The dark side of social media takes centre stage in this week’s biggest movie release: The Social Reckoning.
A dramatisation of the 2021 whistleblower scandal, it tells the story of former Facebook (now Meta) employee Frances Haugen, who leaked documents revealing the company’s prioritisation of profits over public health.
At a time when technological anxieties continue to dominate our lives, it’s unlikely to be a comforting watch — but at least there’s solace to be found in a trip back to the 90s at London’s Tate Britain. The museum has put together a nostalgically joyful showcase of the decade’s art and fashion in Britain, exploring how they shaped and were shaped by the rebellious culture of the time.
Similarly, 90s pop rock queen Sheryl Crow is releasing a new album that utilises her old school sound in a rallying cry against the divisions of today.
Keep scrolling to find out more about this week’s highlights.
Exhibitions
The 90s: Art and Fashion
When: 8 October 2026 – 14 February 2027
Where: Tate Britain (London, UK)
Beanie Babies, girlbands, pastel-coloured shell suits — the 1990s were an era of many things. But more than anything, they have come to represent a version of life we will never get back.
The last decade before the internet, social media and smartphones took over, the 90s had an unbridled sense of optimism. This is reflected in the art and fashion of that time, with the Young British Artists (YBAs) movement giving rise to rebellious new visions from the likes of Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, while designers like Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen transformed the runway into theatrical spaces for subversion. This, in turn, shaped the energy and image of the era, which the Tate Britain explores through a diverse collection of iconic photographs, paintings, clothing and more — expertly curated by former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Edward Enninful OBE. Find out more here.
Christoph Schlingensief: It’s not my problem anymore, deal with your own shit
When: 9 October 2026 – 17 January 2027
Where: Gropius Bau (Berlin, Germany)
From satirical gore-films to political performance art, the works of German artist Christoph Schlingensief remain some of the world’s most boundary-pushing. By blending his skills in theatre direction, filmmaking and performance art, he consistently created installations that challenged the political and social issues of the time — many of which feel just as relevant today. Sixteen years after his death, the Gropius Bau museum reflects on his works from the late 1990s to the late 2000s, including Schlingensief’s remarkable large-scale installation ‘Kaprow City’, which was originally created in 2006 for a rotating, labyrinthine room.
Bonus highlight: From 9 October, the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris is showcasing more than 250 works from the late French painter Gustave Fayet’s personal art collection. Find out more here.
Movies
The Social Reckoning
Where: Cinemas
When: 9 October
It’s been sixteen years since The Social Network came out — a film about Mark Zuckerberg’s creation of Facebook and subsequent bitter legal battles. Since then, social media’s rot has continued to spread, resulting in lawsuits, safety concerns and growing distrust against the tech billionaires who now harness so much of the world’s power and influence. As depressing as all of this is, it also makes for rich sequel material, which Aaron Sorkin (who wrote the previous movie) has now delivered. Starring Mikey Madison (Anora), Jeremy Strong (Succession) and Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), the movie documents the 2021 whistleblower scandal, which saw a Facebook employee leak damning information about the company to the Wall Street Journal.
Bonus highlight: Andrew Garfield stars in The Uprising, a new action-packed drama about the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381. It’s out in UK cinemas from 9 October, with a staggered rollout across the rest of Europe to follow.
TV series
Carrie
Where: Prime Video
When: 7 October
American filmmaker Mike Flanagan has become a trusted source for two things: supernatural TV series and Stephen King movies. Now he’s combined the two with a fresh adaptation of King’s ‘Carrie’ — the story of a young, isolated and bullied girl (Summer H. Howell) living with telekinetic powers. Unlike the previous 1976 and 2013 movies, Flanagan’s series reportedly expands on King’s original story, re-contextualising it to the present day and developing character backstories along with Carrie’s supernatural abilities. Perfect spooky season watching.
Bonus highlight: A TV adaptation of John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel ‘East of Eden’ is out now on Netflix, starring Florence Pugh and Mike Faist.
Music
Sheryl Crow: Pick You Up
When: 9 October
If all you wanna do is have some fun, Sheryl Cole has the perfect pick-me-up in the form of Pick You Up — her 13th studio album. The singer, best known for Americana anthems like ‘If It Makes You Happy’, brings back her warm 90s rock sound to rekindle a sense of optimism in an increasingly anxious world. The album features 7 new tracks, all of which reinforce the power of communal support in hard times.
Bonus highlights: Swedish musician Kristian Matsson, who goes by the stage name The Tallest Man on Earth, is releasing his first new album in three years on 9 October: ‘Just Beyond Endless Mountain’.