World Trade Center (film)

World Trade Center (film)
Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2006; 20 years ago
Founder	Oliver Stone (director), Andrea Berloff (screenwriter)
Products	Feature film
Parent	Paramount Pictures (distributor)

World Trade Center is a 2006 American docudrama disaster film helmed by director Oliver Stone with a screenplay by Andrea Berloff. Featuring performances by Nicolas Cage and Michael Peña, the narrative centers on Port Authority Police Officers who become trapped beneath debris during the events of the September 11 attacks.

Production took place between October 2005 and February 2006, with Paramount Pictures distributing the film upon its release on August 9, 2006. The movie was met with generally favorable critiques and achieved a global box office total of $163 million.

Plot

On September 11, 2001, members of the Port Authority Police respond promptly to the North Tower of the World Trade Center following a plane collision. Sergeant John McLoughlin, who previously survived the 1993 bombing, leads officers Antonio Rodrigues, Will Jimeno, and Dominick Pezzulo as they gather rescue tools. Officer Christopher Amoroso joins them as they prepare to enter the North Tower, only for the South Tower to collapse onto their location.

While McLoughlin, Jimeno, and Pezzulo survive the initial disaster, they become trapped within an elevator shaft beneath the wreckage. Pezzulo sustains fatal injuries but manages to fire his weapon to alert rescuers. McLoughlin and Jimeno endure prolonged entrapment, exchanging personal stories while their families anxiously await updates. They withstand the collapse of Building 7 but remain immobilized.

Two Marines, Dave Karnes and Jason Thomas, detect Jimeno’s signals and locate the trapped officers. Following extensive rescue operations, Jimeno and McLoughlin are extracted from the rubble and receive medical care; McLoughlin is placed into a medically induced coma.

By 2003, both men have retired due to their injuries and participate in a family barbecue. The closing notes reveal they were among only twenty individuals rescued alive from Ground Zero, with Karnes reenlisting and completing two tours in Iraq.

Cast

Nicolas Cage portraying Sergeant John McLoughlin
Michael Peña as Officer Will Jimeno
Maria Bello in the role of Donna McLoughlin
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Allison Jimeno
Stephen Dorff playing NYPD ESU Rescuer Scott Strauss
Jon Bernthal as Officer Christopher Amoroso
Jay Hernandez in the role of Officer Dominick Pezzulo
Michael Shannon portraying Marine Sergeant Dave Karnes
Donna Murphy as Judy Jonas
Brad William Henke as Allison's Brother
Peter McRobbie playing Allison's Father
Julie Adams as Allison's Grandmother
Frank Whaley portraying Paramedic Chuck Sereika
Jude Ciccolella as Inspector Lawrence Fields
Nicholas Turturro playing Officer Colovito
Danny Nucci as Officer Giraldi
William Mapother portraying Marine Sergeant Jason Thomas
Tom Wright as Officer Reynolds
Wass Stevens in the role of Officer Pat McLoughlin
Armando Riesco as Officer Antonio Jose Rodrigues
Ned Eisenberg playing Officer Polnicki
Dara Coleman as Officer Boel
Nick Damici portraying Lieutenant John Kassimatis
Connor Paolo as Steven McLoughlin
Arthur Nascarella in the role of FDNY Chief at Ground Zero
Patti D'Arbanville playing Donna's Friend
Viola Davis as Mother In Hospital
Will Jimeno appearing as Port Authority Police Officer
Aimee Mullins portraying Reporter
Charles A. Gargano as Port Authority Police Commander

Historical accuracy

To maintain authenticity, Port Authority officers John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno—depicted by Nicolas Cage and Michael Peña—and their spouses, portrayed by Maria Bello and Maggie Gyllenhaal, actively contributed to the film’s script and production. Their primary goal was to pay tribute to the rescuers and fellow officers who lost their lives on September 11, rather than seeking personal recognition.

Donna McLoughlin, John’s wife, highlighted the significance of truthful representation, explaining that both the families involved and the filmmakers were committed to "doing the right thing." Both McLoughlin and Jimeno appear briefly at the film’s conclusion during a barbecue scene.

Technical guidance was provided by real NYPD Emergency Services Unit members Scott Strauss and Paddy McGee. Additionally, firefighters featured in the movie were actual FDNY personnel who had served during 9/11, reinforcing the film’s dedication to an accurate portrayal of the rescue operations.

Nevertheless, Jeanette Pezzulo, widow of fallen officer Dominick Pezzulo (played by Jay Hernandez), voiced criticism regarding McLoughlin’s and Jimeno’s involvement, expressing frustration over how the film represented events. Similarly, Jamie Amoroso, whose husband perished in the rescue efforts, opposed the film, stating she did not require a movie to honor her spouse’s bravery.

Although some major U.S. newspapers speculated that director Oliver Stone might incorporate conspiracy theories—based on his earlier work on JFK—both Stone and the producers have affirmed that the film is a straightforward homage to courage and loss on 9/11, deliberately steering clear of political commentary.

Critics also noted the limited depiction of rescuer Dave Karnes and paramedic Chuck Sereika, neither of whom participated in production. Sereika notably treated Jimeno approximately twenty minutes before NYPD ESU officers arrived at the scene.

Certain narrative elements were modified; for instance, the film presents McLoughlin’s team as unaware of the South Tower being hit upon arrival, whereas Jimeno has clarified they knew about the second plane strike while en route to Ground Zero.

Non-fictional characters

John McLoughlin, an alumnus of the State University of New York at Oswego and member of Sigma Tau Chi fraternity, was rescued after 22 hours trapped beneath debris, becoming the 19th individual pulled alive from the wreckage. He underwent 27 surgical procedures along with nearly three months of hospitalization and rehabilitation. Four months after his rescue, McLoughlin joined Jimeno in a Ground Zero ceremony commemorating the removal of the final steel column. On June 11, 2002, he was honored with the Port Authority's Medal of Honor. At that time, he lived in Goshen, New York.

Will Jimeno, originally from Colombia, immigrated to New York City during childhood. At the time of the attacks, he was a rookie officer stationed at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Rescued after 13 hours trapped under rubble as the 18th survivor extracted alive, he also received the Port Authority's Medal of Honor on June 11, 2002. Both Jimeno and McLoughlin made cameo appearances in the movie.

Christopher Amoroso (born June 1, 1972) grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey and graduated from North Bergen High School. Since 2010, an annual invitational softball tournament organized by the Chopper 2002 Foundation has been held in his memory.

Dominick Pezzulo, born August 15, 1965, in Italy, spent seven years as a teacher before joining the Port Authority Police Department thirteen months prior to September 11. He was assigned to the Bus Terminal. Posthumously awarded the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor by President George W. Bush in 2005, Pezzulo is commemorated at the National 9/11 Memorial South Pool (Panel S-29) and honored with a plaque in his hometown of Giano Vetusto, Italy.

Bruce A. Reynolds, a native of Inwood, Manhattan, resided in Knowlton Township, New Jersey. Having joined the Port Authority in 1986 and stationed at the bus terminal on 42nd Street, Reynolds responded to calls at the World Trade Center on September 11 despite suffering from respiratory issues and contributed to rescue efforts.

David W. Karnes, born around 1958, served twenty-three years as a Marine Corps infantryman before working at Deloitte and Touche in Connecticut. After witnessing the attacks on television, he left his office to assist rescue operations for nine consecutive days. Karnes later rejoined the Marine Corps Reserve with deployments to both the Philippines and Iraq. He declined participation in Stone's World Trade Center film due to disagreements about its political messaging; critics observed that his portrayal lacked depth.

'Jason Thomas, born circa 1974, had recently left active military service before September 11 but immediately volunteered for rescue work upon learning about the attacks. As of 2013, Thomas served as a medical technician in the United States Air Force. His casting by a white actor generated controversy; producers stated they were unaware Thomas was Black until filming commenced. In 2007, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition featured Thomas and his family following their relocation from New York to Columbus, Ohio. The Channel 4 documentary The Lost Hero of 9/11 (2013) chronicled his rescue contributions. By 2018, Thomas worked as an officer for the Ohio Supreme Court and lived in Columbus with his family.

Box office

During its initial weekend in the U.S. and Canada, the movie generated $18.7 million. It went on to accumulate $70.3 million in domestic revenue and $93 million internationally, resulting in a global total of $163.2 million.

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 66% approval rating derived from 234 critiques, with an average score of 6.7 out of 10. The general consensus describes it as a visually impressive homage that adopts a more politically moderate stance compared to other works by Stone. On Metacritic, it achieved a score of 66 out of 100 based on 40 reviews, reflecting "generally favorable" opinions. Audience feedback collected by CinemaScore awarded the film an "A−" grade.

Prior to filming, producers consulted with groups representing September 11 victims to handle the subject matter with care. After the release, the film was well-received by these organizations, as well as by members of the NYPD, FDNY, former mayor Rudy Giuliani, ex-Governor George Pataki, then-Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, and officials from the NY Port Authority, all of whom attended the Manhattan premiere held at the Ziegfeld Theatre.

Home media

The movie became available on DVD and HD DVD on December 12, 2006, followed by a Blu-ray launch on June 3, 2008. A 4K Blu-ray edition is planned for release on August 12, 2025.