers the same idea, only here the subject is the once popular smartphone that revolutionized the mobile device industry, inspiring insane popularity in the early 2000s. There’s more corporate villainy and contract negotiations, but co-writer/director Matt Johnson (taking inspiration from the book “Losing the Signal,” by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff) creates a more involving arena of egos and business dealings with the feature, keeping the picture moving along as the story grows meaner and stranger, also examining a wealth of idiosyncratic personalities. “BlackBerry” is listed as a “fictionalization” of the company’s rise and fall, but there are universal truths about human behavior to savor in this engrossing endeavor.

In 1996, Canadians Mike (Jay Baruchel) and Douglas (Matt Johnson) run the company Research in Motion, which is trying to sell phone carriers on the concept of a device capable of working like a computer. The men have no history of salesmanship, and their scent is picked up by Jim (Glenn Howerton), an unscrupulous businessman who believes there’s money to be made in the project, known as “PocketLink,” offering to help the collection of gifted geeks in exchange for money and power. Setting out to display what the phone is capable of, Jim is exposed to the casual ways of Research in Motion, forced to get tough with the engineers and Mike to come up with a sellable prototype, which is eventually renamed “BlackBerry.” With the phone a smash hit, trouble soon comes for the team when shady business dealings are targeted by the government, while Mike receives a brutal education in the ways of working in the corporate world.

The work environment of Research in Motion is unusual, with “BlackBerry” enjoying its time in the space, which is filled with socially awkward tech employees who spend their days playing games and dealing with labor demands, living for “movie night” and other bonding opportunities. It’s a business owned by Mike, and he has no idea how to run it, unable to work past his natural timidity, which has resulted in a company deep in debt, afraid to challenge clients looking to defraud it. After a failed pitch to Jim, Mike is surprised to be reunited with the icy businessman, who senses a chance to do something with the unusual all-in-one mobile device, and “BlackBerry” snaps into mission mode once the practiced corporate monster gains some control of Research in Motion, with the first act of the picture devoted to an understanding of shifting power dynamics and Jim’s confrontational ways, which frightens the staff and arouses the curiosity of mobile carriers.

Research in Motion doesn’t have any money left to spend, and “BlackBerry” focuses on Jim’s new leadership, which pushes for results with employees who’ve never been challenged before. Jim demands the production of a prototype, and he barely tolerates concerns about network capabilities, eventually growing Research in Motion, splitting the company into bro-heavy marketing manipulators he personally oversees, while engineers are people he despises. Power plays are important to “BlackBerry,” which is shot documentary-style to help capture the immediacy and intimacy of what’s happening, studying the unleashing of Jim’s arrogance, which directly contrasts with Mike’s sensitivity, making them an awkward team the screenplay gets a lot of comedic and dramatic mileage out of. Performances also support the moods of the movie, with Howerton sinking his teeth into the part, making Jim deplorable in the best ways, and Baruchel goes softer to play Mike’s arc of submission as the man of machines is transformed into a corporate leader.

There are two versions of “BlackBerry” included on this release: a Theatrical Cut (119:47) and a Miniseries Version, which is divided into the episodes “PocketLink” (46:36), “PalmBerry” (39:48), and “Storm” (44:32).

BlackBerry Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The image presentation (2.00:1 aspect ratio) for "BlackBerry" is working with the feature's documentary style, which prioritizes heavy zooms and fast cuts. Detail is on the soft side, examining skin particulars on the cast and, at times, the limits of makeup work. Costuming is decently fibrous, displaying heavier business attire and the thinner t-shirt appearance of RIM employees. Office spaces are open for inspection, maintaining slight depth and an understanding of decorative additions. Exteriors are limited but dimensional. Color explores a muted palette, with lots of office blues and browns, along with crisper whites. Primaries carry distinction with casual clothing offerings. Skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Very mild banding is present at times, and some blockiness is encountered.

BlackBerry Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix works with the largely dialogue-based ways of "BlackBerry." Conversations are crisp, managing overlapping dialogue and surges in argumentative behavior. Scoring supports with clear instrumentation, and soundtrack additions maintain sharp vocals. Surrounds are limited, but periodically explore atmospherics and office bustle. Musical moods also go circular on occasion. Low-end isn't a priority for the production, but some percussive elements are understood.

BlackBerry Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Booklet contains an essay by BenDavid Grabinski.

• Commentary #1 features co-writer/director Matt Johnson and editor Curt Lobb.

• Commentary #2 features co-writer/director Matt Johnson, co-writer/producer Matt Miller, executive producer/composer Jay McCarrol, associate producer/cinematographer Jared Raab, and production designer Adam Belanger.

• Commentary #3 features "former RIM engineer" Matthais Wand.

FYI: supplementary material (save for the Theatrical Trailer) played differently on two machines, with one player offering jittery playback while the other didn't.

• "The Crew of BlackBerry" (4:06, HD) is a brief look at the labor needs of the film shoot, meeting a few crew members along the way, learning more about their individual jobs.

• "Scoring BlackBerry" (6:16, HD) is an interview with composer Jay McCarrol, paying a visit to his home studio as he explores his work on the movie.

• "Editing BlackBerry" (4:19, HD) is an interview with editor Curt Lobb, who recalls his many collaborations with director Matt Johnson, and his creative approach to the cutting of the feature.

• "Directing BlackBerry" (4:10, HD) is an interview with director Matt Johnson, who offers his philosophy on filmmaking and details his work on the endeavor.

• "Cinematography" (7:39, HD) is an interview with cinematographer Jared Raab, who shares his technical responsibilities and vision for the offering.

• "Locations and Art" (4:37, HD) examines work from production designer Adam Belanger, who was tasked with creating the world of the movie without using actual locations.

• "Creating Animatics" (10:21, HD) is a dual interview with director Matt Johnson and producer Jay McCarrol, who walk through their pre-production process and discuss the back and forth of their collaboration.

• "Goofs and Spoofs" (5:43, HD) collects flubbed lines and giggle fits from the "BlackBerry" shoot.

• "Fly on the Wall" (3:41, HD) is an EPK-style look at the making of "BlackBerry."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:24, HD) is included.

BlackBerry Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"BlackBerry" covers just over a ten-year period of the company's history, and there's plenty to follow here, including a gradual elimination of nerdly spirit at Research in Motion, with Jim cracking the whip and hiring mid-management enforcers. There's also a subplot about fraud that gains control of the movie in the final act, as questions about stock deals become accusations, combined with the debut of the iPhone, which directly challenges BlackBerry in the marketplace, causing more woes for all. Johnson does a fantastic job keeping the feature on its feet, using soundtrack cuts and an eye for pace to push the story along, while the natural ghoulishness of greedy behavior makes for an absorbing sit.