Jan. 6 Themed ‘Social Reckoning’ Expected to Bomb at Box Office

Aaron Sorkin doesn’t hide his political leanings on screen.

The veteran scribe lets his liberalism influence his art. That has led to some powerful results.

Even some conservatives praised “The West Wing,” Sorkin’s idealized version of a competent Democratic administration. The ending of 1995’s “The American President” stirred serious pride in our First Amendment.

He’s not as predictable as Adam McKay, the “Anchorman” director who doubles as a DNC propaganda machine.

• “Vice”
• “Don’t Look Up”
• “The Big Short”

Sorkin still leads with his politics at times. Case in point: “The Social Reckoning.” It’s the sequel, of sorts, to 2010’s “The Social Network.” Except Mark Zuckerberg now looks like Jeremy Strong, not Jesse Eisenberg.

Sorkin takes over for David Fincher as the saga’s director, too. He’s still penning the dialogue, his undeniable strength over the decades.

He helped bring the phrase “walk and talk” into TV vernacular.

The new film, out Oct. 9, is all about blaming Facebook for societal ills. And, to be fair, social media giants worship algorithms at all costs.

It’s a problem.

It’s also a First Amendment issue, something a recent clip from the film suggests bothers Sorkin. Except he has something bigger on his mind.

Jan. 6.

Early reports showed the production recreating the riots that Democrats have effectively weaponized for more than five years. They obsess over the subject, eager to paint all Trump supporters with that garish brush.

Now, Jan. 6 has a movie all its own. An early report says “The Social Reckoning” weighs in on that ugly riot.

World of Reel shares a pointed reaction to the film and its subject matter:

January 6th eventually comes up, the entire film builds toward it. The film’s arc leads naturally to the suggestion that January 6th was, in part, a product of Facebook itself. 

Sorkin has literally said the same thing on the record regarding Facebook and Jan. 6.

The problem?

Who will actually see the movie? Box office projections have “The Social Reckoning” opening to a very soft $6-$10 million on its opening weekend. The competition won’t be stiff.

The only other major new release is “Other Mommy,” a horror film starring Jessica Chastain.

Audiences may not want a lecture on Facebook’s alleged ills. They also won’t rally around a Jan. 6 movie, an issue that likely has exhausted Americans at this point in the culture.

That may explain why “The Social Reckoning” trailers leave out that fateful day.

Even if “The Social Reckoning” flops with audiences, its Jan. 6 messaging could still fuel a successful Oscar campaign. Oscar voters may choose to support the film given its anti-Trump message.

Politics matter to awards season voters, too.

The Climate Change screed “Don’t Look Up,” which earned plenty of negative reviews, earned four Oscar nominations in 2021, including Best Picture.