Netflix has recently added a comedy film ‘The Communication Network’ for smartphones
Remember BlackBerry? No, I don’t mean a delicious fruit; I mean the type of smartphone that was popular in the 2000s before it was successfully ended in the 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 way that takes more than a few cues from “The Social Network.” It has all the same ingredients, the story centers on two close friends, whose relationship falls apart as their small business becomes a global player in an emerging industry. Plus, you’ve got Glenn Howerton’s “It’s Always Sunny” raging as a bullish, super-shouty tech investor.
This film just arrived on Netflix, as part of the streaming service’s March 2026 movie drop, and for me, it’s one of the most exciting biopics of the last five years. In fact, a film about the creation of the BlackBerry smartphone is not really worth it this hold it and be happy.
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What is a ‘BlackBerry’?
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“BlackBerry” is the story of a small Ontario-based software company, Research in Motion (RIM), which continued to lead the mobile communications revolution, introducing the world’s first smartphone.
The company was founded by two best friends, Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and Douglas Fregin (Matt Johnson), whose lives changed when businessman Jim Balsillie (Glen Howerton) invested in their struggling company. Soon, BlackBerry is one of the industry’s biggest players in the mobile market, with its outstanding clickable keyboard its defining feature.
But this isn’t a story about perpetual success, and with the iPhone on the horizon, and Mike and Dogulas’ friendship tested (and ultimately broken up), BlackBerry’s sharp demise happened as quickly as its dramatic rise.
Here’s why you should stream ‘BlackBerry’ on Netflix now
“BlackBerry” trades a commitment to reality for narrative entertainment. The real people involved in RIM and the creation of the smartphone noted that many of the events on the screen are not like reality, and the movie even opens with a card calling it a “fictional image”. However, I’m totally fine with a movie that chooses compelling drama over telling a more accurate story.
This biopic is very entertaining, and certainly not entertaining for anyone who was around with the advent of the smartphone (I was in high school surrounded by my classmates. fascinated with BlackBerry’s BBM application). There are several threads at play; the first being the creation and rise/fall of BlackBerry, the second the growing rift between the two best friends and founders of RIM. Then you get Howerton as Balsille, who gives himself fully in every scene.
Above all, it is a matter of hubris. The company was initially on the edge of a technological revolution, but refused to adapt as rival players began to change the market led by BlackBerry. There is a real tragic element to this biopic, which makes it all the more interesting. Plus, there’s a surprising amount of humor as Mike Lazaridis pokes fun at the iPhone’s all-screen, no-buttons design, which will soon set the standard for the smartphone industry.
The film was loved by the critics. “BlackBerry” holds an almost perfect score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, easily enough for the “Certified New” badge. The site’s critics’ summary reads, “With wit as sharp as humor, BlackBerry takes a hilarious look at the rise and fall of a generation-defining gadget.”
And this is not that the critics like the film but the viewers are less convinced. Its audience is also very high at 94%. Recent viewer reviews call it “well done,” “very engaging,” and “really educational.” There is special praise for Glen Howerton’s performance, and it is well deserved. This on-screen spin on Jim Balsille is a shout-out, but it’s so visual, and Howerton gets into the role, you can see the vein in his forehead pop every now and then.
More of an iPhone person and which can be fully sold in two hours spent with a BlackBerry, here is a list of all the new things on Netflix in March 2026, with many top streaming options.
Look “BlackBerry” on Netflix now
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