Why You Can Trust CNET 9/11 at 20: New movies, TV series, documentaries examine the fateful day
New films and TV shows on Netflix, HBO, PBS and more explore the causes and consequences of the Sept. 11 attacks.
A member of the Fire Department of New York stands by the north reflecting pool at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Manhattan during a ceremony commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Two decades have passed since Sept. 11, 2001, the day when nearly 3,000 people died in a series of terrorist attacks in the United States. With the 20th anniversary of 9/11 upon us, there are several new films and shows that examine the causes and consequences of the attacks. Here are some titles that look at everything from the events at the Twin Towers that Tuesday morning to the War on Terror in the present day.
Memory Box: Echoes of 9/11 (MSNBC/Peacock)
In the months following the attacks, eyewitnesses stepped into a small video booth to share their accounts. Twenty years later, those same witnesses reflect on the tragedy and on America now. It's available on NBC's Peacock streaming service.
9/11: I Was There (History Channel)
With no narrator's voiceover, this poignant documentary is made up of video recorded firsthand by people on the day.
9/11: Inside the President's War Room (Apple TV Plus)
Jeff Daniels narrates this documentary film from Apple and the BBC, which takes you inside the White House in the immediate aftermath of the attack. Former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are among those giving their view of that fateful 12 hours, as well as Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell. If you don't have Apple TV Plus, you can still watch the film free on Sept. 11.
Worth (Netflix)
Worth is a Netflix drama unpacking the human cost of 9/11.
This Netflix drama film stars Michael Keaton as real-life attorney and renowned mediator Kenneth Feinberg who, along with Camille Biros (played here by Amy Ryan), had to calculate compensation for the families of 9/11 victims. The events of the day have been portrayed in earlier films like United 93 and World Trade Center, but Worth is a sensitive and heartbreaking account of those left behind.
9/11: One Day in America (National Geographic/Hulu)
This five-part documentary series returns to survivors and first responders to examine the events of Sep. 11, 2001. Having premiered in August on National Geographic, it's now available to stream on Hulu.
Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror (Netflix)
US Secretary of State Colin Powell, President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute look to the future after 9/11.
Netflix's five-part documentary series explores how the attacks led to the War on Terror and the tragic conflict in Afghanistan that ended so terribly in recent days. Survivors of the attacks are joined by former White House staff, CIA agents and military veterans from both sides of the war in Afghanistan.
Frontline: America After 9/11 (PBS)
This PBS documentary traces the devastating decisions and consequences that ushered in "an age of fear, mistrust and division" from 9/11 to the present day.
Spike Lee's NYC Epicenters (HBO)
Spike Lee's four-part documentary explores the impact of 9/11 on his beloved New York City. This HBO series has faced controversy, however: Lee had to re-edit a portion of the series devoted to widely debunked conspiracy theories.
Too Soon: Comedy After 9/11 (Vice TV)
Top standup comedians and other performers discuss how comedy helped process the tragedy. Interviewees include David Cross, Janeane Garofalo, Marc Maron, Cedric the Entertainer, Doug Stanhope and Jimmy Carr.
Rebuilding Hope: The Children of 9/11 (Discovery Plus)
This documentary follows the lives of four children whose fathers were killed on 9/11.