BlackBerry (film)

BlackBerry
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMatt Johnson
Screenplay by
Based on
Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry
by
  • Jacquie McNish
  • Sean Silcoff
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJared Raab
Edited byCurt Lobb
Music byJay McCarrol
Production
companies
Distributed byElevation Pictures
Release dates
  • February 17, 2023 (2023-02-17) (Berlin)
  • May 12, 2023 (2023-05-12) (Canada)
Running time
121 minutes
CountryCanada[1]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million[2]
Box office$3 million[3][4]

BlackBerry is a 2023 Canadian biographical comedy-drama film directed by Matt Johnson from a screenplay by Johnson and producer Matthew Miller. It was loosely adapted from Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff's book Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of BlackBerry.[5][6] The film is a dramatized account of the creation of the BlackBerry line of mobile phones by co-founders Douglas Fregin and Mike Lazaridis, and investor Jim Balsillie.[7] Lazaridis is portrayed by Jay Baruchel, Balsillie is portrayed by Glenn Howerton, and Fregin is portrayed by Johnson. The film also stars Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside, Martin Donovan, Michelle Giroux, SungWon Cho, Mark Critch, Saul Rubinek, and Cary Elwes in supporting roles.

BlackBerry premiered in competition at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival on February 17, 2023. The film was released in Canada on May 12, 2023, to positive reviews. In late 2023, Blackberry was re-released as a three-part miniseries with additional footage. The film is the most nominated film in the history of the Canadian Screen Awards, with 17 nominations. It won 14 awards, including Best Motion Picture.[8]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference DL1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Eric Kohn (May 10, 2023). "How to Make a Modern Period Piece for $5 Million: Behind the Scenes of 'BlackBerry'". IndieWire. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  3. ^ "BlackBerry (2023) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "BlackBerry (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  5. ^ Blackberry trailer reaction and talking about RIM back in the days, April 5, 2023, retrieved July 16, 2023
  6. ^ Glasner, Eli (May 12, 2023). "Chaotic, comedic and surprisingly personal — thumbs up for Jay Baruchel's BlackBerry". CBC News.
  7. ^ "Don't expect a biopic: 'BlackBerry' filmmakers on walking a line of fact and fiction". CTVNews. March 7, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Knight, Chris (March 6, 2024). "BlackBerry the most nominated film in Canadian Screen Awards history". The National Post. Retrieved March 27, 2024.