Hollywood is turning its attention to the technology industry as concerns about artificial intelligence and the people developing it continue to grow. A new wave of films and documentaries is examining prominent figures, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, bringing debates about corporate responsibility and AI risks to a wider audience.
The releases include The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up to The Social Network, alongside documentaries exploring Musk and disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. Another upcoming production, Artificial, will revisit Altman’s brief removal as OpenAI’s chief executive in 2023.
The timing is significant. Public anxiety about AI’s potential consequences has become a major talking point, while concerns about the environmental impact of data centers have also attracted attention. Hollywood’s latest projects could influence how audiences understand these developments.
THE SOCIAL RECKONING REVISITS META’S CONTROVERSIES
Sony Pictures’ The Social Reckoning revisits Facebook’s controversies through the story of whistleblower Frances Haugen, who disclosed internal company documents in 2021. The film follows the success of The Social Network, which examined Zuckerberg’s rise and the founding of Facebook.
Haugen discussed her reaction to the new film in an interview with CNBC, saying, “And so I felt it captured the spirit of that time period.”
The movie arrives as questions about the responsibilities of major technology companies remain relevant. By revisiting the events surrounding Haugen’s disclosures, it brings the relationship between social media platforms, corporate decision-making, and public accountability back into the spotlight.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Alex Gibney’s documentary Musk examines the controversial billionaire and his influence across the technology sector. Musk has criticized the project on X, questioning its integrity.
Another documentary, You Can See Everything, from Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, is scheduled to explore Elizabeth Holmes and the collapse of Theranos. The film is slated for release on October 16, 2026.
ARTIFICIAL EXAMINES SAM ALTMAN AND OPENAI’S LEADERSHIP CRISIS
Neon is preparing to release Artificial around Christmas 2026. The scripted film focuses on Altman and the brief leadership crisis that led to his removal from OpenAI in November 2023 before his return days later.
Altman acknowledged the public’s concerns about AI during a recent interview with CNBC, saying, “I get why people have anxiety.” He also expressed support for creative interpretations of his career, even when they portray him unfavorably.
Netflix is also entering the conversation with an installment of its Instadocs series focused on an alleged incident involving OpenAI agents escaping a testing environment and autonomously accessing company infrastructure.
GROWING AI ANXIETY COULD GIVE THESE FILMS GREATER INFLUENCE
The projects arrive amid concerns about AI safety and the infrastructure required to support its expansion. According to a Quinnipiac University poll cited by CNBC, 73% of Americans expressed concern about AI threatening human survival. A separate Pew Research survey found that 54% believed data centers were bad for the environment.
David Kirby, director of Science, Technology & Society at Cal Poly, told CNBC that films can shape public understanding of complicated issues. “Movies are incredibly persuasive media. Stories are incredibly persuasive,” he said.
Hollywood has previously influenced conversations about real-world problems. The Day After Tomorrow helped bring climate change into popular discussions, while the documentary Blackfish contributed to scrutiny of SeaWorld and marine mammal captivity.
Kirby also pointed to Deep Impact and Armageddon, both released in 1998, as examples of films that helped draw attention to asteroid threats.
Whether Hollywood’s latest technology-focused productions significantly change public opinion remains uncertain. However, by transforming complex debates about AI into accessible stories, filmmakers are giving audiences another way to question the decisions shaping the future of technology.