If you loved
BlackBerry
Matt Johnson · Film · 2023
What hooked you in BlackBerry was the way high-stakes corporate ambition inevitably collides with human ego and hubris.
Books on the same thread
Steve Jobs
Walter Isaacson · Book · 2011
Shares a thread with BlackBerry: Innovation.
Much like the power struggle in BlackBerry, this biography chronicles the obsessive perfectionism and abrasive leadership style that defined the rise of a tech giant's singular visionary founder.
Elon Musk
Walter Isaacson · Book · 2023
Shares a thread with BlackBerry: Innovation.
If the volatile partnership in BlackBerry intrigued you, this deep dive explores the same brand of rule-breaking, high-stakes innovation that forces a leader to choose between success and stability.
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
Matthew Perry · Book · 2022
Explores: Addiction, Recovery, Fame.
While the setting differs from BlackBerry, you will recognize the same raw, unvarnished look at the personal toll that extreme professional success and public visibility exacts on an individual.
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine
Michael Lewis · Book · 2010
Explores: Financial Crisis of 2008, Wall Street Corruption, Mortgage-Backed Securities.
BlackBerry captured the chaos of a market collapse, and this investigation provides a similar, sharp-eyed look at the systemic greed and hubris that lead to massive, world-altering financial failures.
Series on the same thread
Halt and Catch Fire
Christopher Cantwell · Series · 2014
Explores: Technological Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Personal ambition.
This series mirrors the internal tension of BlackBerry by focusing on the personal risks and moral compromises made by a team racing to build technology that changes everything.
Start-Up
Park Hye-ryun · Series · 2020
Explores: Entrepreneurship, Technological Innovation, First Love.
You will appreciate how this show captures the same cutthroat environment and intense career ambition found in BlackBerry, showing the immense pressure of launching a startup into reality.
WeCrashed
Drew Crevello · Series · 2022
Shares a thread with BlackBerry: Hubris.
The meteoric rise and catastrophic demise depicted in BlackBerry are echoed here, focusing on the intoxicating blend of greed and corporate culture that leads to a spectacular downfall.
Black Monday
David Caspe · Series · 2019
Explores: 1980s Excess, Wall Street Culture, Underdog Story.
Like the frantic energy of BlackBerry, this show explores the intersection of financial crime and 1980s excess, featuring outsiders who attempt to outmaneuver the established players on Wall Street.
Podcasts on the same thread
Acquired
Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with BlackBerry: corporate history.
If you enjoyed dissecting the strategic decision-making in BlackBerry, this podcast offers a detailed analysis of the playbooks that drive the growth and disruption of major global companies.
Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast
MKBHD · Podcast · 2026
Explores: future of technology, product design and engineering, tech culture.
For those fascinated by the technological disruption central to BlackBerry, this podcast provides an expert look at the product design and industry shifts shaping our modern digital landscape.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is BlackBerry based on a true story?
Yes, BlackBerry is based on the true story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world's first smartphone. The film depicts the partnership between innovator Mike Lazaridis and businessman Jim Balsillie as they attempt to create a worldwide hit in little more than a decade.
Who are the main characters in BlackBerry?
The main characters in BlackBerry are the two mismatched entrepreneurs, Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie. Lazaridis is portrayed as an egghead innovator, while Balsillie is characterized as a cut-throat businessman. Together, they join forces to build the company that produces the world's first smartphone.
What is the premise of the movie BlackBerry?
BlackBerry follows the journey of two entrepreneurs who join forces to develop the world's first smartphone. The film chronicles their rapid success over a decade and the subsequent catastrophic demise of the company they built together through their mismatched business styles.
Does BlackBerry cover the entire history of the company?
The film BlackBerry focuses on the timeframe spanning the meteoric rise and the eventual catastrophic demise of the company. It highlights the partnership between Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie as they transform their endeavor into a worldwide hit over a period of little more than a decade.