Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine
Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine
6.974%57%
When Steve Jobs died the world wept. But what accounted for the grief of millions of people who didn’t know him? This evocative film navigates Jobs' path from a small house in the suburbs, to zen temples in Japan, to the CEO's office of the world's richest company, exploring how Jobs’ life and work shaped our relationship with the computer. The Man in the Machine is a provocative and sometimes startling re-evaluation of the legacy of an icon.
Manuel Frangis reviewedMarch 26, 2025
I just watched Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine and I give it 5 out of 5 stars. This documentary blew me away. It’s not just a tribute or a basic recap of his success at Apple—it really digs deep into who Steve Jobs was, both the genius and the complicated person behind the scenes. If you love Apple or tech history, this is a must-watch, but even if you’re just curious about what made him tick, it’s fascinating from beginning to end.
The movie is directed by Alex Gibney, and right away you can tell it’s not going to be some sugarcoated look at Jobs’ life. It’s raw, thoughtful, and sometimes uncomfortable. It goes through all the big milestones—Apple’s rise, the Macintosh, getting pushed out of his own company, and then coming back to turn it into the tech giant it is today—but it’s more than just a timeline. It’s about the emotional impact he had on people and what made him such a powerful but polarizing figure.
One of the things I loved most about this documentary is how honest it is. It doesn’t just praise Jobs for his vision or marketing skills—it also shows his flaws. It talks about how demanding he was, how he treated people, and how obsessed he became with design and control. It doesn’t try to tear him down, but it doesn’t hold back either. It gives you the full picture, and that’s what makes it so good.
The interviews are incredible. You hear from former employees, friends, journalists, and even people who were hurt by Jobs in some way. Everyone has a different story about him, and the way the movie weaves them together is super powerful. You start to see that Steve Jobs wasn’t just one thing—he was complicated. Brilliant, inspiring, difficult, and sometimes even cold. But no matter what, he made an impact.
As someone who loves Apple and Steve Jobs, this documentary made me think about him in a whole new way. I’ve always admired how he could take a wild idea and turn it into something real. The iMac, the iPod, the iPhone—all of those came from his insane drive and refusal to settle. But this movie also shows the cost of that drive. It’s not all glory and applause. Sometimes it came at the expense of the people around him.
The way the movie is put together is really sharp too. The pacing is great, the archival footage is powerful, and the music sets the tone perfectly. It feels more like a story than just a list of events. And when it ends, it leaves you thinking—not just about Steve Jobs, but about what success and legacy really mean.
I give Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine 5 out of 5 stars because it’s one of the most honest and thought-provoking documentaries I’ve ever seen. It respects who Steve Jobs was, but it also isn’t afraid to ask tough questions about him and the culture he helped create. Overall Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine is a brilliant look at one of the most fascinating people in modern history. It’s not just about Apple or technology—it’s about how one person can shape the world while still being totally human. I loved every minute of it, and I’ll definitely be thinking about it for a long time.