Hollywood is turning its attention to some of the most powerful names in technology, with new films examining social media controversies, billionaire influence, corporate fraud and the race to develop artificial intelligence. From Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook empire to Elon Musk's business career, Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos scandal and Sam Altman's leadership at OpenAI, the latest releases explore the stories behind the companies and personalities shaping our digital lives. Several of these titles arrive in October, with more scheduled for the end of 2026.
What makes this lineup interesting is the range of perspectives. Some productions are documentaries built around real events, while others use scripted drama and creative interpretation to explore technology's influence on business and society. Together, they reflect growing interest in the human consequences of Silicon Valley's ambitions, from social media's impact to the risks and responsibilities surrounding AI.
1. The Social Reckoning — Released October 9
The most direct continuation of Hollywood's examination of social media is The Social Reckoning, the companion film to The Social Network. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, the drama follows Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, played by Mikey Madison, as she works with Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz, played by Jeremy Allen White, to expose internal company documents. Jeremy Strong portrays Mark Zuckerberg. Inspired by real events and reporting associated with The Facebook Files, the film explores questions about platform accountability, algorithmic amplification and the consequences of social media's influence. It opened in theatres on October 9, 2026.
Unlike a conventional technology success story, The Social Reckoning focuses on what happens when the growth of a major digital platform comes into conflict with concerns about its effects on users and society. Its connection to real whistleblowing gives the story particular relevance at a time when questions about social media safety and corporate responsibility remain central to technology debates.
Official details: Sony Pictures — The Social Reckoning
2. Musk — Nationwide Release October 16
Director Alex Gibney, known for investigative documentaries about powerful organisations and controversial public figures, turns his attention to Musk. The nearly four-hour documentary examines Elon Musk's life, public image, business ventures and influence across companies including Tesla, SpaceX and X. Rather than presenting a conventional entrepreneurial success story, it investigates the relationship between Musk's public mythology, his ambitions and the consequences of his power.
The documentary has already attracted attention beyond its subject matter. Musk has publicly criticised the film, while debates surrounding promotional advertising have added another layer to its release. It is playing in select US theatres, with a nationwide expansion scheduled for October 16.
Official details: Bleecker Street — Musk
3. You Can See Everything — October 16
The Theranos story continues with You Can See Everything, a documentary directed by Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim. It follows Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of the failed blood-testing company Theranos, during the 34 days before she was due to report to prison. What begins as an intimate look at her personal life develops into a longer, unusual documentary project that examines the distance between public image, personal ambition and the consequences of corporate fraud. A24 lists the film for theatrical release on October 16, 2026.
The film offers a different perspective from earlier Theranos documentaries and dramatisations. Instead of focusing exclusively on how the company promoted its technology or how its claims unravelled, it follows Holmes and her family at an especially consequential moment. Its observational approach makes it one of the more unusual entries in this season's technology-related film releases.
Official details: A24 — You Can See Everything
4. Artificial — December 25
One of the most anticipated AI-related films of the year is Artificial, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman and Yura Borisov as Ilya Sutskever. The scripted drama revisits the 2023 leadership crisis at OpenAI, when Altman was removed as CEO before returning just five days later. It uses that upheaval to explore the personal conflicts and competing ambitions surrounding the development of powerful AI systems.
Unlike a documentary, Artificial is a dramatic interpretation rather than a definitive record of every event. Its release is particularly timely because the relationship between AI innovation, corporate governance and control has become one of the defining debates in technology. The film is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on December 25, 2026, through NEON after Amazon MGM stepped away from distribution.
Festival information: Film at Lincoln Center — Artificial
More Big Tech and AI Stories to Watch at Home
The big-screen lineup is only part of the picture. Streaming platforms are also exploring technology scandals, AI risks and the culture of Silicon Valley, making these stories accessible to viewers who prefer watching at home.
AI Gone Wild — October 12: Netflix's Instadocs documentary examines a reported incident involving autonomous AI agents and the open-source platform Hugging Face. The programme explores questions about AI autonomy, cybersecurity and responsibility when systems perform unexpected actions. Netflix Tudum
The Altruists — November 19: This eight-episode Netflix drama follows Sam Bankman-Fried and Caroline Ellison and the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency empire. It explores ambition, relationships and the scandal that shook the crypto industry. Netflix Tudum.
The Audacity — Streaming on Netflix: This fictional dark comedy centres on a tech executive whose company faces trouble and whose attempts to save it lead to increasingly questionable decisions. It satirises the culture of Silicon Valley, including data mining, questionable business practices and the influence of wealthy technology leaders. Netflix Tudum
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist: This documentary follows filmmaker Daniel Roher as he speaks with technology leaders and experts to understand what artificial intelligence could mean for his child's future and for humanity. Availability varies by country. Netflix
Why Big Tech Has Become a Hollywood Subject
These films arrive at a time when technology companies play a growing role in communication, finance, entertainment and everyday decision-making. Social platforms influence how information spreads, AI companies are developing increasingly powerful systems, and technology entrepreneurs can shape public debate well beyond their own products. That influence makes the people behind these businesses natural subjects for documentaries and dramas.
There is also an important difference between watching a documentary and watching a dramatisation. Documentaries can bring together interviews, records and investigative reporting, while scripted films interpret events through characters, dialogue and storytelling choices. Both can raise valuable questions, but neither should automatically replace independent reporting or original evidence when viewers want to understand a real controversy.
For audiences interested in technology, these releases offer more than celebrity profiles. They provide different ways to consider corporate accountability, business ethics, online influence, cryptocurrency failures and the future of AI. The common thread is not that every technology leader is a villain, but that the decisions made by powerful people and companies can have consequences far beyond their organisations.
What to Watch First
For a story rooted in social media whistleblowing, start with The Social Reckoning. For an investigative portrait of a technology billionaire, look to Musk. If you are interested in the Theranos scandal and Elizabeth Holmes, You Can See Everything offers a different documentary approach. And if your focus is the leadership and governance questions surrounding artificial intelligence, Artificial is one to watch when it reaches theatres in December.
The latest Big Tech movies show that technology is no longer just a backdrop for science fiction. Its real-world controversies, influential founders and unanswered ethical questions are becoming stories in their own right.
