The Social Reckoning called "compelling" and "forgettable" as it lands mixed Rotten Tomatoes rating

The first reviews are in for the anticipated The Social Network sequel The Social Reckoning – and it's fair to say they're a mixed bag. The new film from Aaron Sorkin focuses on the 2021 Facebook leak, with Mikey Madison playing whistleblower Frances Haugen alongside Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz and Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg.

Sorkin, who penned the original Social Network, writes and directs the standalone follow-up, though going by first reviews, it hasn't gotten as glowing a reception, sitting at a 70% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 46 reviews at the time of writing.

While some have praised it as "compelling" and "incredibly important", others weren't so praiseworthy, some calling The Social Reckoning "forgettable" and a "sermonizing slog".

Here's a taste of what critics have been saying.

The Weekend Warrior

"Sorkin has made his own modern-day Erin Brockovich with Mikey Madison playing a compelling, real-life superhero, who was able to make change in the social media space that continues to play such a large part in our lives."

Solzy at the Movies

"The Social Reckoning is exactly the kind of sequel that justifies its existence. Sorkin has taken the story that began with The Social Network and found a new chapter that is every bit as compelling, while also reminding us that the consequences of Facebook’s decisions are still playing out in real time."

Consequence

"Sorkin does have a real knack for making complex topics like this palatable on screen. And in this case, these topics are incredibly important."

HeyUGuys

"The Social Reckoning deserves to be judged on its own merits rather than constantly weighed against The Social Network. Even if it doesn’t fully reach the absolute heights of its predecessor, Sorkin guides the story with confidence, delivering a smart, engaging, and thought-provoking political thriller that is both informative and urgent."

The Daily Beast

"It’s totally uninterested in knowing its protagonists (they’re just archetypal devices), and worse, it’s as unfunny as it is conventionally plotted—a deadly combination that renders it a sermonizing slog."

SlashFilm

"Seemingly everything that went right with The Social Network goes wrong here, resulting in a forgettable, clunky film that is technically shorter than The Social Network but somehow feels twice as long."

Loud and Clear Reviews

"The Social Reckoning shouldn’t exist. Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, and Jeremy Strong are excellent, but Aaron Sorkin’s pedestrian, boring script and mediocre direction undermine them and the film’s decent, unmistakable message."

The Social Reckoning is released in cinemas on 9 October.

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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International.  Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.