⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3

I usually enjoy an early evening cinema visit on a Sunday. With nothing else catching our eye, my wife and I decided to give “The Social Reckoning” a try, despite wondering if its nearly two-hour runtime would hold up.

While many online reviews dismiss it as long and boring, I wouldn’t go quite that far. You do need to be in the mood for a more strait-laced narrative, though it does feature a few moments of dry humour. On a factual level, I found it almost educational, as I wasn’t fully aware of all the controversy it covers.

The story follows Wall Street journalist Jeff Horowitz (Jeremy Allen White) as he collaborates with Facebook data analyst Frances Haugen (Mickey Madison), who is growing deeply concerned that algorithms prioritize engagement over user safety. Meanwhile, Jeremy Strong (Succession) gives a brilliantly realistic, and thoroughly unlikable performance as Mark Zuckerberg. All three lead actors deliver excellent, believable work.

I found the film more engaging than expected, and my wife likely enjoyed it even more. It’s a hard-hitting biopic that shines a concerning light on Meta, Facebook, and the powerful influence their algorithms exert on society. While it undoubtedly takes some artistic license, it remains firmly grounded in true events (I believe).

Despite being a new release screened in the cinema, the theatre was virtually empty, rarely a good sign. It will likely have a short theatrical run, but it may find a much stronger audience once it hits streaming platforms. More than likely more suitable to watch at home than shell out for a cinema ticket.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3

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Trailer, synopsis and full score below.

Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, The Social Reckoning (2026) is a biographical drama that serves as a spiritual follow-up to 2010’s The Social Network, dramatizing the real-life events behind the 2021 Facebook leaks. The story centers on Frances Haugen (Mikey Madison), a principled Facebook data scientist who grows alarmed by the platform’s internal algorithms prioritizing engagement over public safety and teenage mental health. Partnering with Wall Street Journal investigative reporter Jeff Horwitz (Jeremy Allen White), Haugen risks her career to quietly copy tens of thousands of sensitive internal documents. The narrative tracks their tense, high-stakes collaboration as they prepare “The Facebook Files” expose and navigate the massive legal pushback from Meta’s legal machine and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (Jeremy Strong), culminating in Haugen’s historic congressional testimony.

Online synopsis 

Film Rating

Music/Sound

2 out of 5

Story/plot

3 out of 5

Acting/Performances

4 out of 5

Overall

3 out of 5

Certification: 15
Running time: 112 minutes
Screening type: 2D