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Movie Review

The Social Reckoning takes a swipe at Facebook in the modern era

Alex Bentley
Oct 8, 2026 | 3:56 pm
Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White in The Social Reckoning

Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White in The Social Reckoning.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment

The 2010 film The Social Network — about the early years of Facebook after Mark Zuckerberg created the social media site — was a landmark movie in many ways. But given the time it was made — just four years after it went public beyond colleges — the impact Facebook had on society was minimal compared to what it is today (the film’s tagline references 500 million users on Facebook; there are now over 3 billion).

All of which is to say that there's plenty of fertile material for a follow-up film to explore, which writer/director Aaron Sorkin does quite well in The Social Reckoning. Zuckerberg (played this time by Jeremy Strong) is an important but supporting character in this story, which focuses on Wall Street Journal investigative reporter Jeff Horwitz (Jeremy Allen White). Horwitz is in pursuit of anyone willing to spill dirt on the inner workings of Facebook, which leads him to Frances Haugen (Mikey Madison), who works on the Civic Integrity team at the now-giant company.

While at first reluctant to disclose much, Haugen gradually gives Horwitz access to internal files that show that Facebook engaged in behind-the-scenes work to boost engagement on the site with little regard for how it would affect the well-being of its users. Their story, which takes place over the course of two years between 2019 and 2021, is intercut with scenes in which Zuckerberg is being prepped for testimony before Congress by Raya (Wunmi Mosaku), Charlie (Bill Burr), and others.

The key to Sorkin’s success in Hollywood has always been his fast-paced, overlapping dialogue, and there’s much of it to enjoy in this film. Most of the film is just people talking in rooms, so the script needs to have Sorkin’s signature style to keep the story compelling. He achieves that goal through lines that indicate the righteous indignation, quirks, and sense of humor of the characters, feelings that easily translate over to the audience.

Sorkin is clearly on one side in his storytelling, and it’s not the side that doesn’t seem to care that its users are being harmed by its product. Sorkin gilds the lily multiple times throughout the film in big and small ways, and your enjoyment of the movie may lie in your ability to roll with his choices instead of nitpicking details (like the fact that Zuckerberg didn’t testify before Congress in the crucial year depicted in the film).

Still, there’s the unshakeable feeling that the movie is too little, too late. Even though it’s set just five to seven years ago, the advances in technology and the division of the country in the years since make it feel like a completely different world. The Social Network had the advantage of showing things that most viewers didn’t know well. The basics of this film played out in headlines around the world, and the issues the characters debate in it seem positively quaint compared to what’s happening now.

White has been hit-and-miss as a movie actor, but he’s in his sweet spot in this film, rattling off lines with ease and making Horwitz alternately cocky and empathetic. Madison does well in her first film since winning an Oscar for Anora, playing on Haugen’s passion and eccentricities effectively. Strong plays Zuckerberg as literally stiff — his neck and body movements are almost mechanical — a choice that works for the most part.

The Social Reckoning is not as good as The Social Network, but it manages to be gripping in its own way. Through Sorkin’s writing, better directing than he has delivered in other films, and committed performances by all of the actors, it becomes a story worth telling, even if its ideas have become antiquated.

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The Social Reckoning opens in theaters on October 9.

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These are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Craig D. Lindsey
Oct 7, 2026 | 6:30 pm
Chris Brown and Usher
Photo by Julian Buchan
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This weekend, the Houston Cinema Arts Festival will wind down with screenings at such venues as the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Rice Cinema, and The DeLUXE Theater. The DeLUXE will also be present the Houston Comedy Film Festival, a two-day celebration of funny features and shorts. The fest will also have a performance by a live jazz band, aerial performers, and networking opportunities.

Fall festival season rolls on with everything from the Bayou City Art Festival to the Korean Festival Houston and opening weekend of the Texas Renaissance Festival. But let’s be honest: a lot of ladies will be at Reliant Stadium, hoping this man will feed them cherries.

Thursday, October 8

The Garden Club of Houston presents Bulb and Plant Mart
The Garden Club of Houston's Bulb & Plant Mart offers top-quality bulbs from the best growers around the United States and abroad. Additional special exhibits will include the live butterfly tent from The Houston Museum of Natural Science Cockrell Butterfly Center. Proceeds from the three-day event are used for the purposes of stimulating the interest in and knowledge of gardening, enhancing the beauty of our community, and protecting and restoring our fragile ecosystem. 5 pm (9 am Friday and Saturday).

Chris Brown and Usher
Photo by Julian Buchan

Chris Brown and Usher in concert.

The University of Houston Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies (CMALS) and the Center for Public History presents Chulas Fronteras 50th Anniversary Film Screening/Panel
The University of Houston Center for Mexican American and Latino/a Studies and the Center for Public History invite the community to celebrate Les Blank’s landmark 1976 documentary Chulas Fronteras, which explores the rich traditions and cultural history of Tex-Mex music. The evening will include Tex-Mex music historical footage compiled by film curator Peter Lucas; a post-screening panel; and an after-party at Winnie’s, featuring DJ sets from Santos Sounds, Mexico City’s Sabotage Media, and Austin’s Trucha Soul. 6 pm.

My Hero Academia in Concert
The concert brings the anime’s 10-year, eight-season journey to life on stage. Accompanied by a 15-piece live band performing Yuki Hayashi’s score synced with visuals of people's favorite scenes, every note captures the triumph, heartbreak, and courage of Class 1-A, creating an immersive concert experience for fans new and old alike. 7:30 pm.

Friday, October 9

Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park 2026
An outdoor gallery will take over Memorial Park this weekend, offering patrons the opportunity to meet artists, view original works, and purchase paintings, prints, jewelry, sculptures, functional art, and more. The three-day festival will feature live entertainment stages, a food truck park, and beverage stations throughout the festival. You and others can stroll around Houston’s iconic Memorial Park while enjoying the festival’s wine and craft beer garden. 10 am. (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

Fielding’s Steak presents Old Fashioned Flight
Fielding’s Steak is raising a glass to one of America’s most iconic cocktails with the launch of a limited-edition Old Fashioned Flight, in celebration of Old Fashioned Week. Created as a tasting experience, the specialty flight features four unique interpretations of the classic Old Fashioned, each highlighting a different flavor profile while keeping bourbon and rye at the heart of the cocktail. Through Saturday, October 18. 11:30 am (11 am Saturday and Sunday).

Chris Brown and Usher in concert
R&B singers Chris Brown and Usher will be in Houston for two nights, as part of their The R&B Tour – and you know it’s going to be a problem. Their knack for inviting female audience members on stage for some simulated lasciviousness – which has obviously made some boyfriends and husbands a bit perturbed – has even made Saturday Night Live poke fun at it. Anyway, Chris Brown is touring in support of his new album, Brown. Usher has released nine albums in his career, most recently Coming Home in 2024. 7 pm.

St. Luke's United Methodist Church presents Roger Sayer: Interstellar 10
St. Luke's United Methodist Church and the Houston chapter of the American Guild of Organists will present internationally acclaimed organist Roger Sayer (who performed on the soundtrack of Christopher Nolan's 2014 film Interstellar) in concert, as part of his Interstellar 10 tour. The event coincides with World Space Week, making Houston's "Space City" an ideal setting for an evening inspired by one of the most beloved science fiction films of the modern era. 7 pm.

Saturday, October 10

Fluff Bake Bar Saturday Morning Specials x EJ Miller
Rebecca Masson of Fluff Bake Bar welcomes executive chef EJ Miller of Chardon for a special edition of her recurring Saturday morning specials. The collaboration will showcase a French-inspired bakery lineup, bringing together Miller’s culinary perspective with Masson’s signature approach to baking. Folks with a sweet tooth can stop by for a selection of freshly baked treats and pastries, with the menu to be announced on Fluff's Instagram. 10 am.

Korean Festival Houston
Korean Festival Houston celebrates the best of Korean food, music, performing arts, and culture. The fest welcomes a broad and vibrant community of Houstonians, including foodies, K-Pop fans, families, and anyone eager to experience Korean culture. Headliners Big Ocean, the first K-Pop group with hard-of-hearing members, will perform at 7 pm on Saturday. Sensory-friendly hours, held on Sunday from 11 am to 1 pm, will offer a quieter, more relaxed festival experience. 10 am (11 am Sunday).

The Secret Group presents Land of the Neon Sun Houston Music Community Learning Event and Album Release Party
The Suffers frontwoman Kam Franklin has a heavy schedule this weekend. Along with doing several shows at various coffeehouses in the city, she’ll also have an album release party for her solo debut, Land of the Neon Sun, as well as a free learning event for and by the local music community. The learning event will be early in the day, complete with an industry panel and a stripped-down set from Franklin. Later that evening, Franklin will be back with her band and some special guests to perform songs from the album. 5 and 10 pm.

37th Annual Accordion Kings & Queens Concert
Presented by Texas Folklife, the annual concert spotlights the accordion’s powerful role across Texas cultural communities and the many styles it brings to the stage: polka, conjunto, zydeco, Cajun, Tejano, swing, and more. The 37th annual concert will feature headliner Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. and The Zydeco Twisters. Rooted in a celebrated Louisiana family tradition, the band delivers dance-floor zydeco with driving rhythms and crowd-ready energy. 7 pm.

Montrose Grocer presents Danse Macabre
The hip Montrose wine bar and shop will be joined by guest sommeliers Christina (Theodore Rex, Nancy's Hustle) and Mark Sayre (March, Milton's) for an evening of French wine and music. Look for an all-vinyl soundtrack of Cold Wave and Industrial tunes paired with by-the-glass wines priced at $20 or less. 9 pm.

Sunday, October 11

Texas Renaissance Festival
The Texas Renaissance Festival will kick off its 52nd season of chivalry, merriment, and magical experiences this weekend. New acts for the 2026 season include Paladin, the Errant Fool, the wandering jester who can be found throughout the festival; Sons of Olympus, where two brothers bring the gods and goddesses to life through aerial performance, acrobatics, fire, and death-defying stunts; and Lester Jesterson,the "best-er jester" at the Mockingbird Music Gazebo. Through Sunday, November 29. 9 am. (9 am Saturday).

Filipino American History Month Festival
The annual event celebrates Filipino American culture, heritage, and community connection. The day will include a culinary demonstration; a breaking and hip-hop showcase by B-Girl Eden and District Arts; performances by Filipino American rapper NUMP, American Idol contestant Cameron Concepcion, DJ Seduction & Kleancutt of the Krackernuttz, and Houston-based hip-hop artist Elow the Great; and more. Noon.

Candlelight presents Classic Rock on Strings and The Best of Hans Zimmer
Candlelight will present two live string-quartet concerts at Space Center Houston, one day after World Space Week concludes. The evening pairs Classic Rock on Strings with The Best of Hans Zimmer. Surrounded by thousands of candles, the performances will bring familiar rock anthems and cinematic scores to a venue closely connected to Houston’s role in human spaceflight. 6:30 and 8:45 pm.

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