9/11 (2002 film)

9/11

Company type	Documentary film
Industry	Film, Television
Founded	2002
Founder	Jules Naudet, Gédéon Naudet, James Hanlon
Key people	Susan Zirinsky (producer), Robert De Niro (host)
Products	Documentary film about the September 11 attacks

9/11 is a documentary released in 2002 that chronicles the September 11 attacks in New York City, where two airplanes collided with the World Trade Center, leading to its collapse and nearly 3,000 fatalities. The narrative is told from the viewpoint of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and was directed by the Naudet brothers, Jules and Gédéon Naudet, alongside FDNY firefighter James Hanlon. The production was overseen by Susan Zirinsky of CBS News.

Synopsis

The Naudet brothers, together with James Hanlon, received permission from the New York City Fire Department to film the early days of a rookie firefighter’s career. Their subject was Antonios (Tony) Benetatos, who served with Engine 7/Ladder 1/Battalion 1 stationed on Duane Street in Lower Manhattan. On the morning of September 11, 2001, under the command of Battalion Chief Joseph W. Pfeifer, their firehouse responded to reports of a gas leak near Church and Lispenard streets. Jules Naudet accompanied Chief Pfeifer to investigate, while Gédéon remained at the firehouse capturing footage.

During this response, Jules recorded one of only three known videos showing American Airlines Flight 11 striking the North Tower. This recording is notable for its proximity, contrasting with other images taken from more distant vantage points or static frames.

Chief Pfeifer’s team were among the first to arrive at the scene. Naudet documented Pfeifer’s efforts inside Tower 1’s lobby as rescue operations unfolded. At that moment, Tower 2 was hit by United Airlines Flight 175 and subsequently collapsed. They managed to evacuate Tower 1 before it too fell.

Meanwhile, Gédéon captured footage of Benetatos remaining at the firehouse initially. After news broke that American Airlines Flight 77 had crashed into The Pentagon, Benetatos left with retired Chief Larry Byrnes to assist near the World Trade Center site. Gédéon filmed police officers restricting access around the area amid concerns for his brother’s safety. Gradually, firefighters returned to coordinate rescue missions. Despite enduring extended operations under dangerous conditions, all members of Benetatos’s crew survived.

This documentary offers direct FDNY testimonies from the initial impacts through building collapses and rescue efforts to reflections afterward, including a tribute to Chief Pfeifer’s brother, Engine 33 Lieutenant Kevin Pfeifer.

Release and reception

CBS broadcast 9/11 on March 10, 2002—approximately six months after the attacks—with only two commercial breaks; advertisers used their time slots to pay tribute to first responders. Produced by Susan Zirinsky, it drew an audience of 39.4 million viewers, achieving a rating/share of 22.3/33 and becoming the top-rated program that week. Hosted by Robert De Niro, CBS re-aired it on the first anniversary of the attacks. In 2002 alone, the film was shown in 103 countries worldwide.

The documentary included candid language from participants that typically would be censored by broadcasters or regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Nevertheless, the FCC chose not to intervene, reasoning that censoring would diminish historical accuracy. A federal appeals court ruling in 2006 temporarily suspended FCC indecency enforcement, permitting CBS to air the film without edits or penalty.

The DVD edition excluded De Niro’s hosting segments. On September 10, 2006, CBS re-broadcast 9/11, again hosted by De Niro and featuring updates from original participants as of that year.

On September 11, 2011, CBS presented 9/11: Ten Years Later, hosted by De Niro with contributions from the Naudet brothers, James Hanlon, and producer Susan Zirinsky. This updated version incorporated new interviews and footage centered on survivors’ experiences, construction progress of One World Trade Center, and health challenges faced by Ground Zero firefighters exposed to toxins. De Niro appeared alongside the Naudets and Hanlon. All airings included viewer discretion advisories.

For the fifteenth anniversary in 2016, CNN secured rights to broadcast the film with executive production and updates by Hanlon and hosting duties performed by Denis Leary.

Awards

9/11 earned several prestigious honors, notably securing an Emmy Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special (Informational) as well as a Peabody Award.

External links

• 9/11 available at Internet Archive