As the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks nears, Netflix is offering a selection of documentaries and films that explore the tragic events and their enduring consequences. The attacks, which involved the hijacking of commercial airplanes by terrorists and resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and numerous injuries, remain the deadliest terrorist assault in U.S. history.
Among the recent additions is "Turning Point: Generation 9/11," a documentary from director Brian Knappenberger. This film focuses on individuals who were very young or not yet born when the attacks occurred but whose lives have been shaped by the subsequent technological advancements, surveillance, and conflicts. Knappenberger also directed a five-episode docuseries that provides a minute-by-minute account of the September 11 attacks and the subsequent "War on Terror." While offering a comprehensive overview, the docuseries has been noted for a tone that some reviewers have described as resembling a true-crime series rather than a solemn reflection.
"Worth," a Netflix original film, revisits the aftermath through the lens of attorney Kenneth Feinberg, who was tasked with determining monetary compensation for the victims' families. Starring Michael Keaton as Feinberg, the drama also features Stanley Tucci and Amy Ryan, and delves into the controversial September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.
Reflecting on the societal impact, Hasan Minhaj's 2017 stand-up special "Homecoming King" includes an emotional segment addressing the rise in Islamophobia experienced by Muslim-Americans following the attacks and its effect on his immigrant family.
The ripple effects of the "War on Terror" are further explored in "Father Soldier Son," a 2020 documentary by New York Times journalists. Initially following soldier Brian Eisch during his deployment to Afghanistan as part of an Obama administration troop surge, the film evolved to capture the profound impact of the war on his family.
The documentary "9/11: Inside the Pentagon" examines the attack on the Pentagon, one of the key sites targeted on that day. The film uses eyewitness accounts and expert analysis to reconstruct the events and their immediate aftermath at the Pentagon.
Another documentary, directed by Dan Krauss, investigates the 2001 anthrax attacks that followed the September 11 events. These attacks, involving letters laced with deadly anthrax spores and containing messages praising Allah and referencing 9/11, resulted in five deaths and dozens of injuries. The film features reenactments with actor Clark Gregg portraying the suspected perpetrator, Dr. Bruce Ivins.
"Zero Dark Thirty," an Oscar-winning war drama directed by Kathryn Bigelow, dramatizes the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden. The film, released less than a decade after bin Laden's death, has been recognized for its depiction of the post-9/11 conflict, though it has also drawn attention for its portrayal of interrogation methods used by U.S. authorities.