BlackBerry (2023)

Jim Balsillie is portrayed by Glenn Howerton, who is well known for his role in the TV series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Howerton's performance dramatizes Balsillie's aggressive business tactics as the co-CEO of Research In Motion. The film details the rapid rise and fall of the iconic smartphone company.

Yes, director Matt Johnson based the 2023 film on the 2015 nonfiction book Losing the Signal by Jacquie McNish and Sean Silcoff. The book details the spectacular rise and sudden collapse of Research In Motion. The movie dramatizes the real events and people behind the creation of the BlackBerry smartphone.

The film was directed by Matt Johnson, who also co-stars in the movie as the fictionalized character Doug Fregin. Johnson is known for his distinct, often mockumentary-style filmmaking seen in other projects like Operation Avalanche. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival to positive reviews.

The BlackBerry smartphone was created by the Canadian company Research In Motion, often abbreviated as RIM. The company was co-founded by Mike Lazaridis, who is played by Jay Baruchel in the film. RIM eventually changed its corporate name to BlackBerry as the smartphone became a global phenomenon.