The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Pennsylvania carried out by Al Qaeda mark 25 years on Friday, September 11. Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the strikes on the United States, which altered international aviation, intelligence and foreign policy.
What initially appeared to be an unexpected aviation accident in New York quickly proved to be a coordinated terrorist attack that transformed modern history. Over the past quarter of a century, filmmakers and documentarians have produced feature films and series to portray the events of that day and their aftermath.
CNN Brasil highlighted seven key productions that chronicle the September 11 attacks, ranging from immediate survival struggles inside the burning towers to long term intelligence operations and documentary retrospectives.
Dramatic films depicting the hijackings and emergency rescue efforts
Released in 2006, the feature film United 93 focuses on the events that took place outside New York on September 11, 2001. United Airlines Flight 93 was the only hijacked aircraft that failed to reach its intended target, which was believed to be either the White House or the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Passengers aboard the Boeing 757 airliner banded together to overpower the hijackers, forcing the plane down into a field in rural Pennsylvania. Directed by Paul Greengrass, who is also known for directing The Bourne Ultimatum, the drama is available to stream for subscribers on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Also released in 2006, the film World Trade Center depicts two Port Authority officers, Sergeant John McLoughlin and officer Will Jimeno, who became trapped in the rubble of the World Trade Center. The two men had entered the complex to help office workers evacuate before the buildings collapsed.
The survival drama features a cast led by Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Nicolas Cage starred in Ghost Rider, Michael Peña appeared in Ant-Man, and Maggie Gyllenhaal featured in Donnie Darko. The film is available for purchase and rental on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
The 2017 release 9/11 represents one of the more recent feature films addressing the attacks. The narrative centers on five people who become trapped inside an elevator inside the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
The group works together, holding onto hope as they attempt to escape before the structure collapses. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Charlie Sheen of Two and a Half Men, Whoopi Goldberg of Sister Act, and Gina Gershon of Showgirls, the movie is available to rent on Apple TV+.
Films focused on the intelligence operation and Bin Laden manhunt
The 2012 feature film Zero Dark Thirty presents the story of the decade long search for Osama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda behind the September 11 attacks. The plot follows Maya, a CIA operative involved in interrogating prisoners linked to the terrorist group.
Starring Jessica Chastain, who also starred in Mothers' Instinct, the film received five Academy Award nominations in the year following its release. It earned Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Actress, and won the Academy Award for Best Sound Editing.
Documentary series and presidential crisis accounts
Released in 2021, the documentary 9/11: Inside the President's War Room details the response of the American executive branch during the initial hours of the crisis. The film features firsthand accounts from United States President George W. Bush and his senior leadership team during and immediately following the strikes.
The documentary was released on Apple TV+ during the 20th anniversary period and remains available to stream on the platform.
Also released in 2021 for the 20th anniversary, the Netflix documentary series Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror examines the broader historical context. Across five episodes, the series traces the rise of Al Qaeda in the 1980s through to the military response of the United States in the Middle East.
A continuation of that series, titled Turning Point: The 9/11 Generation, premiered on Netflix on September 2, 2026. Featuring previously unreleased accounts of the attacks and their long term consequences, the series explores how September 11 shaped a generation 25 years after the disaster.
