Aaron Sorkin Cites Visual Gaps After 'The Social Reckoning' Earns $15 Million

Aaron Sorkin acknowledged during a recent interview that his latest film, The Social Reckoning, grossed only $15 million worldwide. The Sony Pictures release, which hit theaters on October 9, also received mixed critical reception, sitting at 54 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Sorkin discussed these results while accepting the Maverick Director Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival last week.

The film serves as a sequel in subject matter to Sorkin's 2010 screenplay The Social Network, which David Fincher directed. The Social Reckoning focuses on Facebook's internal knowledge of its societal impact and the whistleblower who exposed it. Mikey Madison plays the whistleblower, Jeremy Allen White portrays the journalist, and Jeremy Strong takes on the role of Mark Zuckerberg. Sorkin wrote the script and directed the film, which carried a production budget of $40 million.

Sorkin stated that he was the second choice to direct the project. He explained that David Fincher, who helmed the original, was unavailable due to an exclusive deal with Netflix. The film is owned by Sony, which required a director who could be secured for the production.

In the interview for The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast, Sorkin expressed concern about his specific weaknesses behind the camera. He noted that he has been writing for 35 years and has directed four films since Molly's Game in 2017. He compared directing to a sport where a coach might feel the components for a win were present but failed to coalesce on the field.

The screenwriter said he is worried that the aspects of directing where he struggles are those that cannot be learned through practice. He drew a parallel to screenwriting, noting that while many elements of writing can be taught, the core talent is innate. He fears his directing gaps fall into that same unteachable category.

Sorkin admitted to having no visual sensibility. He said he was surprised by how little he had absorbed of the technical science of filmmaking despite his experience. He emphasized that the challenge was not in working with actors but in knowing how to use the camera effectively to create art.

He mentioned that his previous films were directed by Rob Reiner, David Fincher, Bennett Miller, Mike Nichols, and Danny Boyle. Sorkin said that working with such a lineup made it difficult to not learn something, yet the learning curve remained steep. He described himself as feeling like a newcomer to the industry, unsure of many fundamental aspects of the craft.

Sorkin is 65 years old. He cited his long career, which includes writing A Few Good Men, The American President, Charlie Wilson's War, The Social Network, Moneyball, Steve Jobs, Molly's Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Being the Ricardos. He also wrote all episodes of the first four seasons of The West Wing.

During the same conversation, Sorkin addressed the current state of mid-range budget movies. He suggested that, with the exception of A Few Good Men, most of his recent scripts would likely be streamed rather than released as theatrical features today. He also discussed a new revival of A Few Good Men at Lincoln Center, noting he is rewriting the play after his initial version from his 20s.

He expressed a desire to revive The West Wing, stating he misses the cast and the show. However, he noted the difficulty of finding a new story to tell with an aging cast. The interview concluded with Sorkin reflecting on his personal history, including his Broadway debut and his recovery from drug use, which he said affected a decade of his life.