United 93 (2006)

United 93 is a 2006 docudrama action film produced, written, and directed by Paul Greengrass, that depicts the events around United Airlines Flight 93, one of four hijacked flights of the September 11 attacks; Flight 93 was the only plane not to hit a target, due to the actions of its passengers and crew. The film also covers the experiences of government officials and air traffic controllers, many of whom are played by themselves, as they witness the attacks unfold that day.

The film recounts the hijacking and subsequent events during the flight with as much veracity as possible, including using a real time perspective where the film takes place over the same amount of time as the real-life events, beginning from the plane's takeoff. There is, however, a disclaimer that some imagination had to be used to tell the story. Overall, United 93 was made with the support and cooperation of most of the passengers' families, and many attended the premiere, though there were a few who did not support the film and did not participate in any of the film's activities. Many of the on-the-ground personnel, most notably Federal Aviation Administration head Ben Sliney, portray themselves.

United 93 premiered on April 26, 2006, at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City, and later opened in theaters nationwide in America on April 28, 2006. The film received critical acclaim and was a box-office success, grossing $78 million worldwide. Ten percent of the gross income from the three-day opening weekend was promised toward a donation to create a memorial for the flight's victims. The film received two Academy Award nominations: Best Director for Greengrass and Best Film Editing for Clare Douglas, Richard Pearson, and Christopher Rouse.