September 9: Sully (2016)

Milestone Years

• 10th Anniversary: September 9, 2026
• 15th Anniversary: September 9, 2031
• 20th Anniversary: September 9, 2036
• 25th Anniversary: September 9, 2041

Inspiration Behind the Movie

Sully is adapted from pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s 2009 memoir, Highest Duty, and dramatizes his daring emergency water landing in the Hudson River. The filmmakers aimed to underscore the humanity and hope that event inspired.

You Might Not Know

• The world premiere occurred at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2016.
• The film set a September record for the biggest global IMAX opening for a 2D film.
• Sully was filmed almost entirely with IMAX cameras, though home releases cropped the format.
• The NTSB’s portrayal sparked controversy; actual investigators objected to the fictionalized “prosecutorial” tone.
• Real passengers and the actual Sully appear during the film’s credits, delivering a heartfelt message.

Food Ideas

• Hudson River-themed blue jello “water” cups with floating gummy ducks.
• Pretzel “plane” sticks—twists mimicking aircraft wings.
• Mini New York‑style bagels with lox or cream cheese to evoke LaGuardia vibes.
• “Goose egg” deviled eggs as a playful nod to the bird strike.
• Sweet “Landing Flapjack” pancakes stacked like runway markers with butter and syrup.

Ways to Celebrate

• Host a viewing party with aviation trivia between scenes.
• Watch bonus IMAX featurettes or behind‑the‑scenes content discussing the film’s realism.
• Read Sully’s memoir Highest Duty before or after the film.
• Craft a paper-plane landing contest—closest to a “runway” wins.
• Share stories of everyday heroes and resilience inspired by the movie’s spirit.

Filming Locations

The crew recreated the Miracle on the Hudson across several real-world sites: key NYC landmarks like Pier 81, Columbus Circle, the George Washington Bridge, the Time Warner Center, and LaGuardia Airport were featured, with real rescuers as extras. Additional sequences were shot in Atlanta venues and studio sets built at Warner Bros. and Universal Studios.