The Social Network (Movie Review)

*Updated January 2026

Although The Social Network isn’t a masterpiece, this film will undoubtedly be the film that defines our generation. Each decade had a film that captured the zeitgeist of the times such as Saturday Night Fever in the 70s, The Breakfast Club in the 80s and Reality Bites in the 90s.

The Social Network, based on the origins of Facebook.com, possesses clever dialogue, entertaining performances, and a captivating story that draws you in. Director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin‘s brilliant script have created a biopic that will easily be nominated for several Oscars.

The plot is about the origins of Facebook through conflicting viewpoints of two of the most intelligent young people who claim to have been there at the moment of its conception: Mark Zuckerberg and the Brazilian financier Eduardo Saverin. The result is a drama full of creation and destruction, intentionally avoiding having a single point of view.

The characters are Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), the brilliant Harvard student who designed a site that seemed to redefine the social fabric of our days overnight. Then there is Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), who used to be the best friend of Zuckerberg and provided the money to start the new company.

We also meet the founder of Napster, Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), who led Facebook to venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. Finally, the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer) claim that their idea was stolen and sue Zuckerberg for their intellectual property.

But the chaos of creation leads to conflicting passions about how it all happened and who deserves recognition for what is clearly the most important idea of the century. Tensions reign that divide friends and trigger legal action.

I must say that the real magic of the film does not come from the actors but from Fincher and screenwriter Sorkin. Fincher’s direction is refreshingly consistent. He has always been obsessed with antisocial and rebellious characters, but now, in mid-career, he has become more subtle and eloquent in their arcs.

Sorkin on the other hand, is a master of the written word. His script is smart, witty, and absorbing. He did an impressive amount of research to get to the core of the story. He read legal statements and court documents which offered the best possible material. The only thing that could be a detriment to the film is that it might have felt long in some parts.

Among the performances, actor Armie Hammer impressed. His role was a tough one. He played the Winklevoss twins by himself courtesy of special effects. Two of the best lines in the film, and perhaps of the year, were delivered by him.

Another one that stands out is Jesse Eisenberg, who has undoubtedly done the best work of his career. His role as Zuckerberg, full of awkward moments, quick and extended philosophical monologues—was fierce, sad, and brave. Basically, he gave us a soup of personalities and emotions that ultimately proved difficult to decipher. Was Zuckerberg a hero or a villain?

Many are curious to know how things went with Justin Timberlake. I say this with all sincerity, he wasn’t so bad. The role fit him like a glove. His performance did not cause any kind of hysteria in the theater I saw it in unlike his musical performances. His performance is modest at best, nothing to criticize.

Our new Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield, who played Eduardo Saverin, shows that he has the acting chops to become an excellent actor for years to come.

I’m sure you’ll like The Social Network. Why? Because it moves quickly, no scene is wasted, and the theme is current and compelling. The performances are magnetic and the dialogue is engrossing. What more do you want from a film!

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