Steve Jobs (2015)

Last updated:
August 24, 2025

Steve Jobs (2015), directed by Danny Boyle and written by Aaron Sorkin, is not a traditional biopic but a dialogue-driven drama built around three pivotal product launches. Instead of attempting to cover Steve Jobs’ entire life, the film focuses on his professional and personal conflicts at high-stakes moments.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Act I: The Macintosh Launch (1984)

The movie begins backstage at the launch of the original Macintosh. Jobs (Michael Fassbender) is under intense pressure as the computer’s demo is malfunctioning. His confrontational relationship with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (Seth Rogen) becomes clear, as Woz urges him to acknowledge the Apple II team. Meanwhile, Jobs’ strained personal life intrudes: his ex-girlfriend Chrisann Brennan demands he accept responsibility for their daughter, Lisa. Jobs stubbornly denies paternity, even as he quietly shows fascination with Lisa’s intelligence and creativity.

Act II: The NeXT Computer Launch (1988)

Having been ousted from Apple, Jobs prepares to launch his new company, NeXT. Here, tensions escalate with Apple CEO John Sculley (Jeff Daniels), who accuses Jobs of betraying him. The film stages a Shakespearean confrontation between the two men, revisiting the infamous boardroom coup that led to Jobs’ exile. Meanwhile, Jobs continues to wrestle with his identity as a father, refusing to show Lisa warmth even though she craves his approval.

Act III: The iMac Launch (1998)

Now reinstated at Apple, Jobs is preparing to unveil the iMac. By this point, Apple is on the verge of a renaissance, and Jobs’ power is unquestionable. Yet his relationships remain unresolved: Wozniak again pleads for recognition of Apple’s early contributors, Sculley reappears for a reflective exchange, and Jobs must finally confront his failures as a father. In an emotional climax, he reconciles with Lisa, acknowledging her importance in his life.

Movie Ending

The film closes with Steve Jobs walking out to present the iMac, marking the dawn of Apple’s resurgence. But the true ending is not the product—it’s his reconciliation with Lisa. In the final backstage conversation, Jobs tells his daughter that he intends to put “a thousand songs in her pocket,” foreshadowing the iPod. He finally accepts her as his daughter, apologizes for past mistakes, and commits to being present in her life. The story ends not with a corporate triumph but with a personal one, humanizing Jobs in a way the rest of the film resists.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

No. Steve Jobs does not include any post-credits scenes. Once the film ends with Jobs stepping into the spotlight, the credits roll without additional content.

Type of Movie

The film is a biographical drama, but unlike conventional biopics, it uses a theatrical structure with dialogue-heavy scenes unfolding almost in real time. It’s essentially a character study dressed as a tech-world drama.

Cast

Michael Fassbender as Steve Jobs
Kate Winslet as Joanna Hoffman
Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak
Jeff Daniels as John Sculley
Katherine Waterston as Chrisann Brennan
Michael Stuhlbarg as Andy Hertzfeld
Perla Haney-Jardine as Lisa Brennan-Jobs (older)

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Daniel Pemberton, who blended electronic elements with classical orchestration to reflect Jobs’ fusion of technology and artistry. Each act of the movie features a distinct musical identity: analog synths for the 1984 act, digital textures for 1988, and fully orchestral pieces by 1998.

Filming Locations

Filming primarily took place in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Cupertino, with some scenes shot at real locations like the Flint Center (where the original Macintosh was launched). The authenticity of these locations helps ground the film’s theatrical dialogue in real-world history.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Actor (Fassbender) and Best Supporting Actress (Winslet).
Golden Globes: Winslet won Best Supporting Actress; the film was also nominated for Best Screenplay.
BAFTA Awards: Multiple nominations, including Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Aaron Sorkin structured the screenplay like a three-act play, with each act revolving around a product launch.
Michael Fassbender did not look like Jobs but focused on embodying his mannerisms, intensity, and voice rhythms.
Danny Boyle encouraged Fassbender and Winslet to rehearse extensively as though it were theater.
Originally, David Fincher was slated to direct, with Christian Bale considered for the role of Jobs.

Inspirations and References

The movie is adapted from Walter Isaacson’s 2011 biography, Steve Jobs. However, Aaron Sorkin filtered the material through his own lens, focusing less on factual chronology and more on character-driven confrontations.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

Sorkin’s early drafts included more scenes about Jobs’ later years, particularly the iPod and iPhone launches. These were cut to preserve the tight three-act structure. Boyle also shot longer versions of Jobs’ arguments with Sculley and Wozniak, but these were trimmed for pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

While Isaacson’s book covers Jobs’ entire life in exhaustive detail, the film is selective. Many key events (Pixar, iPhone, iPad) are left out. Instead of aiming for comprehensive history, Sorkin emphasizes relationships and recurring conflicts, making the film feel more like dramatized theater than a chronological documentary.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Jobs arguing with Wozniak about acknowledging the Apple II team.
The emotional confrontation between Jobs and John Sculley about the boardroom coup.
Lisa confronting Jobs about his denial of paternity.
Jobs promising Lisa he’ll “put a thousand songs in her pocket.”

Iconic Quotes

Wozniak: “It’s not binary. You can be decent and gifted at the same time.”
Jobs: “Musicians play their instruments. I play the orchestra.”
Joanna Hoffman: “You’re not a finished product. You’re just the act one version of yourself.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The score shifts stylistically between acts to match the evolution of technology.
Jobs’ black turtleneck and jeans appear only in the 1998 act, symbolizing the birth of his iconic look.
The recurring use of glass doors backstage serves as a metaphor for transparency versus control.

Trivia

Fassbender lost significant weight to reflect Jobs’ physical appearance over the years.
Kate Winslet’s Polish accent was added late in production after she discovered the real Joanna Hoffman spoke with one.
The entire film was shot with different film formats for each act: 16mm (1984), 35mm (1988), and digital (1998).

Why Watch?

Because it’s not just a movie about Steve Jobs—it’s a movie about ego, genius, and human connection. If you’re expecting a cradle-to-grave biography, you won’t get it. Instead, you get a tense, witty, almost theatrical chamber piece powered by rapid-fire dialogue and powerhouse performances.

Steve Jobs (2015)