Sully (2016)
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A pilot faces intense scrutiny and a grueling investigation after successfully landing a plane in the Hudson River.
The story
On January 15, 2009, captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and first officer Jeff Skiles pilot US Airways Flight 1549. After the aircraft strikes a flock of birds and loses both engines, they are forced to make an emergency landing in the icy waters of the Hudson River. While all 155 people on board survive, Sullenberger is thrust into the spotlight as a hero. However, he must then navigate a grueling investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, where he faces intense scrutiny regarding his decision-making and the technical feasibility of his actions during the crisis.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After the successful emergency landing of Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and first officer Jeff Skiles face a grueling investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). While the public hails Sullenberger as a hero, the NTSB presents data suggesting the plane could have reached an airport, potentially framing his actions as a matter of luck or pilot error. Sullenberger and Skiles insist that the technical data fails to account for human factors like the element of surprise and the high stakes of the moment. They demand the simulations be rerun with live pilots and realistic conditions. After several failed attempts by simulation pilots, the NTSB eventually accepts Sullenberger's account. The final investigation confirms that the left engine was indeed severely damaged by the bird strike, vindicating Sullenberger's actions. The film concludes with Sullenberger and Skiles reflecting on the event, with Skiles joking about a different choice if they were to do it again.
- First release year
- 2016
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Clint Eastwood
- Writers
- Todd Komarnicki · writer
- Cast and characters
- Tom Hanks · Sullenberger; Aaron Eckhart · Jeff Skiles; Laura Linney; Anna Gunn; Autumn Reeser; Holt McCallany; Jamey Sheridan
- Genres
- biographical drama; drama; history
- Themes
- Heroism; Professionalism
- Tone and mood
- Serious; Tense; Stirring
- Premise and plot tags
- Based on true events; Aviation; Survival
- Source material / true-story basis
- Highest Duty by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics and was praised for its portrayal of the protagonist's professionalism, though it faced controversy regarding its depiction of the NTSB.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 85% · scale: percentage · review count: 346; Metacritic · score: 74 · scale: 100 · review count: 46; CinemaScore · score: A · scale: A+ to F; PostTrak · score: 90% · scale: percentage
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Award · Best Sound Editing · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was shot almost entirely with Arri Alexa IMAX cameras.; The film was released on the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.; The film was released in China during a crowded period.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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