9/11 (2017 film)

9/11
Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2017; 9 years ago
Founder	Martin Guigui (director and co-writer)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Film

9/11 is a 2017 American action drama helmed by director Martin Guigui, who co-wrote the screenplay with Steven Golebiowski. Adapted from Patrick James Carson's theatrical work Elevator, the movie portrays the experiences of individuals during the September 11 attacks at New York City's World Trade Center. The ensemble cast includes Charlie Sheen, Whoopi Goldberg, Gina Gershon, Luis Guzmán, and Jacqueline Bisset. It premiered in the United States on September 8, 2017.

Plot

On the morning of September 11, 2001, multiple characters find themselves inside the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Michael, a bike messenger, sends birthday wishes to his daughter before embarking on his delivery route. Metzie is employed as an elevator dispatcher within the building. Jeffrey Cage, a wealthy trader, and his wife Eve are in the process of finalizing their divorce. At 8:46 a.m., American Airlines Flight 11 crashes into floors 93 through 99, causing an elevator transporting Michael, Eve, Jeffrey, maintenance technician Eddie, and Tina—a woman ending a relationship—to become stuck near the 38th floor due to electrical failure.

From her dispatch post, Metzie communicates through the elevator’s speaker system, instructing them to force the doors open and directing Eddie to access the power room to repair the wiring. Efforts to open both the doors and an emergency hatch from inside are thwarted by security locks. Firefighters are unable to reach them initially; Metzie advises them to unfasten the locking mechanism. Eventually, responders pry open the door; Eddie unlocks it and gains entry into a janitor’s closet. Eve escapes through this opening just before the elevator drops due to a cable malfunction.

Jeffrey declares his love for Eve and vows to meet her in the lobby. The group braces for impact as the elevator plummets but survives with injuries. Eve encounters a firefighter who assists in rescuing everyone except Jeffrey, who remains trapped as the elevator continues its descent. The firefighter opens an emergency hatch atop the elevator and reaches out toward Jeffrey moments before the North Tower collapses.

Cast

Charlie Sheen as Jeffrey Cage
Gina Gershon as Eve Cage
Luis Guzmán as Eddie
Wood Harris as Michael
Olga Fonda as Tina
Bruce Davison as Monohan
Jacqueline Bisset as Diane
Whoopi Goldberg as Metzie
Faune A. Chambers as Holly
Whitney Avalon as Nicki
Ian Fisher as Fireman

Production

In March 2016, it was announced that Charlie Sheen and Whoopi Goldberg would headline Nine Eleven, an action-drama focusing on five people trapped inside a World Trade Center elevator during the September 11 attacks, with filming scheduled to commence that month in Long Beach, California. Later in March, Gina Gershon joined the cast. During production, Sheen remained in character by consuming the same meal daily over three weeks. Principal photography was primarily conducted at Thunder Studios, supplemented by additional shooting in New York City.

The film encountered considerable financial difficulties because of its sensitive subject matter. Approximately three weeks prior to filming, much of its funding collapsed, and it lost eligibility for a California Film Commission tax credit due to unmet employment criteria. Producer Martin Sprock personally financed the project to ensure production could proceed.

Release

The initial trailer was unveiled on July 21, 2017, and immediately sparked significant criticism. Reviewers such as Zack Sharf from IndieWire described it as "one of the most offensive films ever made," particularly condemning its portrayal of the Twin Towers' collapse as a countdown device. The New York Daily News also highlighted the widespread backlash on social media, where many viewers found the trailer to be insensitive.

Nine Eleven premiered on September 8, 2017, almost 16 years following the events of the attacks.

Box office

In total, 9/11 earned $170,000 across the United States and Canada, with an additional $30,229 internationally, culminating in a global box office of $200,229.

The film’s North American run spanned three days in 425 theaters, generating $55,000 on opening day and accumulating $170,000 during the opening weekend. It ranked 29th overall, averaging approximately $400 per theater.

During its debut weekend in Portugal, the movie placed 16th by grossing $9,588 from 11 screens (an average of $871 per venue). It experienced a steep decline of 74.6% in its second weekend to $2,432 and concluded with a total of $20,407. In South Africa, it opened at 18th place with $4,808 from 10 theaters (averaging $480 per location), dropping 58.7% to $1,984 in its second weekend and finishing with a cumulative $9,822.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, 9/11 holds a low approval rating of 20% based on 10 critic reviews, with an average score of 2.6 out of 10. Metacritic assigns it a weighted average score of 20 out of 100 from four critics, reflecting "generally unfavorable" opinions.

The film faced widespread condemnation for appearing to exploit the tragedy. Kimber Meyers from the Los Angeles Times criticized it for leveraging emotional manipulation unrelated to the actual story. Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter described it as exploitative and remarked that the dedication to victims came across as insincere. Similarly, Rich Juzwiak at Jezebel voiced strong disapproval despite the film’s closing message urging viewers to "Never Forget."

On the other hand, Alonso Duralde from TheWrap acknowledged strong performances by Gina Gershon and Jacqueline Bisset. While admitting that the film handled its delicate subject matter awkwardly, he recognized moments of genuine emotional honesty.

Sheen's association with the 9/11 Truth movement

In 2006, Charlie Sheen publicly aligned himself with the expanding 9/11 Truth movement by appearing on Alex Jones’ radio show—a platform known for far-right conspiracy theories. Sheen proposed that the Twin Towers were brought down through controlled demolitions followed by a government cover-up and questioned the official narrative involving 19 hijackers armed with box cutters successfully attacking multiple targets. He also spoke at a convention for 9/11 truth advocates alongside Jones and reiterated his views during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

In a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Sheen reaffirmed his support for the movement, citing unresolved scientific questions related to physics that he believed justified further investigation.

Sheen’s casting in Martin Guigui’s 2017 film 9/11 stirred controversy due to his conspiracy affiliations. Pete Davidson, a Saturday Night Live cast member whose father died in the attacks, publicly denounced the movie. Critics accused the filmmakers of hypocrisy over this choice. Co-star Gina Gershon revealed she had been unaware of Sheen's prior conspiracy stance until after production wrapped and stated she would have reconsidered participating had she known beforehand.

External links