
The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest Film Synopsis
A determined marketer and his eccentric team of geniuses build a revolutionary $99 computer using holograms, internet-based software, and laser-tracked controls. Betrayed by corporate greed, they fight back with an even more advanced device, reclaiming their invention and staying true to their vision of accessible technology.
A New Beginning
Andy Kasper, a disillusioned marketer, decides to leave his comfortable but unfulfilling career in search of something more meaningful. His search leads him to the LaHonda Research Institute, a place known for innovation and eccentric employees. There, Francis Benoit, a polished and ambitious executive, assigns Andy to an almost impossible project: design a fully functional personal computer that can be sold for only $99.
To save money, Andy rents a room in a run-down boarding house. It is there that he meets his neighbor, Alisa, a struggling artist who approaches life with creativity and skepticism toward the corporate world. The two gradually form a connection, with Alisa intrigued by Andy’s belief that technology should serve people rather than exploit them.
Recruiting a Team of Misfits
At LaHonda, Andy notices several employees without defined roles. Rather than seeing them as wasted resources, he recruits them for his team. They are unconventional, brilliant, and socially difficult. Salman Fard, a foreign programmer with a heavy accent, impresses Andy by casually hacking into CIA files. Curtis “Tiny” Russell, a massive, reclusive man, is uncomfortable around people but is an expert in systems architecture. Finally, there is Darrell, a tall, pierced, intimidating man who fears germs, insists on strict personal boundaries, and always refers to himself in the third person.
Together, this odd group begins dissecting the structure of a modern PC. They search for unnecessary parts to cut costs but soon realize that simply trimming hardware will not get them anywhere near the $99 price point. The task feels impossible, but the misfit team’s unconventional thinking begins to spark creative solutions.
Stripping Down the Computer
Salman proposes a radical idea. Instead of storing information on physical drives, all software and data could be hosted on the internet. By offloading storage and memory, they eliminate the need for a hard drive, RAM, CD-ROM, and floppy drive. This leaves only a processor, a monitor, input devices, and a network connection.
The cost drops significantly, but not enough. Andy, reflecting on his team’s earlier fascination with a holographic projection, has a dream that inspires him. He suggests replacing the expensive monitor with a cheaper holographic projector. This cuts costs even further, though the problem of input devices remains.
Darrell then contributes a solution consistent with his disdain for shared surfaces. He suggests virtual reality gloves in place of a keyboard and mouse. The gloves can be built inexpensively, and they align with the holographic display. Tiny, eager to tie it all together, writes a central piece of software he calls the “hypnotizer,” which synchronizes the gloves, projector, and internet into a cohesive system.
The prototype, now called the “emagi” (short for electronic magic), finally comes within reach of the $99 goal. The team feels triumphant, but funding at LaHonda is abruptly cut.
Leaving LaHonda and the Waiver
Benoit informs them that LaHonda will no longer support the PC99 project. The team, except for Tiny who continues working on code, resigns. Before they leave, they are required to sign a non-exclusive patent waiver, drafted by Benoit. It grants LaHonda partial rights to anything they developed but not exclusive ownership. The team accepts, seeing no better option, and leaves LaHonda to try their luck elsewhere.
Struggles in the Market
Outside of LaHonda, the group pitches the emagi to numerous companies. The technical innovation is strong, but the device is clunky and unattractive. Demonstrations repeatedly falter due to glitches, leaving potential partners unimpressed. Rejection after rejection takes its toll, and Andy begins to doubt their chances.
Alisa, who has grown close to Andy, decides to help. Using her artistic skills, she redesigns the emagi’s exterior. With smoother lines and a professional look, the device suddenly feels marketable. This catches the attention of an executive, and the team is given another chance.
The deal, however, comes at a steep price. The executive demands 51% ownership of the company in exchange for manufacturing support. Desperate, and with Andy longing to buy back the Porsche he sold to fund development, they agree.
Betrayal and Benoit’s Plan
Their relief is short-lived. The executive quickly sells the patent rights to Francis Benoit. Benoit plans to rebrand the emagi as a luxury product, priced at $999 instead of $99, turning their dream of affordable computing into a profit machine.
Andy and his team are furious. Benoit schedules a public event to unveil the emagi as LaHonda’s breakthrough. For Benoit, it is the culmination of his strategy. For Andy and his team, it is theft.
The Counter-Launch
Determined not to let their work be twisted, the team storms Benoit’s event. Before Benoit can reveal the emagi, Andy and his colleagues present a new device they have built since leaving LaHonda. This version is sleeker and more advanced—a small silver tube capable of projecting a holographic display. Instead of VR gloves, it uses lasers to detect hand movements, eliminating the need for any physical input devices.
The crowd is astonished. Andy reminds Benoit of the non-exclusive patent waiver that Benoit himself insisted upon. While LaHonda shares partial rights to earlier designs, the new computer is independent. The waiver prevents Benoit from claiming exclusive control.
Resolution
In front of investors and press, Benoit’s plan collapses. His $999 emagi is overshadowed by the new, more efficient model. Andy and his team reclaim their invention and their mission: to deliver accessible technology at the $99 price point. The film closes with their victory—not just over Benoit, but over the compromises that threatened to turn their dream into just another corporate product.
Jackson, M. (Director). (2002). The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest [Film]. 20th Century Fox.