United 93 (2006)

United 93 is a gripping, fact-based dramatization of the events aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Directed by Paul Greengrass, the film reconstructs in near real time the hijacking, the passengers’ calls to loved ones, the crew’s struggle, and the decision by ordinary people to fight back—events that led the plane to crash near Shanksville, Pennsylvania instead of reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C. The movie is shot in a restrained, documentary-like style with handheld cameras and sparse music, giving it an urgent, immersive realism. You’ll see the story unfold from multiple perspectives—the passengers and crew trapped in the cabin, confused and then resolute; air traffic controllers and military officers struggling to respond; and families and loved ones back home—so the drama is both intimate and systemic. Much of the dialogue is grounded in recorded phone calls and investigative material, which lends the film an austere, respectful tone rather than sensational spectacle. Watching United 93 is intense and emotionally powerful: it builds claustrophobic tension, heartbreak, and finally a raw, courageous resolve. It’s a sober tribute to the passengers’ actions and a sobering depiction of institutional unpreparedness that day. Be prepared for a harrowing, affecting experience—emotionally draining but deeply moving and thought-provoking.

Actors: David Alan Basche, Olivia Thirlby, Liza Colón-Zayas

Director: Paul Greengrass

Runtime: 111 min

Genres: Action, Drama, History

6.7 /10 90 /100 7.6 /10 7.8 /10