Writer/Director: Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong
‘A Brilliant Biopic’
When it comes to social media websites which are worth a look, it’s worth discussing Facebook. Since creation in 2004, the social network has become a popular website people adore. On a personal level, I find the website relatable. Years ago, I started using Facebook when my family migrated to Toronto. I fondly recall with nostalgia joyful memories of joining the social media website when I migrated to Canada. During eighth grade, I became obsessed with a website making me feel less afraid. As precious as BlackBerry, it became a form of technology I used daily. What started as online communication became film review promotion. An offer that I couldn’t refuse, I would love to use social media to promote my movie reviews. A precious website, Facebook gave me bright opportunities to shine a spotlight on movie reviews I loved to write. At a first glance, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with using a website that didn’t give me any problems at any chance. Despite its benefits as a website, however, I found problems with a platform hidden in plain sight. When Facebook began rejecting reviews I had been writing, I faced mixed feelings about a website which proved frustrating. The main problem I faced is the website’s algorithm prevented me from achieving dreams of film criticism. Seeing every review link I posted on Facebook flagged as spam drove me to the brink of insanity causing my heart to sink. As my reviews were rejected by Facebook every year, my dreams of a film criticism career were put up in the air. Facing anger behind my computer, I resented the founder of a company that destroyed my dreams of becoming a writer. Ultimately, I yearned to one day see the controversial website experience a social reckoning for negatively affecting my mental health permanently.
As someone finding faults in a website demanding a social reckoning, I appreciated “The Social Reckoning”. Released in 2026, Aaron Sorkin’s latest movie honours Facebook Packed with breathtaking visuals, engaging storytelling and amazing acting, it’s a brilliant biopic. At the centre of it is Mikey Madison, who embodies a whistleblower. Although “The Social Reckoning” is entertaining, it isn’t a flawless film. It’s unevenly paced, lacking a compelling ending. Nevertheless, it offers engaging entertainment for fans of Facebook.
“The Social Reckoning” tells the true story of a female whistleblower that exposed secrets about Facebook which are frightening. Mikey Madison embodies Frances Haugen, a journalist aiming to expose Facebook as an organization. Assisted by reporter Jeff Horowitz (Jeremy Allen White), Frances strives to fight lawsuits against the website. Uncovering shocking secrets about the company, Frances questions her devotion to a website she once loved dearly.
Aaron Sorkin is fascinated with the courtroom genre. His Oscar-winning film “The Trial of the Chicago 7” captured a real-life trial that involved rebellious protesters in Chicago. With “The Social Reckoning”, however, Sorkin has crafted his first social media biopic. It’s the filmmaker’s first attempt tracing the downfall of a social media company but he succeeds tremendously. Evoking David Fincher’s “The Social Network”, Sorkin effectively uses low-key lighting to capture journalists exposing a social network. For instance, low-key lighting elevates the Facebook office scene. During this meaningful scene, Frances showcases her love for Facebook through working in the organization. It brought back fond memories of my affection for a social media company. Low-key lighting is a tricky technique. As Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” suggested, low-key lighting elevates classic gangster movies. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Using breathtaking visuals, Sorkin captures a controversial social media website facing a reckoning.
Another admirable aspect of “The Social Reckoning” worth discussing is the production. From a technical perspective, it’s one of the most impressive movies about social media you will see. Evoking Matt Johnson’s “BlackBerry”, Sorkin effectively uses college settings to capture operations of a social media company. For instance, the campus setting elevates the Facebook confrontation scene. During this memorable scene, Mark Zuckerberg has arguments with his co-advisor Bill Burr regarding political ads on Facebook. It reminded me of my complicated views towards Facebook when the website rejected my reviews leaving me emotionally devastated. Moreover, the musical score is magnificent. Alexandre Desplat’s score contributes to success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the painful burden which social media companies bear. Using stunning production, Sorkin honours a social media organization.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Social Reckoning” is a technology film that’s engaging. In Hollywood, most movies about social media rarely address consequences of technology that’s misunderstood. For instance, Bo Burnham’s “Eighth Grade” depicted social media as a positive force assisting teens in eighth grade. Thankfully, however, “The Social Reckoning” avoids the genre’s pitfalls. Evoking Tom McCarthy’s “Spotlight”, Sorkin effectively uses dramatic monologues to shine spotlight on obstacles journalists fight. For instance, monologues elevate the courtroom scene. During this unforgettable scene, Frances delivers a speech expressing her issues with Facebook in court. It reminded me of my hatred towards a company that rejected my reviews leaving me infuriated. Dramatic monologues are tricky. As Rob Reiner’s “A Few Good Men” suggested, monologues elevate classic courtroom dramas. Nevertheless, it works immensely. Through a spectacular screenplay, Sorkin honours a social media organization that’s beloved today.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Mikey Madison delivers one of her best performances as Frances Haugen. Madison earned appreciation in coming-of-age movies. With “The Social Reckoning”, however, the actress took on her most complex role. It isn’t easy to embody a real-life whistleblower that exposed a company but she succeeds. Evoking Keira Knightley in Gavin Hood’s “Official Secrets”, Madison embodies a whistleblower that risks everything to expose official secrets. With mesmerizing expressions, she embodies the angst, frustration and spirit of a whistleblower facing tensions. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the finest actresses working today.
While the movie is mainly a showcase for Madison, the supporting cast is also spectacular and worthy of recognition. Jeremy Allen White is wonderful, bringing bright charisma to a news reporter seeking to fight lawsuits against a social media website. Jeremy Strong is spectacular, capturing the authoritative nature of a social media founder that’s under intense pressure. Lastly, Bill Burr merits appreciation. As a financial investor, he is unforgettable.
Despite its extraordinary acting, however, “The Social Reckoning” can’t quite capturing the frightening obstacles that a social media company is facing. Sorkin’s decision to integrate subplots about workplace love affairs into the movie is admirable but hinders the pacing. Due to this faulty decision, scenes focusing on Frances’ romantic affair aren’t as engaging as her journalism career. Whereas this subplot about romantic affairs enhanced Jason Reitman’s “Up in the Air”, it clashes with the realistic tone of this movie. Moreover, the film lacks a compelling ending. It’s a heavy-handed exposition conclusion that fails to bring the movie to a satisfying resolution. At worst, it perpetuates false messages about Facebook as a company that aren’t true to reality. As John Lee Hancock’s “The Founder” suggested, epilogue endings elevate biopics about fast food founders. Therefore, “The Social Reckoning” can’t entirely honour a social networking company that people adore.
Nevertheless, fans of Facebook will definitely appreciate “The Social Reckoning” and so would audiences seeking informative entertainment. A breathtaking biopic, it honours a social media company that’s proven to be problematic.
Nearly 22 years following the creation of a controversial company that faced a social reckoning, it’s a riveting reminder that stories of social networking organizations are worth telling in movies that audiences find entertaining.
As powerful as social media lawsuits Frances strives to fight, it has inspired me to move on many years after I experienced drawbacks of using a controversial website causing problematic technical issues every night that proved to be a shocking sight by treasuring a platform motivating my passion for movie reviews I write.
3.5/5 stars
