Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is a brilliantly crafted film about terrible people doing innovative things. It's not a feel-good story—it's a cautionary tale dressed up as a tech thriller, where everyone loses something even when they win.

For the right teen (16+, interested in tech/business, can handle moral ambiguity), it's genuinely enriching: a masterclass in dialogue, a case study in startup ethics, and a cultural artifact about how Facebook began. The pacing is relentless, the performances are stellar, and it raises questions that matter.

But let's be clear: this isn't family movie night material. There's drinking, drugs, sex, and more F-bombs than a Sorkin script should legally allow in PG-13. Plus, almost everyone on screen is either manipulative, vindictive, or getting screwed over. If you're looking for wholesome role models or uplifting messages, keep scrolling.

The real question is whether your teen is mature enough to watch a cynical, morally complex story and come away with critical thinking rather than just thinking 'wow, being a ruthless tech bro looks cool.' If yes, it's a worthy watch. If not, wait a year or two.

Age Fit

Best for mature 16-18 year-olds who can handle R-adjacent content in a PG-13 package and appreciate dense dialogue. Younger teens will be bored or miss the nuance; college-age viewers will find it most resonant.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

35

The film depicts backstabbing, betrayal, lawsuits, and the dissolution of friendships driven by ambition and greed. Mark Zuckerberg is portrayed as socially awkward, manipulative, and willing to betray his best friend for success. The tone is cynical and morally complex, with few characters modeling kindness or cooperation. Themes of revenge, ego, and exploitation dominate.

Imaginative

72

Aaron Sorkin's rapid-fire dialogue and David Fincher's stylish direction create a compelling narrative about innovation and the birth of social media. The film reimagines the creation story of Facebook with dramatic flair, showing the creative process of coding and entrepreneurship. However, it's more about dramatizing real events than inviting original thought or creative expression from viewers.

Safe

45

Rated PG-13 (typical for this type of drama), but contains significant mature content: drug use at parties, sexual situations including a scene in a bathroom stall, heavy drinking, and pervasive strong language throughout. The opening scene features a brutal breakup with harsh dialogue. While there's no graphic violence or gore, the adult themes, party culture, and casual sex make it inappropriate for younger viewers. The content isn't shocking for a PG-13 drama, but it's definitely not family-friendly.

Enriching

78

Highly enriching for older teens and adults: explores themes of ambition, friendship, loyalty, intellectual property, innovation, and the ethical implications of technology. Raises important questions about success, what we're willing to sacrifice for it, and how social media was born from both brilliant vision and interpersonal dysfunction. The fast-paced dialogue rewards attention and critical thinking. Provides insight into startup culture, legal battles, and the price of unprecedented success.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Brilliant introduction to startup culture, intellectual property disputes, and the messy human side of tech innovation
Aaron Sorkin's razor-sharp dialogue teaches the art of verbal sparring and rewards close attention
Raises essential questions about friendship, loyalty, ambition, and what success actually costs
Culturally significant for understanding how social media began and the personalities behind it
Excellent for teens interested in entrepreneurship, coding, or business—shows both the glamour and the ugliness

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What to Watch For

Heavy drinking, drug use at college parties, and sexual situations throughout—definitely not for middle schoolers
Pervasive strong language and a pretty brutal opening breakup scene
Almost no positive role models; everyone's either backstabbing or getting backstabbed
Dense, rapid-fire dialogue that requires full attention—not a phone-scrolling movie
May glamorize ruthless ambition and 'move fast and break things' mentality without sufficient critique

Conversation Starters

"Do you think Mark was justified in cutting Eduardo out, or was that a betrayal?"
"What would you have done differently if you'd invented Facebook?"
"The movie shows Zuckerberg as kind of a jerk—do you think that's fair or accurate?"
"Is it possible to build something world-changing without burning bridges along the way?"
"How do you think the real people involved feel about how they're portrayed in this movie?"

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