The Verge·3 min read·medium

The Social Reckoning is a tepid thriller that reminds us of how we got here

C
Charles Pulliam-Moore
The Social Reckoning is a tepid thriller that reminds us of how we got here
✦AI Summary

The film 'The Social Reckoning,' directed by Aaron Sorkin, explores the rise of Facebook and the role of whistleblower Frances Haugen. The review critiques the film for lacking the cinematic energy of its predecessor, 'The Social Network,' while acknowledging its focus on the societal dangers of social media.

Why it matters

Examines the intersection of big tech, media, and public perception, reflecting on how the narrative around Silicon Valley has shifted since 2010.

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When David Fincher’s The Social Network premiered in 2010, many people still thought of Mark Zuckerberg as a genius who had revolutionized the world by creating Facebook. Writer Aaron Sorkin’s script was critical of Zuckerberg’s character and his ruthless approach to doing business, but it also helped mythologize the co-founder at a time when the general public was much more enchanted by Silicon Valley. When Zuckerberg said in 2014 that he’d been hurt by the film’s depiction of him, Fincher said he was “sorry that it did” and admitted that he “wouldn’t want a movie made about the things I did when I was 19 years old,” either. Fincher’s apology was a reflection of how much grace the public was willing to extend to the world’s (then) youngest billionaire. But in 2026, it is hard to imagine anyone having all that much sympathy for the man running Meta.

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