Photo Credit: Getty Images
David Fincher’s “The Social Network,” the movie about the origins of Facebook and its co-creator Mark Zuckerberg, will be leaving Amazon Prime on February 28, 2025. The exit denotes the conclusion of its run on the platform, and it has led many to consider the movie’s enduring legacy and influence.
Released in 2010, “The Social Network” was a critical success right out of the gate thanks to Aaron Sorkin’s razor-sharp screenplay and Fincher’s demanding direction. The film earned eight Academy Award nominations and won three: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing. It also achieved the rare feat of sweeping the “Big Four” critics’ awards—Los Angeles Film Critics Association, National Society of Film Critics, New York Film Critics Circle, and National Board of Review—joining the ranks of films like “Schindler’s List” and “L.A. Confidential.”
Andrew Garfield, in an early breakout performance, starred alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, and Dakota Johnson. Garfield played Eduardo Saverin, Facebook co-founder and one of the central figures in the film’s examination of ambition, betrayal, and the cost of innovation. His performance helped to elevate the film’s emotional stakes and narrative tension.
The film was a commercial success, grossing over $224 million worldwide, but its influence went far beyond the numbers. It captured the tech zeitgeist and mirrored the growing complexities of the online world. Critics and audiences praised its urgency and profundity, and it is one of the most controversial films of its era.
Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino infamously named “The Social Network” the best film of its decade. In an interview with the French magazine Première, he stated, “It is number one because it’s the best, that's all. It crushes all the competition.” His stamp of approval added another layer of credibility to the film’s legacy.
The Social Network's cultural impact still resonates, birthing a generation of young entrepreneurs and leaving its mark indelibly on how tech stories are told on film. As its run on Amazon Prime is nearing its close, those who have not yet viewed it—or would like to view it once more—will need to act fast or resort to other platforms or to physical media.
Its removal is a reminder that streaming libraries are in a constant state of flux, but really great movies, such as this, remain timeless long after the credits roll.
