Los Angeles ? Movie fans are spending some face time with a story about the founders of Facebook.

“The Social Network,” director David Fincher’s drama about the quarrelsome creation of the online juggernaut, debuted as the No. 1 weekend film with $23 million.

Distributor Sony hopes for a long shelf life for the film, which has earned Academy Awards buzz and rave reviews. Rory Bruer, Sony’s head of distribution, said “The Social Network” has a good shot at becoming a $100 million hit.

“The Social Network” traces the history of Facebook from Harvard University, where computer whiz Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) and best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) launched the site, through its meteoric rise with 500 million members and a stock value in the billions.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood .com.

1. “The Social Network,” $23 million.

2. “Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole,” $10.9 million.

3. “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” $10.1 million.

4. “The Town,” $10 million.

5. “Easy A,” $7 million.

6. “You Again,” $5.6 million.

7. “Case 39,” $5.35 million.

8. “Let Me In,” $5.3 million.

9. “Devil,” $3.7 million.

10. “Alpha and Omega,” $3 million.