5 Shows and Films That Spotlight Silicon Valley

Tech world icons and villains, from Mark Zuckerberg to Elizabeth Holmes, have been portrayed on the big and small screen.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 10:53pm by Ben Kaplan

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An abstract close-up photograph featuring a shimmering, high-contrast texture of glittering sequins and shattered glass, conceptually representing the glamour and drama of Silicon Valley's tech industry as depicted in popular films and shows.These cinematic portrayals of Silicon Valley's tech titans and innovators offer a glimpse into the high-stakes drama and glamour of the region's cultural influence.San Francisco Today

The Bay Area and Silicon Valley have long been ripe for both ribbing and potent storytelling on the big and small screen, due to the region's colorful history and its current role as the capital of the American technological zeitgeist. This article highlights five series and films that have spotlighted the region and its cultural and intellectual energy, including 'The Social Network,' 'The Dropout,' 'Halt and Catch Fire,' 'Steve Jobs,' and 'Pirates of Silicon Valley'.

Why it matters

Silicon Valley and the Bay Area have become a central character in many popular films and TV shows, reflecting the region's outsized influence on technology, innovation, and culture. These portrayals offer insights into the personalities, dramas, and impact of the tech industry on society.

The details

The article discusses five notable shows and films that have featured Silicon Valley and its tech luminaries. 'The Social Network' dramatizes the founding of Facebook and the falling out between Mark Zuckerberg and his co-founder. 'The Dropout' stars Amanda Seyfried as the disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. 'Halt and Catch Fire' follows the early days of the personal computer industry in the 1980s. 'Steve Jobs' stars Michael Fassbender as the Apple co-founder, while 'Pirates of Silicon Valley' depicts the rivalry between Jobs and Bill Gates.

  • The Social Network was released in 2010.
  • The Dropout premiered on Hulu in 2022.
  • Halt and Catch Fire aired from 2014 to 2017.
  • Steve Jobs was released in 2015.
  • Pirates of Silicon Valley aired as a TV movie in 1999.

The players

Mark Zuckerberg

The co-founder of Facebook, whose rise and falling out with a co-founder was dramatized in The Social Network.

Elizabeth Holmes

The disgraced founder of the blood-testing company Theranos, whose story is told in the Hulu series The Dropout.

Steve Jobs

The co-founder of Apple, who was portrayed by Michael Fassbender in the 2015 film Steve Jobs.

Bill Gates

The co-founder of Microsoft, who was depicted in a rivalry with Steve Jobs in the 1999 TV movie Pirates of Silicon Valley.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, Michael Fassbender looks nothing like Jobs, but he brings the right level of intensity to match Aaron Sorkin's dense screenplay, an adaptation of Walter Isaacson's tome about the icon.”

— Randy Myers, Author

The takeaway

These films and shows offer a window into the personalities, dramas, and impact of the tech industry, reflecting Silicon Valley's outsized influence on technology, innovation, and culture.