There are very few days that become such a part of our shared history and identity that nearly everyone remembers where they were when they happened. For those of us old enough to remember, Sept. 11, 2001, is one of those days. Twenty-five years later, the images, stories, and emotions connected to the terrorist attacks on New York City, Washington, D.C., and Flight 93 remain deeply affecting for those directly impacted as well as those who watched in horror from afar.

Movies and documentaries about 9/11 can be difficult to watch, but at their best, they do more than simply recreate the fear of that day. They help preserve the stories of the people who were there, the first responders who sacrificed their own safety and ran toward danger, the families who lost loved ones, and the countless strangers who found ways to help those in need during the hours and days that followed.

Some of the films on this list focus directly on the events of Sept. 11, including the passengers aboard United Flight 93 and the rescue efforts at the World Trade Center; others examine the grief and recovery that followed, or tell lesser-known stories of compassion that remind us that even — and especially — in the darkest moments, our shared humanity is what binds us together, regardless of race, religion, nationality, or background.

The documentaries offer an even wider range of perspectives, combining firsthand accounts, archival footage, and personal reflections from survivors, witnesses, and public officials. Some are understandably difficult and emotionally overwhelming, while others emphasize resilience, generosity, and the ways communities came together in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Whether you are looking to better understand what happened on Sept. 11, revisit the stories of those who experienced it firsthand, or simply remember the lives that were lost, these movies and documentaries offer thoughtful, powerful ways to reflect on one of the most consequential days in modern American history.

Top movies to watch on Sept. 11

Movies

• The Guys
• 11'09”01 September 11
• United 93
• Reign Over Me
• World Trade Center
• The Space Between
• Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
• Windows on the World
• Worth
• Come From Away

Documentaries

• Fahrenheit 9/11
• 102 Minutes That Changed America
• You Are Here: A Come From Away Story
• 9/11: Inside Air Force One
• In the Shadow of the Towers: Stuyvesant High on 9/11
• 9/11: Four Flights
• 9/11: I Was There
• 9/11: Inside the President's War Room
• Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror
• 9/11: United We Stand — 25 Years Later