Sorkin cites $15 million gross as evidence of visual limits in directing

The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin’s latest film, has grossed just $15 million worldwide since its October 9 release. The figure stands in stark contrast to the $40 million production budget invested by Sony Pictures.

Sorkin, who also wrote the script, discussed the performance during an interview at the Newport Beach Film Festival this week. He noted that the film, which features Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, and Jeremy Strong, received mixed critical reception with a 54 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This result follows his previous directorial efforts, including Molly’s Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Being the Ricardos.

The filmmaker stated that he preferred David Fincher to direct the project, as Fincher had an exclusive deal with Netflix. Sorkin acknowledged that the learning curve for directing was steeper than he anticipated, specifically regarding camera usage rather than actor management.

"I have no visual sensibility, it turns out," Sorkin said. "I’m very worried that the parts of directing that I’m not good at are those parts that you can’t learn." He compared the challenge to a football coach insisting that the elements for a win were present but failed to come together.

Sorkin has written screenplays for 35 years, including A Few Good Men, The American President, and The Social Network. He won Academy Awards and Golden Globes for The Social Network and Steve Jobs. While he considers himself a screenwriter first, he has taken on directing duties for the past four films.

"I was surprised by how little of the science of filmmaking I’d managed to absorb," he added. Sorkin expressed a desire to continue working with established directors like Rob Reiner and Mike Nichols, noting that observing their work provides valuable lessons.

The 65-year-old writer also addressed the changing economics of the film industry. He suggested that most of his recent screenplays would now be produced as streaming content rather than theatrical features, citing the decline of the mid-range budget film.

Sorkin is currently working on a rewrite of A Few Good Men for a Lincoln Center revival. He described the new production as distinct from the original Broadway version and noted that he is working on the material while sober, a shift from his early days in the theater.