Overview
A heroic pilot faces scrutiny after performing a miraculous water landing, challenging the very essence of his career.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- tense
- sincere
- restrained
- historical drama night
- aviation film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's concise, respectful dramatization, Tom Hanks's restrained lead performance, and Clint Eastwood's efficient direction, while finding its procedural simplicity limiting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Sullenberger is celebrated by the public while an official investigation questions whether his emergency landing was truly necessary.
The Hudson landing, aircraft failure, rescue, and cockpit decision-making are presented with restrained procedural detail and large-format spectacle.
The emergency landing is interwoven with the investigation, media attention, nightmares, and testimony that follow it.
Sully's lived aviation experience is measured against simulations and computer-generated reconstructions during the inquiry.
Films like Sully, and why
Flight
true-events aviation drama centered on professional responsibility, public heroism, and institutional scrutiny
Captain Phillips
measured biographical drama about an ordinary professional facing a high-stakes investigation after a public crisis
Bridge of Spies
grounded historical drama pairing procedural tension with an acclaimed everyman performance and national consequences
Movie Details
- Director
- Clint Eastwood
- Release Date
- 2016-09-07
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 7.2 / 10 (7907)
Cast
- Tom Hanks
- Aaron Eckhart
- Anna Gunn
- Holt McCallany
- Mike O'Malley
- Jamey Sheridan
- Valerie Mahaffey
- Delphi Harrington
- Ahmed Lucan
- Laura Linney
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Sully about?
- A veteran pilot becomes a national hero after landing a disabled airliner on the Hudson, only to face an investigation that questions his split-second judgment.
- What is Sully like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sully as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Sully violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Sully as mild.
- What did critics think of Sully?
- Critics broadly praised the film's concise, respectful dramatization, Tom Hanks's restrained lead performance, and Clint Eastwood's efficient direction, while finding its procedural simplicity limiting.
- Which films are like Sully?
- Films with a similar feel include Flight, Captain Phillips, and Bridge of Spies.
- How long is Sully?
- Sully runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch Sully?
- In United States, Sully is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand, Plex.
