The Social Network
Movie, 2010, The 2010s, Set in Harvard, 2003
The Social Network is #8 of 13 in release order and #8 of 13 in chronological order in the David Fincher.
The story
In 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programmer Mark Zuckerberg begins work on a new concept that eventually turns into the global social network known as Facebook. Six years later, Mark is one of the youngest billionaires ever, but his unprecedented success leads to both personal and legal complications when he ends up on the receiving end of two lawsuits, one involving his former friend.
The Social Network recap
The Social Network (2010) follows Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg as he builds Facebook in 2003 and 2004 and is sued by the people who say he cheated them. David Fincher directs from Aaron Sorkin's script, based on Ben Mezrich's book The Accidental Billionaires. Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark, Andrew Garfield plays his best friend and co-founder Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake plays Napster co-founder Sean Parker, and Armie Hammer plays the twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. After his girlfriend Erica Albright (Rooney Mara) dumps him, Mark builds a site rating female students that crashes Harvard's network. The Winklevosses and their partner Divya Narendra (Max Minghella) hire him to build their social site, but Mark stalls them and launches TheFacebook with Eduardo's money. Parker charms Mark with a vision of a billion-dollar company and moves him to Palo Alto, pushing Eduardo out. The story is told through two legal depositions. The film won Oscars for the screenplay, score and editing. It is Fincher's eighth feature, following Benjamin Button and preceding The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
The Social Network ending explained
The Social Network ends with Mark alone in the deposition room after a junior lawyer tells him they will settle, since a jury would not like him. Eduardo learns at the millionth-member party that his stake has been diluted from 34 percent to almost nothing, and is thrown out of the building. Parker is arrested at a party with cocaine. Mark sends Erica a friend request and keeps refreshing the page. Closing text says both suits were settled and that Mark became the world's youngest billionaire.
Post-credits scenes
No. The Social Network has no mid- or post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Social Network
The Social Network is streaming on fuboTV, Philo, YouTube TV, Fandango at Home Free, MGM Plus, and YouTube (free) in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.8/10, Rotten Tomatoes 96%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, before The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
- Chronological order: after The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, before The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Cast
- Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg
- Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin
- Armie Hammer as Cameron Winklevoss / Tyler Winklevoss
- Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker
- Rooney Mara as Erica Albright
- Max Minghella as Divya Narendra
- Brenda Song as Christy Ling
- Josh Pence as Tyler Winklevoss (Body Double)
- Rashida Jones as Marylin Delpy
- John Getz as Sy
- David Selby as Gage
- Denise Grayson as Gretchen
Directed by David Fincher.