Saturday marked the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. This is a day that is still difficult for most to get through, even those that were not directly affected by 9/11. This is because in the end, everyone was in one way or another affected by the events that unfolded on 9/11. For those looking to learn more about 9/11 and its consequences, Hollywood has not disappointed us as there have been many movies that have been released since. Here are our favorites.
World Trade Center
World Trade Center is a 2006 docudrama disaster film on the 9/11 events featuring Nicolas Cage, Mario Bello and Michael Pena amongst others. The film closely falls members of the Port Authority Police who are dispatched to downtown Manhattan in response to the North Tower being hit by a plane. Sergeant John McLoughlin assembles a group of volunteers to go in and clear the buildings. Based on true stories.
United 93
United 93 is a 2006 docudrama thriller that chronicles the events that happened on United Airlines Flight 93 on the day of 9/11. This was one of the four hijacked flights during the attacks, but it is the only one that did not hit its intended targets due to the heroics of the passengers and crew. Many of the passengers and crew were also able to call 911 and their families and give us an inside look into what was happening on these flights. This is all documented in this film.
Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror
The newest movie on the list, Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror is a 2021 documentary series on 9/11 and the two wars afterwards. Specifically this series includes interviews with officials from various administrations, CIA personnel and US military veterans. Interestingly, it also includes interviews with Afghan National Army troops, Taliban leaders, Afghan government members, Afghan warlords, and Afghan civilians.
Zero Dark Thirty
Zero Dark Thirty is a 2012 thriller that is loosely based on a true story of the hunt for Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. The movie follows a fictional CIA intelligence analyst who works with several others to track down bin Laden’s associates and eventually him. There are certain parts of this movie that are right on with the facts to the point where there was an investigation to whether producers had improper access to classified information. However, some parts are also totally fictional.
Fahrenheit 9/11
Fahrenheit 9/11 is a 2004 documentary film directed by Michael Moore and takes a critical look at the presidency of George W. Bush, the war in Iraq, and the coverage of it in the media. Moore questions the reasons for the invasion of Iraq and what it had to do with 9/11, along with whether it was objective. Although some might not agree with Moore’s political views, this movie does do a good point of examining the other side.
We will never forget.
