Sully
★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
- Release Date: September 9, 2016
- Runtime: 1h 36m
- Genre: Biography, Drama
- Director: Clint Eastwood
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Anna Gunn
Quick Verdict
A Powerful and emotionally grounded true-story drama about Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River.
Story
The film tells the gripping true story of the emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after a flock of birds disables both engines.
It also explores the investigation that followed, questioning whether Captain Sully’s split-second decision was actually the right one.
Performances
Tom Hanks delivers a calm, understated, and highly convincing performance as Chesley Sullenberger.
Aaron Eckhart provides strong support as Jeff Skiles, Sully’s co-pilot.
Laura Linney also adds emotional depth to the story.
Direction & Cinematography
Clint Eastwood keeps the film focused and restrained rather than turning the real-life event into an exaggerated Hollywood spectacle.
The aerial sequences and the Hudson River landing are tense, realistic, and beautifully photographed.
What Works
- Tom Hanks' outstanding performance.
- Emotional and believable storytelling.
- Excellent recreation of Flight 1549.
- Strong supporting performances.
- Clint Eastwood's restrained direction.
- Powerful ending.
- Short and focused runtime.
What Doesn't
- Some parts of the investigation feel repetitive.
- Supporting characters could receive more development.
- The story is relatively straightforward.
- Viewers who already know the event may find the fewer surprises.
Final Verdict
Sully is a gripping and respectful portrayal of one of the most remarkable emergency landings in aviation history.
Tom Hanks gives the movie its emotional center, while Clint Eastwood’s direction keeps the story grounded and authentic.
It’s a short, powerful, and highly watchable drama that succeeds because it focuses more on the people involved than on unnecessary spectacle.
RATING BOX
Story
(4.5/5)
Action
(5/5)
Acting
(4.5/5)
Music
(4/5)
Visuals
(4.5/5)
OVERALL SCORE
4.5/5
Highly Recommended
RELATED REVIEWS
Captain Philliips
Bridge of Spies
Greyhound
Apollo 13
Flight
BEST MOVIE QUOTES
“Everything is unprecedented until it happens for the first time.”
— Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger“We’re gonna be in the Hudson.”
— Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger“I’ve delivered one million passengers over forty years, but in the end, I’m gonna be judged on two hundred and eight seconds.”
— Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger“It wasn’t just me. It was all of us. We did our jobs. We survived.”
— Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger“No one has ever trained for a incident like the one we had.”
— Jeff SkilesBEHIND THE SCENES
On-Set Stories & Production Secrets
Real-Life Rescuers on Screen
Instead of using background extras, Clint Eastwood hired the actual first responders, ferry captains, and Red Cross volunteers who participated in the 2009 Hudson River rescue to reenact their real actions on camera.
Submerged 350-Ton Airplane Rig
The crew mounted a decommissioned Airbus A320 onto an enormous 350-ton hydraulic gimbal inside a massive outdoor water tank at Universal Studios to simulate the cabin flooding and wing evacuations practically.
Eastwood’s Own Plane Crash
At age 21, while in the U.S. Army, Clint Eastwood survived a real naval plane water landing in the Pacific Ocean and had to swim miles to shore, giving him firsthand insight into Sully’s split-second decisions.
FILMING LOCATION
GLOBE-SPANNING PRODUCTION
Key Filming Locations
NEW YORK CITY
Hudson River & Pier 81
Real water sequences and NY Waterway ferry evacuations were shot on the Hudson River around Piers 81 and 84, utilizing actual New York City rescue vessels on location.
CALIFORNIA
Falls Lake Water Tank, Stage 21
The enormous outdoor water tank hosted a full-size Airbus A320 cockpit and fuselage rig on gimbals to film controlled cabin flooding and cold-water survivor rescues.
NEW YORK CITY
Times Square & Park Avenue
Captures Sully’s post-traumatic night runs through neon-lit Times Square, Manhattan streetscapes, and the Crowne Plaza hotel where the flight crew stayed.
GEORGIA
Centergy One & NTSB Hearings
Midtown Atlanta’s Technology Square complex served as the headquarters and hearing rooms for the intense National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigations.
WHERE TO WATCH THE MOVIE?
AVAILABILITY & PLATFORMS
Where to Watch Sully
AVAILABILITY & PLATFORMS
Where to Watch Sully
SUBSCRIPTION STREAMING
Max (Formerly HBO Max)
Quality: Full HD & 4K Ultra HD, Dolby 5.1 Audio
Plan: Included with standard Max & B/R Sports subscription
DIGITAL PURCHASE & RENTAL
Prime Video, Apple TV & Google TV
Quality: 4K UHD, HDR10, Dolby Vision
Option: Rent ($3.99) or Buy ($14.99) with bonus featurettes
PHYSICAL MEDIA
4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray
Format: 4K UHD Blu-ray disc with Dolby Atmos audio
Bonus: Includes “Moment by Moment” behind-the-scenes documentary
COMMENTS
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