Everyone who moves around the internet knows Facebook and its founder Mark Zuckerberg today. On Netflix, you have only a few days left to watch a strong movie about the creation of the social network. MeinMMO author Christoph gives a strong recommendation.
Which movie is it about? It has the fitting title The Social Network. The film is from the year 2010 and was directed by David Fincher. The director, who is otherwise known for dark films like Fight Club, Seven, or Zodiac, dedicated himself to a real story here.
The screenplay by Aaron Sorkin deals with Mark Zuckerberg and his beginnings at Harvard University. The film tells how the young, aspiring student gathers friends and companions around him and one day launches the platform Facemash.
There, unauthorized photos of women from the university environment are uploaded and can be rated. In 2003, this was controversial, which is why the site did not last long. Nevertheless, the idea was born in Zuckerberg to found a social network.
Together with his fellow students, Facebook is eventually founded. However, The Social Network does not end here. The film shows how the company grows rapidly, soon spreads beyond university boundaries, and makes Zuckerberg and his partners famous.
Of course, this soon leads to conflicts that the film does not spare. Zuckerberg is sued for intellectual property theft, and there is a dispute with former friends.
The film is based on the book “Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook – A Tale of Sex, Money, Friendship, and Betrayal” by Ben Mezrich. This means that the story of the film is written from a subjective perspective and is by no means documentary. However, The Social Network is definitely worth watching.
Breathless Tech Story
What makes the film so good for MeinMMO author Christoph? A film about the creation of Facebook – which might initially suggest a narrow target audience – is a surprisingly entertaining and engaging piece.
The Social Network has drawn me back to the screen repeatedly since its release in 2010. This is due to three points.
First: the screenplay by Aaron Sorkin. The actually simple story is conveyed at a high narrative pace. Particularly praiseworthy are the dialogues that the characters continually throw at each other. Although they are present at a high pace, they never seem too long or rambling. Rather, every sentence has its place and characterizes the figures.
Especially exciting is how the screenplay shows Zuckerberg himself – he is initially the eccentric nerd, later he becomes the calculating businessman. From today’s perspective, the film is viewed completely differently. Zuckerberg has deliberately presented himself publicly for some years now not as a nerd but as a muscular tech bro.
How one stands on this and his political orientation is a matter of personal opinion. For me, it is clear: while watching The Social Network, I wonder how much of that was already present in student Zuckerberg.
The second major strength: the direction by David Fincher. As usual, he skillfully adapts the screenplay and is equally precise in his staging. Every shot, every camera movement feels intentional. No frame is wasted.
And finally, the third strength: main actor Jesse Eisenberg beautifully manages to portray both the introverted and the ruthless Mark. While he initially still enjoys a bit of my sympathy, he quickly loses it during the course of the story.
Overall, The Social Network is a thoroughly successful film. Critics agree with this view. 335 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes gave it 96% positive reviews.
How long is the film still on Netflix? The Social Network is still available on the streaming platform until March 29, 2026. So, you should be quick if you’re interested. In general, you should always keep an eye on the films that are leaving Netflix. MeinMMO editor Niko has another recommendation for you: A sci-fi film is disappearing from Netflix in 4 days; it is the secret sequel to Jumanji
