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Joybubbles

Play trailer Joybubbles 2026 1h 19m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 7 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
Joybubbles is a feature documentary about a genius named Joybubbles (née Joe Engressia, 1949-2007) who discovered how to hack into the telephone network by whistling a magic tone. He was blind and started experimenting with the phone as a lonely kid trying to connect with people, eventually becoming one of technology's greatest pioneers. His story takes an unusual turn when he declares himself to be five years old forever, and legally changes his name to Joybubbles.

Critics Reviews

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Robert Daniels RogerEbert.com 6d
Its modesty and sincerity, which could easily be confused as saccharine, arrive with an assuming commitment to the spirit of its remarkable subject that it’s downright dream-affirming. Go to Full Review Robert Kojder Flickering Myth 15h
3.5/5
The unorthodox method of human connection on display is uniquely moving, as the documentary consistently feels as if it’s covering something greater than one man hacking telephones: a defiance of loneliness, ableism, and trauma Go to Full Review Sean P. Means The Movie Cricket 1d
3/4
The sweetness and light of "Joybubbles" doesn’t keep viewers from encountering some dark passages. Go to Full Review Dave Giannini Geek Vibes Nation 1d
7.5/10
Joybubbles manages to be about many subjects, but they are all housed in one, that being the man that it is based on. If all of us had a little of his openness and childlike exuberance, the world would be a much better place, indeed. Go to Full Review Li Lai Mediaversity Reviews 5d
C
Joybubbles' floaty approach makes it difficult to get invested in the film’s interesting topics of disabled excellence, counterculture, and tech history. Go to Full Review Brian Farvour The Playlist 6d
A-
By subverting expectations, “Joybubbles” becomes a delightful watch, a biography of a man whose talents on a telephone were just one of many that made him special. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Rachael J. Morrison

Director

Sarah Winshall

Producer

Will Butler

Producer

Annie Marr

Producer

Cameo Wood

Executive Producer

Rhianon Jones

Executive Producer
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Joybubbles

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Movie Info

Synopsis Joybubbles is a feature documentary about a genius named Joybubbles (née Joe Engressia, 1949-2007) who discovered how to hack into the telephone network by whistling a magic tone. He was blind and started experimenting with the phone as a lonely kid trying to connect with people, eventually becoming one of technology's greatest pioneers. His story takes an unusual turn when he declares himself to be five years old forever, and legally changes his name to Joybubbles.
Director
Rachael J. Morrison
Producer
Sarah Winshall, Will Butler, Annie Marr
Production Co
Smudge Films, Neon Heart Productions
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 19m