Following the hype of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Andrew Garfield has been a hot topic. In hopes of seeing him in the movie, many people rewatched The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel in hopes of catching some sort of tribute to the previous spider-men. In the midst of this, many people started to dive into Garfield’s spectrum of acting and fell upon The Social Network. The movie revolves around the infamous Mark Zuckerberg, and how he started Meta (previously Facebook). With the rediscovery of this Academy Award-winning film, it seems necessary to recap the effect it had on cinema.

The Social Network, directed by David Fincher, was released in 2010 with a full cast of celebrities. Social media is hotter than ever amongst Generation Z and Millennials. When Netflix added this movie to its variety of choices, many viewers found the name “Mark Zuckerberg” in the summary intriguing. This movie explore’s Zuckerberg’s friendships during his Harvard days, and how he started Facebook. The entire movie was based on true events, although it was heavily adjusted for entertainment purposes. Jesse Eisenberg acts alongside Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake in the film, portraying: Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, and Sean Parker. These ambitious business colleagues go through highs and lows together exploring the newly founded world of social networking, and media in general during this time.

Nowadays, when social media is used, people mainly use either Meta, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. In the early 2000s, Facebook was one of the only social media platforms being used. It attracted all generations, people could post about their studies, children, or even grandchildren. In 2022, these platforms still serve the same purpose, but it truly has evolved. Facebook was practically the blueprint, and when they bought platforms like Instagram, they made sure it aligned with their target audiences. The Social Network might be inaccurate at times, but it portrays what the creative process was for the biggest social media pioneers.

The film won multiple awards, including three Academy Awards and four Golden Globes. In total, The Social Network grossed over $200 million in 2010. Zuckerberg’s response to the release of the movie was rather mean. He once said, “… they just kind of made up a bunch of stuff that I found kind of hurtful”. When asked about the topic more recently, he often says that he blocked the movie out of his memory. Unfortunately for him, as big streamers like Netflix keep recommending this pick, it won’t be out of the public eye anytime soon. The Social Network is here to stay. It might have been exaggerated, but most television shows and movies are fabricated for entertainment purposes in the industry. Inaccurate or not, viewers adore the flick, and don’t hesitate to rewatch it. It wouldn’t be Hollywood without a dramatic plot.