David Fincher’s The Social Network cast was notable and award-worthy. Based on a true story, the movie shows the creation of Facebook, which grew to be the largest social media application of its time. It is filled with huge twists and turns, particularly as it emphasizes that success stories like Facebook’s don’t happen without hurting a few people along the way. Thanks to Aaron Sorkin’s crisp writing, the film is filled with intelligent characters and genius storytelling, bringing this unique story to life in unexpected ways.

The Social Network features a huge cast of characters. While they’re all based on real-life figures that played an actual part in this story, the film’s writing gives them all a fresh personality that every single actor captures brilliantly. That’s precisely why it’s one of Sorkin’s best projects – he transformed what could easily have been a dull narrative about business and finances into a thrilling drama that impressed critics and fans alike. The cast is widely responsible for bringing these memorable characters to life, winning several awards as a result.

Actor	Character
Jesse Eisenberg	Mark Zuckerberg
Andrew Garfield	Eduardo Saverin
Justin Timberlake	Sean Parker
Armie Hammer	The Winklevoss Twins

Jesse Eisenberg As Mark Zuckerberg

Date Of Birth: October 5, 1983

• Active Since: 1996

Character: Mark Zuckerberg is the name most commonly ᴀssociated with Facebook. Initially, the entire project was his idea, and he developed most of the site’s code. However, The Social Network also explores the idea that he’s not the only person that deserves to be credited as the network’s sole creator. Zuckerberg’s journey throughout the film is fascinating, mainly because of how subtle and well-tuned Jesse Eisenberg’s lead performance is. It’s one of Eisenberg’s best roles, not least because of how effectively he portrays Zuckerberg’s morally ambiguous behavior.

Notable Movies & TV Shows

Actor: Eisenberg received a Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards for his portrayal of Zuckerberg. However, the award ultimately went to Colin Firth for The King’s Speech. The performance works well because he never attempts to brush over the flaws in Zuckerberg’s character, but holds them on full display and uses them to explore why he is the way he is. Eisenberg previously appeared in Zombieland and The Squid and the Whale, but it wasn’t until this role that he was given the recognition that he deserved as an actor.

Andrew Garfield As Eduardo Saverin

Date Of Birth: August 20, 1983

• Active Since: 2004

Character: Eduardo Saverin was Zuckerberg’s closest friend from college and is responsible for much of Facebook’s early success. While Zuckerberg provided most of the technical prowess, Saverin was a great businessman who helped push Facebook to greatness and protect the company. His relationship with Zuckerberg is among The Social Network’s most powerful subplots, as their friendship eventually breaks apart due to business disputes and behind-the-curtain betrayals.

Saverin is an incredibly witty character, and while it’s Sorkin who is responsible for writing those lines, they wouldn’t have been anywhere near as effective without Garfield’s hilarious deliveries. There’s a strong argument to be made that Saverin is the secret protagonist of The Social Network – it’s his relationship with Zuckerberg and his consequent betrayal that pushes most of the story forward, allowing the film to examine the complex morals of both men’s decisions.

Notable Movies & TV Shows

Actor: Andrew Garfield has starred in many great movies. Although he is best known for his role as Peter Parker in the Amazing Spider-Man movies, he’s best when playing more restrained, complex characters like this. He earned an Oscar nomination for his role in the war film Hacksaw Ridge and won a Golden Globe for his performance in Boy A. He also had awards recognition for his roles in Tick, Tick … Boom!, Never Let Me Go, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye.

Justin Timberlake As Sean Parker

Date Of Birth: January 31, 1981

• Active Since: 1992

Character: Although he’s more famous for his musical career, Justin Timberlake delivers an excellent performance in The Social Network as Sean Parker, another tech genius who plays an integral part in shaping Zuckerberg’s journey throughout the film. Parker was renowned for creating the popular Napster software that allowed users to share files effectively across the internet, and his success consequently saw him scouted to be the first president of Facebook.

It’s unclear who the villain is in this David Fincher thriller, but Parker certainly isn’t the hero. He caused a mᴀssive rift between Zuckerberg and Saverin, resulting in the latter’s expulsion from the company. Timberlake delivers the perfect amount of sarcasm and arrogance to make the audience immediately hate Sean Parker. He’s presented as an egotistic millionaire with little regard for the other people in his life, and Timberlake knows how to turn people against him.

Notable Movies & TV Shows

Actor: Justin Timberlake is most well-known for his musical career in boy bands, such as NSYNC, but he’s also been involved in several entertaining movies, such as Friends With Benefits and Inside Llewyn Davis. He remains one of the most beloved Saturday Night Live returning guests and has been part of several of the show’s shorts. He has also lent his voice to animated projects like the Shrek and Trolls franchises, where in the latter, he was one of the leads in Branch.

Armie Hammer As The Winklevoss Twins

Date Of Birth: August 28, 1986

• Active Since: 2005

Character: Armie Hammer plays Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in The Social Network, two of Zuckerberg’s fellow students who believe he stole their idea and transformed it into Facebook. Although their legal claims rarely pose a threat to Zuckerberg, their presence in the film is hugely important. They allow Fincher and Sorkin to explore just how corrupt and ruthless Zuckerberg could be – particularly when someone stood in the way of his success. Whether Zuckerberg stole their idea is irrelevant – the film uses them to expose its protagonist’s flaws.

The Social Network perfectly understands the internet better than most films have ever been able to, and it doesn’t shy away from presenting its existence as a partly negative thing. It isn’t a celebration of Facebook or social media in general – it’s a scathing criticism of the betrayal and hardships necessary to rise to the top. The Winklevoss twins represent this corner of the story – they consider themselves enтιтled to Zuckerberg’s wealth because they originally conceived the idea for the site. His ruthlessness allowed him to succeed.

Notable Movies & TV Shows

Actor: Armie Hammer gained his first mainstream recognition in the cast of The Social Network. However, he was already turning heads on television before this with roles on Reaper and Gossip Girl. He used the success of The Social Network to try to become a star, with roles in J. Edgar, The Lone Ranger, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. However, his last significant roles came in Rebecca and Death on the Nile before his career stalled out after abuse allegations caused him to step back from Hollywood.

The Social Network’s Supporting Cast & Characters

Dakota Johnson as Amelia Ritter – Ritter is a young student who wakes up with Sean Parker in his first scene. Although she’s not a hugely important member of the cast, her inclusion helps establish Parker as a carefree playboy. Dakota Johnson’s other great movies include The Lost Daughter and Cha Cha Real Smooth.

Rooney Mara as Erica Albright – Albright is another student at Boston University who’s romantically involved with Zuckerberg at the beginning of the film. Their relationship deteriorates quickly after he starts to neglect her for his other projects, which helps display just how cold and emotionless he can be. She’s played by Rooney Mara, whose other works include Carol and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Rashida Jones as Marylin Delpy – Delpy has the near-impossible job of defending Mark Zuckerberg against lawsuits from both Eduardo Saverin and the Winklevoss twins in court. She doesn’t have many lines, but she’s a crucial addition to the film’s powerfully resonant final scene – in which Zuckerberg finally begins to think about the consequences of his actions. She’s most famous for her TV work on The Office and Parks and Recreation.

Brenda Song as Christy Ling – The Social Network is a perfectly-paced movie, and much of that success comes from its focus on several subplots and supporting relationships. Christy Ling is a great example of this, serving as Saverin’s girlfriend for a short time and offering a glimpse into his life and complex mind. She’s played by Brenda Song, who’s most famous for her work in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and the TV series Dollface.

Max Minghella as Divya Narendra – As one of the Winklevoss twins’ closest friends, Divya Narendra was another Harvard genius who found success in the technological world. Working alongside Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, he poses a great threat to Zuckerberg’s success and reputation. He’s played by Max Minghella, whose most famous works include The Handmaid’s Tale and Babylon.

Aaron Sorkin as Ad Executive – Although it’s only a cameo, Sorkin’s role in his own project is still entertaining. The Social Network features Sorkin’s best screenplay, so it makes complete sense that he’d want to include himself in the movie. He plays an unnamed executive whom Zuckerberg and Saverin meet in the early stages of their journey. He’s best known for his writing work on The West Wing and Steve Jobs.

Joseph Mazzello as Dustin Moskovitz – Although his name isn’t as notorious as Zuckerberg’s (or even Saverin’s), Moskovitz was the other great mind behind the invention of Facebook. He was pivotal to the site’s success in the group’s college days, though he soon left to pursue bigger dreams. In The Social Network, he’s portrayed by Bohemian Rhapsody’s Joseph Mazzello.