Jobs

If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, Jobs is available in Australia on Beamafilm, and in the US on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 2,618 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Ashton Kutcher anchors it with a performance that rewards close attention. Start it on Beamafilm whenever you need something guaranteed to land.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Jobs is worth clearing space for. Character-driven storytelling at its most effective — Jobs earns every emotional beat it goes for. The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century. Ashton Kutcher and Josh Gad lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2013. What elevates Jobs is a refusal to let any character off the hook too easily. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Viewers drawn to character-driven storytelling will find plenty to sit with in Jobs. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Ashton Kutcher's work here is the kind that gets referenced in career retrospectives. It makes everything else feel thin by comparison.