Screenplay data
Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin, co-founders of Research in Motion, reluctantly partner with aggressive businessman Jim Balsillie to save their struggling company, leading to the BlackBerry's initial success. As the BlackBerry's popularity explodes, Jim's ruthless business tactics clash with Mike's engineering perfectionism, creating internal tension. The launch of the iPhone and an SEC investigation into backdated stock options further destabilize the company, forcing Mike to make a deal that results in Jim's resignation. Mike and Doug are left to navigate the company's future as the BlackBerry's dominance wanes.
Save the Cat beat sheet
BlackBerry charts the real-life rise of RIM founders Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie as they pitch their wireless pager concept, overcome technical and business hurdles, and confront the seismic threat of Apple's iPhone and an SEC investigation.
Open full beat sheetMike Lazaridis is listed as CEO of Research in Motion. Brilliant, nerdy, perfectionist engineer. In the parsed data, Mike Lazaridis is connected to 44 scenes, 15 dialogue lines, 15 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
44 scenes / 15 dialogue linesJim Balsillie is listed as Co-CEO of Research in Motion. Aggressive, ambitious, ruthless businessman. In the parsed data, Jim Balsillie is connected to 44 scenes, 11 dialogue lines, 11 text mentions, first appearing around scene 4.
44 scenes / 11 dialogue linesDoug Fregin is listed as Co-founder of Research in Motion. Mike's best friend, casual, loyal, business-minded. In the parsed data, Doug Fregin is connected to 33 scenes, 5 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
33 scenes / 5 dialogue linesShelley is listed as Jim's Assistant. Efficient, loyal assistant. In the parsed data, Shelley is connected to 7 scenes, first appearing around scene 5.
7 scenes / 0 dialogue linesDara Frankel is listed as SEC Agent. Investigator looking into RIM's stock options. In the parsed data, Dara Frankel is connected to 5 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
5 scenes / 3 dialogue linesCharles Purdy is listed as COO of RIM. Strict, disciplinarian, former Motorola executive. In the parsed data, Charles Purdy is connected to 5 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 39.
5 scenes / 2 dialogue linesJohn Woodman is listed as CEO of Bell Atlantic / Verizon Executive. Corporate executive. In the parsed data, John Woodman is connected to 3 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 2 text mentions, first appearing around scene 44.
3 scenes / 2 dialogue linesCarl Yankowski is listed as CEO of Palm Pilot. Corporate rival. In the parsed data, Carl Yankowski is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 34.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesCallaghan is listed as Employee at Sutherland-Schultz. Nerdy, low-status employee. In the parsed data, Callaghan is connected to 2 scenes, first appearing around scene 4.
2 scenes / 0 dialogue linesRick Brock is listed as Executive at Sutherland-Schultz. Jim's former boss. In the parsed data, Rick Brock is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 4.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesMike and Doug arrive at Sutherland-Schultz for a presentation, struggling with their equipment, while Jim Balsillie arrives separately.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieJim enters the building and ignores Mike and Doug while heading to his office.
Jim Balsillie, Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginMike and Doug wait for Jim, while Mike becomes obsessed with fixing a buzzing intercom.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieJim negotiates with Rick Brock to run the new division and insists on presenting the tax strategy himself.
Jim Balsillie, Rick Brock, CallaghanJim returns to his office to hear Mike and Doug's pitch.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim Balsillie, ShelleyJim offers to become CEO of RIM in exchange for 50% equity and $20,000 cash; Mike and Doug initially refuse.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieMike calls U.S. Robotics and discovers their modems were defective and the order was cancelled.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginMike and Doug rehearse their pitch to Jim Balsillie.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginJim watches hockey and receives a call from Mike.
Jim BalsillieMike makes the pitch to Jim over the phone.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieJim agrees to the deal.
Jim BalsillieMike and Doug celebrate the deal.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginJim arrives at RIM.
Jim BalsillieJim inspects his new office and learns about the financial trouble.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieJim checks his account status.
Jim BalsillieJim introduces Shelley to the staff.
Jim Balsillie, ShelleyJim attempts to call John Woodman.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim Balsillie, ShelleyJim demands a prototype by 8am.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieMike and Doug gather parts.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginMike and Doug leave the store.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginBuilding the prototype.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginThe prototype is finished.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieMike leaves for the airport.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieMike and Jim board the flight.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim BalsillieArrival in NYC.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim BalsillieJim and Mike discuss the pitch.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim BalsillieMike realizes he left the prototype in the cab.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim BalsillieThe pitch to John Woodman.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim Balsillie, John WoodmanJim arrives at the new office in 2003.
Jim BalsillieJim enters the office.
Jim Balsillie, ShelleyThe team tests the new BlackBerry Messenger.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginMike and the engineers successfully test the new BlackBerry Messenger, leading to a celebration interrupted by Jim.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieCarl Yankowski arrives at RIM to confront Jim and Mike.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim Balsillie, Shelley, Carl YankowskiJim and Mike meet with Yankowski to discuss a potential acquisition.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim Balsillie, Carl YankowskiJim returns to the office to tell the engineers they are losing the company.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieJim and Mike discuss the network capacity issues.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Jim BalsillieJim and Mike argue about the network limitations.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim BalsillieJim demands the sales team sell a million BlackBerries.
Jim BalsillieCharles Purdy asserts dominance over the engineering team, threatening to fire them if they don't work harder.
Charles Purdy, Callaghan, Doug FreginDoug arrives at work in a good mood, listening to music.
Doug FreginDoug walks through the quiet, empty halls.
Doug FreginDoug discovers the office has changed and everyone is working.
Doug FreginDoug confronts Mike about the changes in the office.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginJim convinces the Verizon board that RIM can handle more users.
Jim Balsillie, John WoodmanMike leads a board meeting and discusses future plans.
Mike Lazaridis, Charles PurdyJim ignores calls from his office while on a plane.
Jim Balsillie, ShelleyThe team watches Steve Jobs announce the iPhone.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Dara FrankelJim meets with Gary Bettman at the NHL.
Jim BalsillieJim plans to buy the Copps Coliseum.
Jim BalsillieMike and Doug prepare to pitch the Bold prototype to Verizon.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginMike and Doug pitch the BlackBerry Bold to Verizon executives.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, John WoodmanMike and Doug leave the Verizon building.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug FreginJim tours the arena and demands changes.
Jim BalsillieMike explains the concept of the BlackBerry Storm to the team.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Charles PurdyMike and Charles discuss the prototype and China.
Mike Lazaridis, Doug Fregin, Charles PurdyMike works on the prototype and receives a call from the SEC.
Mike Lazaridis, Dara FrankelJim arrives at the office feeling successful.
Jim BalsillieJim walks to his office.
Jim BalsillieJim and Mike discuss the iPhone and the SEC.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim BalsillieJim plans to meet Stan Sigman at AT&T after realizing the threat of the iPhone.
Jim Balsillie, Mike Lazaridis, ShelleyJim rushes to the airport, changes plans to go to New York for an NHL meeting, and demands the pilot fly to JFK.
Jim BalsillieSEC agents arrive at RIM to conduct a raid.
Dara FrankelCharles Purdy warns Mike about the SEC raid.
Mike Lazaridis, Charles Purdy, Dara FrankelDara Frankel interrogates Mike about stock options.
Mike Lazaridis, Dara FrankelJim is rejected by the NHL owners.
Jim BalsillieMike and Jim discuss the SEC trouble over the phone.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim BalsillieMike informs Jim that he made a deal with the SEC to save the company.
Mike Lazaridis, Jim BalsillieThe BlackBerry Bold. ... 2.4 inches, 480 by 360 HVGA screen and to top it all off, the world's first trackpad which we believe will be the dominant navigational device for all mobile devices within the next two years.
Jim, I know this isn't exactly what you want to hear, but this board feels that in order to avoid further disruptions, it's best we end our relationship with BlackBerry.
Our engineers reprogrammed your towers. As of right now, Verizon is capable of carrying 2 million BlackBerrys at the same time. And we've already sold half of those.
So what would happen if I just... I don't know, bought up all your shares? Oh, what's the word for that again, sport? Hostile Takeover.
I'm Charles Purdy. From this moment on you will all work for me. And if that work is not done at a pace that I expect, you'll be fired.
How - how? If we put more phones on these networks they are going to crash. Period. We are not allowed to sell more phones. Mike?
Because, one of them uses as much data as five thousand BlackBerries. Because it has no keyboard. Because the thing is a joke.
Well, we have a plan to piggyback on the unused bandwidth of the UHF spectrum to create an all-in-one mobile device.
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