Best Movies like The Social Network (2010)

The Founder traces the rise of McDonald's, grounded in true events around visionary ambition and the resulting personal and legal struggles that parallel the entrepreneurial journey and fallout seen in The Social Network. Both films examine how individual drive can reshape industries and relationships at great personal cost.

The true story of how Ray Kroc, a salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. He maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. The Founder is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.1 by 5,455 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,121,245 in the box office.

Steve Jobs delves into the creation of a tech empire and its turbulent personal and professional ramifications, mirroring The Social Network’s focus on industry-defining innovation and the challenging relationships between founders and colleagues amid rapid success.

Set backstage at three iconic product launches and ending in 1998 with the unveiling of the iMac, Steve Jobs takes us behind the scenes of the digital revolution to paint an intimate portrait of the brilliant man at its epicenter. Steve Jobs is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.8 by 4,409 people. The movie made an estimated total of $34,400,000 in the box office.

Jobs centers on a driven college dropout who changes the tech landscape, with themes of innovation, friendship, and betrayal woven into the climb from obscurity to world-changing prominence, echoing the premise and conflicts seen in The Social Network.

The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century. Jobs is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.1 by 2,627 people. The movie made an estimated total of $42,100,000 in the box office.

Moneyball explores a real-life disruption of an established field using data and ambition, paralleling The Social Network’s interest in young visionaries challenging norms, facing skepticism, and navigating high-stakes alliances and rivalries.

The story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball team on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players. Moneyball is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 14m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.3 by 5,882 people. The movie made an estimated total of $110,206,216 in the box office.

Wall Street showcases the cutthroat dynamics of wealth, power, and ambition within the corporate world, offering a similar window into personal compromise, legal risks, and the moral complexities of high-stakes innovation as depicted in The Social Network.

A young and impatient stockbroker is willing to do anything to get to the top, including trading on illegal inside information taken through a ruthless and greedy corporate raider, whom takes the youth under his wing. Wall Street is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 6m runtime, released in 1987 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,283 people. The movie made an estimated total of $43,900,000 in the box office.

Glengarry Glen Ross scrutinizes the pressures, betrayals, and ethical dilemmas of a business environment fueled by ambition, providing a sharp study of strained professional relationships and the darker consequences of drive, which aligns with The Social Network’s core themes.

Times are tough at Premiere Properties. Shelley "the machine" Levene and Dave Moss are veteran salesmen, but only Ricky Roma is on a hot streak. The new Glengarry sales leads could turn everything around, but the front office is holding them back until these "losers" prove themselves. Then someone decides to take matters into his own hands, stealing the Glengarry leads and leaving everyone wondering who did it. Glengarry Glen Ross is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 40m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,629 people. The movie made an estimated total of $10,725,228 in the box office.

Pirates of Silicon Valley details the founding struggles behind major tech companies, depicting young innovators, shifting alliances, and disputes over intellectual property that directly reflect the tech industry focus and interpersonal conflicts of The Social Network.

The story about the men who made the world of technology what it is today, their struggles during college, the founding of their companies, and the ingenious actions they took to build up the global corporate empires of Apple Computer Inc. and Microsoft Corporation. Pirates of Silicon Valley is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 37m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 7.0 by 606 people.

Network offers a critical look at media power, examining corporate maneuvering, personal ambition, and the impact of success on human relationships, themes that closely interact with The Social Network’s study of ascent in a high-stakes, rapidly evolving environment.

When veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast. Network executives rethink their decision when his fanatical tirade results in a spike in ratings. Network is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 2m runtime, released in 1976 with an average rating of 7.8 by 2,069 people. The movie made an estimated total of $23,700,000 in the box office.

The Big Short dissects real events surrounding financial innovation and upheaval, highlighting complicated friendships and the moral ambiguity of systemic change, resonating with The Social Network's focus on industry disruption, collaboration, and the fallout of rapid success.

The men who made millions from a global economic meltdown. The Big Short is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.4 by 9,961 people. The movie made an estimated total of $133,346,506 in the box office.

Shattered Glass presents a true story of media innovation and the unraveling of a talented yet controversial protagonist, revolving around ambition, ethical lapses, and the high-stakes fallout between colleagues—elements central to The Social Network’s narrative.

Stephen Glass is a staff writer for the respected current events and policy magazine The New Republic and a freelance feature writer for publications such as Rolling Stone, Harper's and George. By the mid-90s, Glass' articles had turned him into one of the most sought-after young journalists in Washington, but a bizarre chain of events - chronicled in Buzz Bissinger's September 1998 Vanity Fair article - suddenly stopped his career in its tracks. Shattered Glass is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 34m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.0 by 482 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,944,752 in the box office.

Thank You for Smoking spotlights a young professional navigating morally gray corporate culture and public scrutiny, paralleling the exploration of personal ambition and public controversy found in The Social Network.

Nick Naylor is a charismatic spin-doctor for Big Tobacco who'll fight to protect America's right to smoke -- even if it kills him -- while still remaining a role model for his 12-year old son. When he incurs the wrath of a senator bent on snuffing out cigarettes, Nick's powers of "filtering the truth" will be put to the test. Thank You for Smoking is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 32m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,447 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,793,509 in the box office.

The Wolf of Wall Street dives into the ascent of a young entrepreneur who amasses wealth and influence, exploring themes of excess, legal trouble, and turbulent relationships that align closely with questions of success and cost in The Social Network.

A New York stockbroker refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration. Based on Jordan Belfort's autobiography. The Wolf of Wall Street is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 3h 0m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 8.0 by 26,232 people. The movie made an estimated total of $407,038,432 in the box office.

American Psycho investigates the effects of ambition and self-reinvention within a high-pressure business world, paralleling The Social Network’s interest in the personal consequences and ethical costs of success in a competitive environment.

A wealthy New York investment banking executive hides his alternate psychopathic ego from his co-workers and friends as he escalates deeper into his illogical, gratuitous fantasies. American Psycho is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 7.4 by 12,485 people. The movie made an estimated total of $34,269,748 in the box office.

The Insider explores the ethical dilemmas, legal risks, and strained professional relationships faced by individuals speaking truth to power, themes that form the backbone of both The Social Network and stories of contentious real-world breakthroughs.

A research chemist comes under personal and professional attack when he decides to appear in a 60 Minutes exposé on Big Tobacco. The Insider is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 38m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 7.5 by 2,110 people. The movie made an estimated total of $60,300,000 in the box office.

A Beautiful Mind portrays the complex personal and interpersonal challenges of a young academic whose extraordinary talent leads to both acclaim and conflict, echoing the psychological and relational challenges at the heart of The Social Network.

From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash Jr. experiences it all. As a brilliant but socially awkward mathematician, he made a groundbreaking discovery early in his career and stands on the brink of international acclaim. But as the handsome and arrogant Nash accepts secret work in cryptography, he becomes entangled in a mysterious conspiracy. His life takes a nightmarish turn and he soon finds himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery. A Beautiful Mind is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 15m runtime, released in 2001 with an average rating of 7.9 by 11,238 people. The movie made an estimated total of $316,791,257 in the box office.

Spotlight focuses on a real-life team navigating institutional power, teamwork, and ethical quandaries to break new ground—reflecting The Social Network’s interest in the collision of ambition, collaboration, and the profound consequences of unveiling new truths.

The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core. Spotlight is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 9m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.8 by 8,884 people. The movie made an estimated total of $98,690,254 in the box office.

The Big Kahuna features business professionals wrestling with issues of loyalty, opportunity, and moral compromise during a crucial meeting, resonating with The Social Network's focus on strained partnerships and ambition-driven crossroads in high-stakes environments.

Three salesmen working for a firm that makes industrial lubricants are waiting in the company's "hospitality suite" at a manufacturers' convention for a "big kahuna" named Dick Fuller to show up, in hopes they can persuade him to place an order that could salvage the company's flagging sales. The Big Kahuna is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 6.8 by 375 people. The movie made an estimated total of $3,728,888 in the box office.

Boiler Room presents young characters entering the corporate world and facing ethical ambiguities and betrayals, echoing The Social Network's themes of ambition-strained relationships, temptation, and the dark side of meteoric professional ascent.

A college dropout gets a job as a broker for a suburban investment firm and is on the fast track to success—but the job might not be as legitimate as it sounds. Boiler Room is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 6.7 by 756 people. The movie made an estimated total of $28,780,255 in the box office.

Michael Clayton investigates the tense interplay between corporate power, legal conflicts, and individual conscience, themes that align with The Social Network’s portrayal of a protagonist caught between innovation, personal integrity, and the threat of litigation.

A law firm brings in its "fixer" to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multi-billion dollar class action suit. Michael Clayton is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 6.8 by 2,018 people. The movie made an estimated total of $92,991,835 in the box office.

Margin Call traces the experiences of individuals grappling with ethical choices, sudden success, and impending crisis within a competitive professional environment, offering a thematic kinship to The Social Network’s view of ambition, responsibility, and institutional consequences.

Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, involving the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. An entry-level analyst unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm. Margin Call is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.9 by 2,134 people. The movie made an estimated total of $19,504,039 in the box office.

Nightcrawler examines personal ambition and the ethical boundaries pushed in pursuit of new success, highlighting the disruptive impact on relationships and society, in line with The Social Network’s themes of innovation’s costs and the fracturing of personal bonds.

When Lou Bloom, desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Aiding him in his effort is Nina, a TV-news veteran. Nightcrawler is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 7.7 by 11,877 people. The movie made an estimated total of $47,425,835 in the box office.

A Few Good Men explores intense legal disputes and the fallout of personal decisions in a high-stakes environment, mirroring the legal and ethical conflicts resulting from ambition and strained friendships found in The Social Network.

When cocky military lawyer Lt. Daniel Kaffee and his co-counsel, Lt. Cmdr. JoAnne Galloway, are assigned to a murder case, they uncover a hazing ritual that could implicate high-ranking officials such as shady Col. Nathan Jessep. A Few Good Men is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 18m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 7.6 by 4,239 people. The movie made an estimated total of $243,240,178 in the box office.

The Devil's Advocate focuses on the perils of ambition, the moral trade-offs accompanying rapid ascent, and the emotional toll of professional choices, providing parallels to the dilemmas facing those who, like The Social Network’s protagonist, rise quickly.

Aspiring Florida defense lawyer Kevin Lomax accepts a job at a New York law firm. With the stakes getting higher every case, Kevin quickly learns that his boss has something far more evil planned. The Devil's Advocate is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 24m runtime, released in 1997 with an average rating of 7.5 by 6,925 people. The movie made an estimated total of $153,000,000 in the box office.

Broadcast News uncovers the balancing act between professional ambition and personal relationships in a media-driven environment, intersecting with The Social Network’s scrutiny of how high stakes in innovative fields strain trust and collaboration.

A high-strung news producer finds herself in a love triangle between a talented but self-doubting reporter and a charming news anchor who embodies the growing trivialization of news that she is determined to fight against. Broadcast News is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 13m runtime, released in 1987 with an average rating of 6.8 by 473 people. The movie made an estimated total of $67,330,500 in the box office.

Quiz Show delves into real-life ethical scandals, examining personal ambition, public revelation, and the breakdown of trust within high-achieving circles, much like the conflicts and reckonings at play in The Social Network.

Herbert Stempel's transformation into an unexpected television personality unfolds as he secures victory on the cherished American game show, 'Twenty-One.' However, when the show introduces the highly skilled contestant Charles Van Doren to replace Stempel, it compels Stempel to let out his frustrations and call out the show as rigged. Lawyer Richard Goodwin steps in and attempts to uncover the orchestrated deception behind the scenes. Quiz Show is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 13m runtime, released in 1994 with an average rating of 7.3 by 1,000 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,822,619 in the box office.

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room presents the true story of a groundbreaking business empire marked by innovation, ethical lapses, and ultimately legal disaster, paralleling The Social Network’s chronicle of success, controversy, and the repercussions of ambition.

A documentary about the Enron corporation, its faulty and corrupt business practices, and how they led to its fall. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 50m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.2 by 302 people.

Miss Sloane examines a relentless individual's navigation through high-stakes politics, professional rivalries, and ethical boundaries, connecting with The Social Network’s exploration of determined protagonists, internal conflicts, and the transaction of personal relationships for achievement.

An ambitious lobbyist faces off against the powerful gun lobby in an attempt to pass gun control legislation. Miss Sloane is a movie from Canada in English, with a total 2h 13m runtime, released in 2016 with an average rating of 7.4 by 2,006 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,101,546 in the box office.

Flash of Genius recounts a real-life inventor's legal battle against powerful adversaries over intellectual property, sharing The Social Network’s focus on the complexities of ownership, legal strife, and the personal consequences of taking on industry giants.

In this David vs. Goliath drama based on a true story, college professor Robert Kearns goes up against the giants of the auto industry when they fail to give him credit for inventing intermittent windshield wipers. Kearns doggedly pursues recognition for his invention, as well as the much-deserved financial rewards for the sake of his wife and six kids. Flash of Genius is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 59m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.6 by 251 people.

Lions for Lambs revolves around individuals grappling with moral decisions within influential institutions, highlighting the tension between professional ambition and ethical responsibility familiar to the dilemmas realized by The Social Network’s central characters.

Three stories told simultaneously in ninety minutes of real time: a Republican Senator who's a presidential hopeful gives an hour-long interview to a skeptical television reporter, detailing a strategy for victory in Afghanistan; two special forces ambushed on an Afghani ridge await rescue as Taliban forces close in; a poli-sci professor at a California college invites a student to re-engage. Lions for Lambs is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 32m runtime, released in 2007 with an average rating of 6.0 by 842 people. The movie made an estimated total of $64,811,540 in the box office.

Whiplash focuses on the high-pressure drive for excellence, the sacrifices made for achievement, and the complicated mentor-mentee relationships—all elements that echo the ambition and cost of genius explored in The Social Network.

Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Whiplash is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 47m runtime, released in 2014 with an average rating of 8.4 by 16,862 people. The movie made an estimated total of $50,307,484 in the box office.

Larry Crowne follows a young man transforming his life through education and initiative, providing a parallel to The Social Network’s narrative of a protagonist leveraging opportunity and persistence to change his circumstances.

When he suddenly finds himself without his long-standing blue-collar job, Larry Crowne enrolls at his local college to start over. There, he becomes part of an eclectic community of students and develops a crush on his teacher. Larry Crowne is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 38m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 6.0 by 1,438 people. The movie made an estimated total of $75,055,070 in the box office.

August: Osage County investigates family conflict and personal ambition, exploring fractious relationships in a high-tension setting, a resonance with The Social Network’s study of interpersonal mistrust and fallout amid emerging success.

An intense look at the lives of the strong-willed daughters of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Midwest house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional mother who raised them. August: Osage County is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 1m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 6.9 by 1,603 people. The movie made an estimated total of $74,188,937 in the box office.

The People vs. Larry Flynt recounts a true story of unconventional ascent and the battle for recognition in a controversial industry, matching The Social Network in exploring the intersection of vision, legal obstacles, and the personal costs of defending one’s creation.

Larry Flynt is the hedonistically obnoxious, but indomitable, publisher of Hustler magazine. The film recounts his struggle to make an honest living publishing his girlie magazine and how it changes into a battle to protect the freedom of speech for all people. The People vs. Larry Flynt is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 10m runtime, released in 1996 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,275 people. The movie made an estimated total of $20,300,385 in the box office.

Dolemite Is My Name spotlights an underdog’s personal reinvention and pursuit of creative success against skepticism, mapping closely with themes of ambition, risk, and innovative thinking highlighted in The Social Network.

The story of Rudy Ray Moore, who created the iconic big screen pimp character Dolemite in the 1970s. Dolemite Is My Name is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 58m runtime, released in 2019 with an average rating of 7.0 by 1,301 people.

Erin Brockovich presents a determined protagonist confronting corporate power and legal adversity to bring important issues to light, highlighting themes of standing up for one's convictions under fire, as seen in the legal and personal drama of The Social Network.

A twice-divorced mother of three who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins -- with a little help from her push-up bra. Erin goes to work for an attorney and comes across medical records describing illnesses clustered in one nearby town. She starts investigating and soon exposes a monumental cover-up. Erin Brockovich is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 11m runtime, released in 2000 with an average rating of 7.4 by 3,700 people. The movie made an estimated total of $256,271,286 in the box office.