🕷️ Crawler Inspector

Menu [](https://collider.com/) Sign in now Close - - [Movies](https://collider.com/movies/) Submenu - [Movie News](https://collider.com/movie-news/) - [Movie Features](https://collider.com/movie-features/) - [TV](https://collider.com/tv/) Submenu - [TV News](https://collider.com/tv-news/) - [TV Features](https://collider.com/tv-features/) - [Streaming Guides](https://collider.com/streaming-guides/) Submenu - [Netflix](https://collider.com/netflix/) - [Amazon](https://collider.com/amazon/) - [Disney+](https://collider.com/disney/) - [Max](https://collider.com/max/) - [Hulu](https://collider.com/hulu/) - [Apple TV+](https://collider.com/apple-tv-plus/) - [Lists](https://collider.com/tag/lists/) - [Reality TV](https://collider.com/reality-tv/) - [Reviews](https://collider.com/all-reviews/) - [Interviews](https://collider.com/interviews/) - [Trailers](https://collider.com/trailers/) - [Videos](https://collider.com/videos/) - [Threads](https://collider.com/threads/) - [Got A Pitch?](https://collider.com/page/submit-a-pitch/) - [Sign in](https://collider.com/the-social-network-true-story/) - [Newsletter](https://collider.com/page/newsletter/) Menu [](https://collider.com/) Follow Followed Like More Action Sign in now [Got A Pitch?](https://collider.com/page/submit-a-pitch/) [Videos](https://collider.com/videos/) [Threads](https://collider.com/threads/) [2025 Movie Releases](https://collider.com/most-anticipated-movies-2025/) [Screenings](https://collider.com/screening/) [What to Watch](https://collider.com/what-to-watch/) [Originals](https://collider.com/cl-originals/) [Reviews](https://collider.com/all-reviews/) Close # How Does ’The Social Network’s True Story Reflect the Real Zuckerberg Tale?  By [Liam Gaughan](https://collider.com/author/liam-gaughan/) Updated Apr 6, 2024 Follow Followed Like Link copied to clipboard [Sign in to your Collider account]()  Jesse Eisenberg in 'The Social Network' Image via Sony Pictures ### Summary - *The Social Network*'s relevance has grown over time, exploring the effects of technology on empathy. - The film dramatizes Zuckerberg and Saverin's dispute, mischaracterizing some key aspects of history. - Although some details are embellished, the film accurately portrays key moments and legal battles of Facebook's founding. Although it was acclaimed at the time of its initial release in 2010, **David Fincher**’s biopic [***The Social Network***](https://collider.com/tag/the-social-network/)has grown in prominence and is now often regarded as one of the greatest films of the 21st century. While the notion of a film about Facebook seemed preposterous at the time of the project’s inception, [**Aaron Sorkin**’s Academy Award-winning screenplay](https://collider.com/best-aaron-sorkin-movies-ranked/) charted the strange and haunting effects that technology has on people’s ability to empathize. Given recent events that involve many of the film’s subjects, *The Social Network* is perhaps more relevant now than ever before. Although the film’s insights on the ramifications of Facebook remain vital, ***The Social Network* embellished some aspects of history for dramatic intent.**  ### Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0*/10* Your comment has not been saved Like Follow Followed ##### [The Social Network](https://collider.com/tag/the-social-network/ "The Social Network") PG-13 [Drama](https://collider.com/tag/drama/) 10\.0*/10* **Release Date** October 1, 2010 **Runtime** 121 minutes **Director** [David Fincher](https://collider.com/tag/david-fincher/) ### Cast [See All](https://screenrant.com/db/movie/the-social-network/#cast-cand-crew) -  [Jesse Eisenberg](https://collider.com/tag/jesse-eisenberg/) Mark Zuckerberg -  [Andrew Garfield](https://collider.com/tag/andrew-garfield/) Eduardo Saverin - [](https://www.crave.ca//movies/the-social-network) - [](https://www.crave.ca//movies/the-social-network) - [](https://tv.apple.com/ca/movie/the-social-network/umc.cmc.36jj4rzu3eh9jk7uhicvr4vhb?at=1000l3V2&ct=app_tv&itscg=30200&itsct=&playableId=tvs.sbd.9001%3A405665335) Where to watch Close #### WHERE TO WATCH **Streaming** - [](https://www.crave.ca//movies/the-social-network) - [](https://www.crave.ca//movies/the-social-network) **RENT** - [](https://tv.apple.com/ca/movie/the-social-network/umc.cmc.36jj4rzu3eh9jk7uhicvr4vhb?at=1000l3V2&ct=app_tv&itscg=30200&itsct=&playableId=tvs.sbd.9001%3A405665335) - [](https://app.primevideo.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.8ec2b7b9-5fbb-476f-9c42-be6a654fcf28) - [](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Social+Network%2Bmovie) - [](https://store.cineplex.com/product/the-social-network) **BUY** - [](https://tv.apple.com/ca/movie/the-social-network/umc.cmc.36jj4rzu3eh9jk7uhicvr4vhb?at=1000l3V2&ct=app_tv&itscg=30200&itsct=&playableId=tvs.sbd.9001%3A405665335) - [](https://app.primevideo.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.8ec2b7b9-5fbb-476f-9c42-be6a654fcf28) - [](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Social+Network%2Bmovie) - [](https://store.cineplex.com/product/the-social-network) As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business. **Main Genre** [Drama](https://collider.com/tag/drama/) [Powered by ](https://screenrant.com/db/movie/the-social-network/) Expand Collapse ## ‘The Social Network’ Shows the Origin of Facebook *The Social Network* is based on the nonfiction novel *The Accidental Billionaire*by Ben Mezerich, a prolific author whose books have also served as the inspiration for the films ***21*** and ***Dumb Money***. The film charts how Harvard University law student Mark Zuckerberg ([**Jesse Eisenberg**](https://collider.com/tag/jesse-eisenberg/)) **created the world’s largest and most interactive online social networking platform** [while he was in college](https://collider.com/best-movies-about-college-pitch-perfect-animal-house/). Zuckerberg downloaded photos of various female students from his university’s house face books to create a site called “Facesmash,” which landed him six months of academic probation. **The “Facesmash” scandal served as the inspiration for Facebook**, as Zuckerberg theorized that the format could serve an audience wider than his Harvard classmates. While the film explores how Zuckerberg expanded the scope of his small site alongside his best friend Eduardo Saverin ([**Andrew Garfield**](https://collider.com/tag/andrew-garfield/)), **Zuckerberg has stated that the film misconstrues his motivations**. The film suggests that Zuckerberg created the site to rank his female classmates by attractiveness, which is partially stirred by his recent breakup with [his girlfriend Erica Albright](https://collider.com/rooney-mara-best-movies-ranked/) (**Rooney Mara**). However, Erica is a fictional character created for the film, and [Zuckerberg claimed that](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/20/mark-zuckerberg-the-social-network) he initially formed the site out of boredom, and not to “get girls.” While **he criticized the film’s dramatization of his actual personality**, Zuckerberg noted that the film nailed his wardrobe, revealing that “every single shirt and fleece they had in that movie is actually a shirt or fleece that I own." [](https://collider.com/best-david-fincher-movies-ranked/) Related ##### [Every David Fincher Movie Ranked from "Worst" to Best](https://collider.com/best-david-fincher-movies-ranked/ "Every David Fincher Movie Ranked from \"Worst\" to Best") Please note the titles of Alien 3 and Se7en did not affect their rankings. Posts ***The Social Network*** **mischaracterizes the roles of** [**Facebook’s founding members**](https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/the-social-network-epilogue-where-facebook-founders-are-now/), not all of whom are as significant as they're portrayed in the film. While Dustin Moskovitz (**Joseph Mazello**) is seen as a comically aloof friend of Zuckerberg’s who inadvertently becomes involved in Facebook’s inception, the real Moskovitz was an experienced coder who served as the company's first chief technology officer and then vice president of engineering. The film’s assertion that Saverin was Zuckerberg’s only close friend is also inaccurate, as he was also [well-acquainted with Adam D’Angelo](https://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3). Despite **serving as Facebook’s second chief technology office**r from 2006 to 2008, D’Angelo does not appear in the film. While depicting Zuckerberg as a lonely, embittered social outcast may have helped [Sorkin make his satirical point](https://collider.com/satire-effective-possible-social-media-age-explained/), it does suggest more malicious intentions on Zuckerberg’s behalf than he actually had. ## ‘The Social Network’ Dramatizes Zuckerberg’s Dispute With Saverin  andrew-garfield-the-social-network-social Image via Columbia Pictures A majority of the drama in *The Social Network* involves former best friends turning against each other, but **Mark** **Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin** [**weren’t as friendly in reality**](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/10/the-social-network-got-facebook-and-zuckerberg-all-wrong). The film aims to evoke sympathy for Saverin when Zuckerberg begins to make deals with Sean Parker ([**Justin Timberlake**](https://collider.com/tag/justin-timberlake/)) without checking, even though Saverin was the one who initially provided funding for the site. Their relationship reaches its climax when Saverin discovers that Zuckerberg has changed the investment deal and reduced his shares in the company, essentially cutting him out of the website that he helped form. While [Garfield’s emotional performance](https://collider.com/best-andrew-garfield-movies-ranked/) is heartbreaking, an investigation revealed that it was [Saverin’s financial liability that inspired Zuckerberg to rework Facebook’s infrastructure](https://www.businessinsider.com/is-the-social-network-true-2010-10#the-movie-doesn't-bring-up-how-much-eduardo-saverin-partied-in-new-york-while-zuckerberg-was-out-in-california-building-a-company-in-one-late-night-im-he-writes-to-mark-so-you-guys-go-out-a-lot-to-partiens-sic-and-such-there-mark-says-in-general-we-don't-do-fun-things-but-that's-ok-because-the-business-is-fun-4). Although the film suggests that it was Zuckerberg’s partying and outside ambitions that deterred his relationship with Saverin, their roles were the opposite in real life. Despite the suggestion that he “betrayed” his best friend due to his infatuation with Facebook’s potential, **many of Zuckerberg’s most eccentric moments are [accurately depicted in the film](https://collider.com/best-movie-adaptations-different-from-book/)**. Zuckerberg did [drop out of Harvard University](https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Latest-News-Wires/2011/1109/Mark-Zuckerberg-Harvard-dropout-returns-to-open-arms) at the end of his sophomore year to focus his efforts on developing Facebook, although the school did bestow him with an honorary degree in 2017 after Facebook had grown to be one of the world’s most frequently trafficked websites. Memorable moments such as Zuckerberg’s snarky business cards and wearing pajamas to an investor meeting are also lifted from Mezerich’s account. ## ‘The Social Network’ Depicts Facebook's Real Legal Battles While [Timberlake gives an exceptional performance](https://collider.com/justin-timberlake-movies-ranked/) in the film, **the real Parker didn't have a dramatic falling out with Zuckerberg.** As the film depicts, Parker discovered the Facebook phenomenon after meeting a romantic partner who left the homepage open on her laptop. Parker, then unemployed, pitched Facebook as a potentially “billion dollar” company to Zuckerberg, and later moved to Palo Alto to join the advisory board. While the film suggests that [Parker left the company](https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2010/10/sean-parker-201010) due to an incident in Palo Alto involving drug possession in 2004, he wasn't actually arrested until 2005 outside of California. While he did end up leaving Facebook due to concerns from advisors, [Parker stated that he remains friendly](https://mashable.com/archive/sean-parker-quotes) with both Zuckerberg and Saverin. During his dispute with Saverin, Zuckerberg is involved in a separate court case with Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (played by **Armie Hammer** [in a dual performance](https://collider.com/tony-hale-best-actors-who-played-twins-movies/)), who had initially hired Zuckerberg to help design their website ConnectU. The film depicts how **the Winklevoss twins sued Zuckerberg for stealing their idea and misleading them**, and received \$20 million in cash and \$45 million in stock as part of a settlement deal. While the film suggests that the brothers’ ambitions concluded after the court case, the Winklevoss twins launched the venture capital Winklevoss Capital Management in Silicon Valley after *The Social Network's* release. With their new focus on gaming, education, startups, and cryptocurrency, the Winklevosses are ranked among [the world’s wealthiest investors](https://www.forbes.com/profile/tyler-winklevoss/?sh=594831812cbd). *The Social Network* is available to watch on Max in the U.S. [Watch on Max](https://play.max.com/movie/90016aaa-2f1d-40d8-b214-2de30bccc99a?utm_id=1011l5873&utm_source=justwatchgmbh&utm_medium=affiliate&clickref=1101lypTggA6) - [Movie Features](https://collider.com/movie-features/ "Movie Features") - [ The Social Network](https://collider.com/tag/the-social-network/ "The Social Network") - [David Fincher](https://collider.com/tag/david-fincher/ "David Fincher") Follow Followed Like Share [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fcollider.com%2Fthe-social-network-true-story%2F%2F&src=sdkpreparse) [X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=How%20Does%20%E2%80%99The%20Social%20Network%E2%80%99s%20True%20Story%20Reflect%20the%20Real%20Zuckerberg%20Tale%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollider.com%2Fthe-social-network-true-story%2F) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollider.com%2Fthe-social-network-true-story%2F&title=How%20Does%20%E2%80%99The%20Social%20Network%E2%80%99s%20True%20Story%20Reflect%20the%20Real%20Zuckerberg%20Tale%3F&source=collider.com&summary=The%20David%20Fincher-directed%20feature%20embellished%20more%20than%20a%20few%20details%20from%20Mark%20Zuckerberg%E2%80%99s%20life.) [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollider.com%2Fthe-social-network-true-story%2F) [Flipboard](http://share.flipboard.com/bookmarklet/popout?v=2&title=How%20Does%20%E2%80%99The%20Social%20Network%E2%80%99s%20True%20Story%20Reflect%20the%20Real%20Zuckerberg%20Tale%3F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcollider.com%2Fthe-social-network-true-story%2F&utm_campaign=tools&utm_medium=article-share&utm_source=collider.com) [Copy link]() [Email](<mailto:?Subject=How Does ’The Social Network’s True Story Reflect the Real Zuckerberg Tale?&Body=Check%20this%20out%21%0Ahttps://collider.com/the-social-network-true-story/>) Close Recommended [](https://collider.com/viking-movies-best-ranked/) ##### [The 10 Greatest Viking Movies of All Time, Ranked](https://collider.com/viking-movies-best-ranked/ "The 10 Greatest Viking Movies of All Time, Ranked") [The Northman](https://collider.com/tag/the-northman/ "The Northman") Brutal. Posts [13](https://collider.com/viking-movies-best-ranked/#threads "Total Posts") 4 days ago [](https://collider.com/best-action-movies-last-40-years-ranked/) ##### [The 10 Best Action Movies of the Last 40 Years, Ranked](https://collider.com/best-action-movies-last-40-years-ranked/ "The 10 Best Action Movies of the Last 40 Years, Ranked") [Mission: Impossible - Fallout](https://collider.com/tag/mission-impossible-fallout/ "Mission: Impossible - Fallout") Cool guys don't look at explosions, but you can. Posts [22](https://collider.com/best-action-movies-last-40-years-ranked/#threads "Total Posts") 6 days ago [](https://collider.com/sci-fi-movies-21st-century-most-original-ranked/) ##### [The 10 Most Original Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century, Ranked](https://collider.com/sci-fi-movies-21st-century-most-original-ranked/ "The 10 Most Original Sci-Fi Movies of the 21st Century, Ranked") [Science Fiction](https://collider.com/tag/science-fiction/ "Science Fiction") From eternal sunshines to fountains and children of men. Posts [15](https://collider.com/sci-fi-movies-21st-century-most-original-ranked/#threads "Total Posts") 4 days ago [](https://collider.com/funniest-movies-last-50-years-ranked/) ##### [The 10 Funniest Movies of the Last 50 Years, Ranked](https://collider.com/funniest-movies-last-50-years-ranked/ "The 10 Funniest Movies of the Last 50 Years, Ranked") [Movie](https://collider.com/movie/ "Movie") Half a century of endless laughter. Posts [61](https://collider.com/funniest-movies-last-50-years-ranked/#threads "Total Posts") Aug 16, 2025 [](https://collider.com/netflix-mindhunter-replacement-inspector-zende-release-date/) ##### [Netflix's New 'Mindhunter' Replacement Sets Release Date](https://collider.com/netflix-mindhunter-replacement-inspector-zende-release-date/ "Netflix's New 'Mindhunter' Replacement Sets Release Date") [Netflix](https://collider.com/tag/netflix/ "Netflix") The film follows the manhunt for one of South Asia's most notorious serial killers. Posts [21](https://collider.com/netflix-mindhunter-replacement-inspector-zende-release-date/#threads "Total Posts") 6 days ago [](https://collider.com/best-dc-comics-movies-perfect/) ##### [These 6 DC Comics Movies Are Perfect From Start to Finish](https://collider.com/best-dc-comics-movies-perfect/ "These 6 DC Comics Movies Are Perfect From Start to Finish") [Superman](https://collider.com/tag/superman-2025/ "Superman") "And how come Batman doesn't dance anymore? Remember the Batusi?" Posts [20](https://collider.com/best-dc-comics-movies-perfect/#threads "Total Posts") Aug 16, 2025 [![ Rumi (Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-young Yoo) posing in KPop Demon Hunters.]()](https://collider.com/best-movies-on-netflix-streaming/) Jul 20, 2025 Trending Now The Social Network [](https://collider.com/a-serbian-film-documentary-review/) ##### [The Most Censored Horror Movie Ever Gets a Documentary That’s Almost as Disgusting, but For Different Reasons — Review](https://collider.com/a-serbian-film-documentary-review/ "The Most Censored Horror Movie Ever Gets a Documentary That’s Almost as Disgusting, but For Different Reasons — Review") [](https://collider.com/war-tv-shows-better-than-movies/) ##### [7 War TV Shows Better Than Most War Movies (\#1 is a Masterpiece)](https://collider.com/war-tv-shows-better-than-movies/ "7 War TV Shows Better Than Most War Movies (#1 is a Masterpiece)") [](https://collider.com/sherlock-creator-steven-moffat-number-10-channel-4/) ##### ['Sherlock' Creator Unveils a Very Different Type of British Drama Series](https://collider.com/sherlock-creator-steven-moffat-number-10-channel-4/ "'Sherlock' Creator Unveils a Very Different Type of British Drama Series") [](https://collider.com/tag/the-social-network/) 10\.0*/10* [The Social Network](https://collider.com/tag/the-social-network/) 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Follow Followed Like [](https://collider.com/) - [Join Our Team](https://collider.com/work-with-us/) - [Our Audience](https://collider.com/page/advertise/) - [About Us](https://collider.com/page/about/) - [Press & Events](https://collider.com/page/press-events/) - [Media Coverage](https://collider.com/page/media/) - [Contact Us](https://collider.com/contact/) - Follow Us [](https://www.valnetinc.com/en/) - [Advertising](https://www.valnetinc.com/en/advertising) - [Careers](https://www.valnetinc.com/en/careers) - [Terms](https://www.valnetinc.com/en/terms-of-use) - [Privacy](https://www.valnetinc.com/en/privacy-policy) - [Policies](https://www.valnetinc.com/en/editorial-integrity) [Collider](https://collider.com/) is part of the [Valnet Publishing Group](https://www.valnetinc.com/en/) Copyright © 2025 Valnet Inc.