It’s hard to imagine now, but one of the most celebrated films of the 2010s almost left two of its stars convinced they had made a major mistake. For ‘The Social Network’, Andrew Garfield has admitted that he and co-star Jesse Eisenberg walked out of the movie’s premiere because it just didn’t work.
Doubts Took Over ‘The Social Network’s Premiere Night
In reference to the film’s debut at the New York Film Festival, Garfield said he and Eisenberg were “second-guessing” everything they saw. The two looked at each other nervously as the credits rolled, trying to gauge whether the film was a success.
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They both left the film with the impression that it was “bad” and that their acting didn’t meet their expectations. After a big production, it was a very honest response. “We were both just looking at each other like, it’s bad, right? This is a bad movie, and we’re bad in it.”
“We had no concept that it was going to be a film that people would reference.” It wasn’t that one scene wasn’t doing well, or one actor wasn’t doing well; it was a general sense that the film was not working the way they thought it would. For Garfield, it was simply impossible to predict how viewers would respond.
Andrew Garfield Couldn’t Believe ‘The Social Network’ Became So Influential
History, however, has a very different tale to tell. ‘The Social Network’ was an instant hit. The drama was widely acclaimed, won several Academy Awards, and has been a regular topic of conversation when talking about great contemporary movies.
In case you missed it: Andrew Garfield Reveals The Reason Behind His Absence From ‘The Social Network’ Sequel
Garfield said that he and Eisenberg didn’t know the film would be so impactful. They didn’t expect it to be called upon years later as a model for good writing, great acting, and gripping drama. His remarks point to the unpredictable nature of filmmaking.
Actors spend months immersed in a project, making it difficult to step back and view the finished product the way audiences do. At times, that breeds even more uncertainty. Looking back on it, Garfield’s story feels both funny and familiar.
Even the best performers can come out of a premiere feeling like they missed the mark, only to find that they’ve helped produce something that is touching millions of people. For ‘The Social Network’, what felt like a disappointment became one of the best movies of the century.
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