Sully (film)

Sully

Company type	Film
Industry	Motion picture
Founded	2016
Founder	Clint Eastwood (director), Todd Komarnicki (screenwriter)
Products	Biographical drama film
Parent	Warner Bros.

Sully—also titled Sully: Miracle on the Hudson—is a 2016 American biographical drama directed by Clint Eastwood and scripted by Todd Komarnicki. It is adapted from the 2009 memoir Highest Duty, authored by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger alongside Jeffrey Zaslow. The film stars Tom Hanks portraying Sullenberger, with Aaron Eckhart as First Officer Jeffrey Skiles, and features supporting roles by Laura Linney, Anna Gunn, among others. The narrative centers on Sullenberger’s emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009, which resulted in the survival of all 155 passengers and crew, followed by the investigation and media response that ensued.

The movie debuted at the 43rd Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2016, before its U.S. release by Warner Bros. on September 9, 2016, across standard and IMAX cinemas. It garnered favorable critical acclaim and earned over $240 million globally against a production budget of $60 million. Despite its success, the film faced criticism for its dramatized depiction of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as antagonistic. Both the American Film Institute and National Board of Review included Sully among their top ten films of 2016, and it received a nomination for Best Sound Editing at the 89th Academy Awards.

Plot

On January 15, 2009, Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles commence flight aboard US Airways Flight 1549 departing from LaGuardia Airport. Shortly after takeoff, their Airbus A320 collides with a flock of birds, causing critical damage to both engines. Unable to reach nearby airports such as Teterboro, Sully opts to perform an emergency water landing on the Hudson River. All 155 passengers and crew evacuate safely, though some sustain minor injuries. Sully receives widespread acclaim for his piloting expertise but endures intense media scrutiny and personal pressure.

During the investigation in New York, Sully discovers preliminary evidence indicating the left engine maintained idle power, possibly sufficient for reaching an airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) presents confidential simulations supporting this theory. Disagreements arise between Sully, Skiles, and investigators over these findings.

The NTSB suspects pilot error, placing Sully’s reputation at risk. In response, he organizes live-pilot simulations that successfully replicate safe landings. Sully contends these tests are unrealistic because they fail to account for human factors such as surprise, reaction time, and passenger safety concerns; simulation pilots had prior knowledge and faced no actual danger. When simulations incorporate a 35-second delay before attempting diversion, the aircraft crashes short of runways or into urban structures.

By reviewing cockpit voice recordings and examining the recovered left engine, the NTSB confirms significant damage to the engine and validates Sully’s decisions. He acknowledges the contributions of crew members, air traffic controllers, ferry operators, and emergency personnel for the positive outcome. Jeff humorously comments that if given another chance, he would have ditched the plane during summer.

Cast

Vince Lombardi—the captain of the first ferry reaching the downed aircraft—makes an appearance as himself. Additionally, Katie Couric has a brief role, while David Letterman appears through archival footage from his interview with the actual Flight 1549 crew, digitally integrated with their film portrayals.

Shane P. Allen was cast due to his resemblance to Discovery Channel CEO Billy Campbell. He and eight others utilized body doubles for safety throughout filming.

The closing credits feature a brief message from the real Sully and his wife Lorrie addressing the genuine passengers involved in the incident.

Development

The movie is based on Sully's memoir Highest Duty, which producers Frank Marshall and Allyn Stewart acquired the rights to in 2010. They collaborated with executive producer Kipp Nelson to develop the script and brought on screenwriter Todd Komarnicki to write the screenplay.

Sullenberger intended for the film to emphasize "our shared humanity," focusing on the spirit of altruistic collaboration that emerged following the 2008 Great Recession—a period he believed rekindled public optimism amid widespread skepticism about human nature.

Komarnicki explained that the storytelling challenge was less about recreating the well-known emergency landing itself and more about capturing the rigorous investigation and Sullenberger’s personal conflict between being celebrated as a hero and facing official scrutiny.

Casting

By June 2015, Tom Hanks was in negotiations to portray Sullenberger. The principal cast was revealed in August, featuring Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Holt McCallany, and Jamey Sheridan. Additional actors joined in September (Jerry Ferrara) and October (Max Adler, Sam Huntington, and Wayne Bastrup).

Filming

Principal photography commenced on September 28, 2015, in New York City. Production shifted to Atlanta on October 15, where a downtown building was transformed into a New York hotel set. The bulk of the budget was allocated to filming in Los Angeles, where the crash sequence and water evacuation scenes were shot at Warner Bros. Studios and Universal Studios Hollywood. Other shooting locations included North Carolina, Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and Kearny, New Jersey. Filming wrapped up on November 25, 2015. The project was predominantly captured using Arri Alexa IMAX cameras. Initially composed for IMAX at a 1.90:1 ratio and protected for 2.39:1, director Clint Eastwood ultimately chose to shoot entirely in IMAX format. The theatrical release presented a 2.39 aspect ratio in standard cinemas and 1.90 in IMAX venues.

Aviation replicas and special effects were provided by Scroggins Aviation Mockup & Effects, which contributed three retired aircraft used throughout production.

Release

Sully had its premiere at the 43rd Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2016, followed by its U.S. release on September 9 in both traditional and IMAX theaters through Warner Bros.. Despite coinciding with the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Warner Bros. executives targeted the first weekend after Labor Day for launch. Although concerns were raised over a dream sequence showing a plane crashing into Manhattan skyscrapers, Warner Bros.’ domestic distribution head Jeff Goldstein and his team proceeded, emphasizing that "Sully tells a hopeful story about a genuine hero who fulfilled his duty." Komarnicki noted that scheduling was influenced by box-office considerations, particularly limited availability of IMAX screens during peak summer and holiday periods.

Home media

Sully became available from Warner Home Video on Digital HD on December 6, 2016, with Blu-ray and DVD editions following on December 20, 2016. While primarily shot with IMAX cameras and exhibited in IMAX theaters at a 1.90:1 aspect ratio, home media versions utilized a cropped 2.39:1 ratio from non-IMAX releases.

In-flight Screening

A number of leading airlines, such as American Airlines and British Airways, chose not to feature Sully in their onboard entertainment options due to concerns about viewer sensitivity. Conversely, Virgin Atlantic opted to include the film as a tribute to the expertise and commitment of commercial pilots.

Box Office Performance

Sully amassed $125.1 million domestically across the United States and Canada, alongside $115.7 million from international markets, culminating in a global total of $240.8 million against a production budget of $60 million. It established a new September benchmark for the largest worldwide IMAX debut for a 2D movie, earning $5.1 million from 523 IMAX venues, surpassing the $4.2 million opening of The Maze Runner in 2014, and accumulated $10 million globally from IMAX screenings overall.

United States and Canada

Debuting on September 9, 2016, in 3,525 theaters—including 375 IMAX locations—Sully was anticipated to open near $25 million, with some forecasts reaching up to $31 million due to its extensive release and strategic positioning. It exceeded advance ticket sales compared to Tom Hanks's prior film, Bridge of Spies. Thursday preview showings brought in $1.35 million across 2,700 theaters—the highest preview revenue in Hanks's career—with opening day receipts totaling $12.2 million, including $1.3 million attributable to IMAX.

The film’s first weekend yielded $35 million, placing it among the top five September openings historically (twelfth when adjusted for inflation). This marked Clint Eastwood’s second-largest wide release opening after American Sniper ($89 million) and ranked as Tom Hanks's third most successful live-action debut following The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. The IMAX format contributed a record-setting $4 million that weekend (11% of total earnings), eclipsing the previous September record held by The Equalizer.

In its sophomore weekend, Sully experienced only a 36% drop to $21.6 million despite facing new releases like Blair Witch, Bridget Jones's Baby, and Snowden. The film relinquished the number one position during its third weekend due to the arrival of The Magnificent Seven and Storks.

Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow expressed considerable satisfaction with these box office outcomes, especially given September’s typical downturn caused by school sessions resuming and television season premieres. Forbes analyst Scott Mendelson highlighted the film’s potential to surpass $100 million domestically, crediting Tom Hanks’s strong appeal among older demographics who tend to sustain box office momentum beyond initial weekends. Marketing campaigns were praised for driving robust openings despite Eastwood and Hanks not participating actively on social media platforms.

Marking the fifteenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Warner Bros.’ domestic distribution head Jeff Goldstein noted that the release date did not significantly influence box office results. ComScore polling revealed that 82% of viewers were aged over 25, with 80% above 35 years old; women accounted for 56% of opening weekend attendees, and 39% cited Tom Hanks as their primary motivation for seeing the movie.

International Markets

Launching concurrently in 39 countries alongside the U.S., Sully earned approximately $10.5 million from roughly 3,600 screens internationally, including $1.1 million from 148 IMAX venues. The film achieved Clint Eastwood’s strongest opening in Russia with $1 million (ranking third overall for that weekend), matched this figure in the United Arab Emirates, and posted Australia’s second-largest opening at $2.4 million, benefiting from a Father’s Day release timing. In Hong Kong, it led the box office during the Mid-Autumn Festival period with earnings of $777,000. Japan recorded Eastwood’s third-best opening there with $2.3 million—trailing only behind American Sniper and Letters from Iwo Jima—with projections estimating a total gross near $15 million.

In Brazil, Warner Bros postponed the release from December 1 to December 15 following the Chapecoense football team air tragedy. The film premiered in China on December 9 amid stiff competition yet still garnered $5.5 million across approximately 5,000 screens.

Among significant international territories outside North America, key box office totals included Japan ($13.2 million), Australia ($9.9 million), the United Kingdom ($5.4 million), and Italy ($5.1 million).

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, Sully boasts an 85% approval rating from 346 critics, with an average score of 7.20/10. The consensus summarizes, "Reflecting the steady nature of its lead character, Sully effectively leverages the consistently excellent performances of its star and director to offer a quietly moving homage to an ordinary hero." On Metacritic, the film holds a weighted average of 74 out of 100 based on 46 reviews, signifying "generally favorable reviews." Audience feedback via CinemaScore assigned the movie an average grade of "A," while PostTrak reported that 90% of viewers responded positively, with 72% strongly recommending it. Interest in Flight 1549's narrative attracted nearly half the audience, and 40% were drawn by Tom Hanks.

Peter Debruge of Variety commended Hanks’ compelling portrayal and Eastwood’s direction, emphasizing the film’s assured yet modest tone. Simon Thompson from IGN awarded it a 9/10 rating, describing it as "a beautifully balanced, elegantly nuanced, and highly captivating movie" and naming it one of the year’s finest major studio productions. Manohla Dargis of The New York Times highlighted the film’s concise and sturdy execution, noting Eastwood’s restrained directorial style.

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter characterized the film as a "dynamic and engaging tribute to professionalism," whereas Peter Travers from Rolling Stone rated it 3.5 out of 4 stars for its exploration of the protagonist’s anxiety and self-questioning beyond mere heroism. Richard Roeper from the Chicago Sun-Times gave a perfect score of 4 out of 4 stars, calling it "an unequivocal success" featuring a memorable performance by Hanks worthy of award consideration.

In contrast, John Anderson from Time presented a more critical perspective, labeling Sully as "predictable" and somewhat heavy-handed due to its emphasis on post-event scrutiny rather than the incident itself.

Dispute over depiction of NTSB

The movie generated debate over its portrayal of the National Transportation Safety Board as adversarial toward the pilots. Prior to release, Eastwood asserted that the NTSB had unfairly "railroaded" Sullenberger by insinuating fault on his part. Following this, NTSB officials expressed objections to how they were depicted.

In The New York Times, Christine Negroni observed that the film's representation diverged from official accounts by casting investigators as "prosecutorial and closed-minded," which contrasts with their usual procedures. Robert Benzon, who led the NTSB investigation, affirmed that investigators did not intend to embarrass anyone, while a former investigator voiced concern that the film might imply governmental incompetence.

Within the movie, NTSB personnel are depicted presenting simulations suggesting the aircraft could have been diverted to an airport; however, during the actual hearing, Benzon confirmed these simulations did not guarantee successful landings at LaGuardia or Teterboro Airport. Post-release, Benzon criticized the inaccurate portrayal in the film and cautioned that it might undermine aviation safety by fostering distrust among pilots toward investigators.

Tom Hanks disclosed that Sullenberger was troubled by these fictionalized elements and requested that real investigators’ names be removed from characters in the film. He stressed that the actual investigators "were not prosecutors," and described the prosecutorial tone portrayed in the movie as unjust.

Accolades

Award	Ceremony Date	Category	Nominee(s) / Recipient(s)	Outcome	Ref.
AARP Annual Movies for Grownups Awards	February 6, 2017	Best Picture	Sully	Template:Nominated
		Best Director	Template:Sort	Template:Nominated
		Best Actor	Template:Sort	Template:Nominated
Academy Awards	February 26, 2017	Best Sound Editing	Template:Sort and Alan Robert Murray	Template:Nominated
Alliance of Women Film Journalists	December 21, 2016	Best Actor	Template:Sort	Template:Nominated
Cinema Audio Society Awards	February 18, 2017	Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for a Motion Picture – Live Action	Template:Sort, Bobby Fernandez, Jose Antonio Garcia, Thomas J. O'Connell, Tom Ozanich and John Reitz	Template:Nominated
Critics' Choice Awards	December 11, 2016	Best Picture	Sully	Template:Nominated
		Best Actor	Template:Sort	Template:Nominated
		Best Adapted Screenplay	Template:Sort	Template:Nominated
		Best Editing	Template:Sort	Template:Nominated
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association	December 13, 2016	Best Actor	Template:Sort	Template:Draw
Hollywood Film Awards	November 6, 2016	"Hollywood Actor Award"	"Template:Sort"	"Template:Won"
Japan Academy Film Prize	"March 3, 2017"	"Outstanding Foreign Language Film"	"Sully"	"Template:Won"
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild	"February 19, 2017"	"Feature-Length Motion Picture – Contemporary Hair Styling"	"Template:Sort and Jose Zamora"	"Template:Nominated"
MPSE Golden Reel Awards	"February 19, 2017"	"Feature English Language: Dialogue/ADR"	"Template:Sort, Alan Robert Murray, Hugo Weng and Katy Wood"	"Template:Nominated"
Palm Springs International Film Festival	"January 2, 2017"	"Icon Award"	"Template:Sort"	"Template:Won"
People's Choice Awards	"January 18, 2017"	"Favorite Dramatic Movie"	"Sully"	"Template:Nominated"
	"January 18, 2017"	"Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor"	"Template:Sort"	"Template:Won"
San Diego Film Critics Society	"December 12, 2016"	"Best Editing"	"Template:Sort"	"Template:Won"
San Francisco Film Critics Circle	"December 11, 2016"	"Best Actor"	"Template:Sort"	"Template:Nominated"
Satellite Awards	"February 19, 2017"	"Best Actor – Motion Picture"	"Template:Sort"	"Template:Nominated"
	"February 19, 2017"	"Best Adapted Screenplay"	"Template:Sort"	"Template:Nominated"
	"February 19, 2017"	"Best Visual Effects"	'Sully'	'Template:Nominated'
Society of Operating Cameramen	'February 11, 2017'	'Camera Operator of the Year – Film'	'Template:Sort'	'Template:Nominated'
St. Louis Film Critics Association	'December 18, 2016'	'Best Actor'	'Template:Sort'	'Template:Nominated'
Visual Effects Society Awards	'February 7, 2017'	'Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature'	'Mark Curtis, Tyler Kehl, Bryan Litson, Michael Owens and Steven Riley'	'Template:Nominated'
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association	'December 5, 2016'	'Best Editing'	'Template:Sort'	'Template:Nominated'

External links

• Sully featured on History vs. Hollywood