Sully (2016)

Last updated:
July 9, 2025

Sully, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Tom Hanks, is a biographical drama that chronicles the true story of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and the miraculous emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in 2009. The film explores not only the incredible feat of landing the plane safely but also the emotional and psychological toll it took on the man who became an instant hero.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

The Incident: Flight 1549 Loses Both Engines

The core of Sully revolves around the events of January 15, 2009, when Captain Sully and First Officer Jeff Skiles (played by Aaron Eckhart) take off from New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Just minutes after takeoff, a flock of geese strikes the plane, disabling both engines. With no engine power and limited time, Sully makes a split-second decision: rather than attempt a risky return to LaGuardia or Teterboro, he lands the Airbus A320 on the Hudson River.

All 155 passengers and crew survive, and Sully is instantly hailed as a national hero by the public and media. But the real drama unfolds after the splashdown.

Investigation and Scrutiny

While the public praises Sully, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) begins a detailed investigation. They suggest that Sully may have made the wrong decision by not returning to the airport. Using flight simulations and data, they argue that the aircraft might have made it back safely to LaGuardia.

Sully begins to question his own judgment. The stress of the media spotlight, the investigation, and his own self-doubt eat away at him. The film delves into his recurring nightmares, where the plane crashes into New York skyscrapers—a clear reflection of PTSD and trauma.

Flashbacks and Backstory

Through a series of flashbacks, we get glimpses of Sully’s past—his early days as a pilot, his military experience, and his lifelong dedication to aviation. These scenes serve to reinforce his credibility, and remind viewers that Sully was not a man acting out of ego, but a calm professional using every ounce of his experience to save lives.

Movie Ending

In the final act of Sully, the NTSB conducts a public hearing. The investigators present simulator results suggesting that the plane could have safely landed at LaGuardia or Teterboro. However, Sully challenges the methodology: the simulations didn’t factor in human reaction time—the delay between the bird strike and the pilot’s decision-making process.

Sully argues that real pilots don’t react instantly—it takes time to assess, communicate, and decide. The hearing board agrees to re-run the simulations with a realistic 35-second delay. This time, the simulated flights fail to make it back to either airport and crash, proving that Sully’s decision was the only viable one.

The NTSB ultimately acknowledges that Sully made the right call. He and Skiles are cleared of wrongdoing, and Sully finally allows himself a moment of relief. In the closing moments, Sully humbly states that he didn’t feel like a hero—he was simply doing his job. Skiles chimes in with a joke, breaking the tension: “Can we get serious now, Sully? We’re talking about my flying skills here.”

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes—sort of. While there is no traditional post-credits scene, the film ends with a heartwarming tribute during the early credits, showing the real Captain Sully and passengers from Flight 1549 during a reunion. It includes footage and interviews, adding an emotional punch to the already moving story. So it’s worth watching through the beginning of the credits.

Type of Movie

Sully is a biographical drama and disaster thriller, with strong psychological and procedural elements. While it deals with a high-stakes emergency, the focus is not on sensational action, but on the human side of heroism, ethics, and accountability.

Cast

Tom Hanks as Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger
Aaron Eckhart as First Officer Jeff Skiles
Laura Linney as Lorraine Sullenberger
Anna Gunn as Dr. Elizabeth Davis (NTSB Investigator)
Mike O’Malley, Jamey Sheridan, and Holt McCallany as NTSB officials

Film Music and Composer

The score was composed by Christian Jacob and The Tierney Sutton Band, with a subtle and restrained jazz-influenced tone. It supports the film’s serious atmosphere without becoming overly dramatic. The music is contemplative, matching the introspective nature of Sully’s character.

Filming Locations

New York City, NY – Key scenes were shot on location, including near the Hudson River and at LaGuardia Airport.
Atlanta, Georgia – Much of the interior and flight simulator scenes were filmed at sound stages and studios in Atlanta.
Charlotte, NC – Some scenes reflect the plane’s intended destination.

The use of real locations, particularly the Hudson River, adds authenticity and gravity to the film’s setting. The water landing sequence was shot using large tanks and impressive practical effects to simulate the freezing river.

Awards and Nominations

Academy Award Nomination: Best Sound Editing
Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: Nominated for Best Actor (Tom Hanks)
AFI Award: Named one of the Top 10 Movies of the Year

Although it didn’t win major Oscars, Sully was praised for its tight direction, powerful performance by Tom Hanks, and realistic portrayal of a modern-day miracle.

Behind the Scenes Insights

Clint Eastwood chose Tom Hanks because, in his words, “he’s an all-American guy people trust.”
The water landing sequence was filmed in a giant water tank, using gimbals to recreate the feel of a floating aircraft.
The real Captain Sully worked closely with the filmmakers and was deeply involved in ensuring accuracy.
Eastwood himself survived a plane crash as a young man, which made the story personally significant.
The production used actual Airbus A320 cockpits for the most authentic cockpit scenes possible.

Inspirations and References

The movie is based on Sully’s memoir: “Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters“ by Chesley Sullenberger and Jeffrey Zaslow.
The screenplay by Todd Komarnicki draws heavily from real transcripts, recordings, and Sully’s own words.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

There are no major alternate endings, but deleted scenes include:

Extended moments between Sully and his family, showing more of the emotional fallout.
Additional scenes of NTSB deliberations that were cut to maintain pacing.

Book Adaptations and Differences

The film is based on Sully’s book Highest Duty. While the movie is largely faithful, it:

Condenses timelines for dramatic effect.
Simplifies some of the investigation to keep the story focused.
Adds visualized nightmares to show Sully’s trauma, which were not directly mentioned in the memoir.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

The emergency water landing on the Hudson River, recreated with near documentary precision.
Sully’s dream sequences, where the plane crashes into New York skyscrapers—haunting and symbolic.
The hearing room showdown, where Sully challenges the simulation logic and wins.

Iconic Quotes

Sully: “I’ve delivered a million passengers over 40 years in the air, but in the end I’m going to be judged on 208 seconds.”
Skiles: “Everything is unprecedented until it happens for the first time.”
NTSB Official: “You did everything right. It was still the wrong decision.”

Easter Eggs and Hidden Details

The real Captain Sully appears briefly in the end-credit reunion footage.
The flight simulator used in the movie is the same model used in the actual NTSB investigation.
A voice cameo by Katie Couric, who interviewed the real Sully.
Sully’s hotel room scenes subtly mirror the mental isolation he feels throughout the investigation.

Trivia

The flight lasted only six minutes from takeoff to splashdown.
Tom Hanks studied real cockpit audio and Sully’s mannerisms extensively to capture the character.
The actual plane, Airbus A320 tail number N106US, is on display at the Carolinas Aviation Museum.
Clint Eastwood completed principal photography in just 36 days.

Why Watch?

Watch Sully if you appreciate true stories told with emotional nuance, or if you’re interested in aviation, ethical decision-making, or human resilience. It’s not a traditional action film—it’s a quietly powerful drama anchored by Tom Hanks at his best.

Director’s Other Movies

Recommended Films for Fans

Flight (2012)
Captain Phillips (2013)
The Post (2017)
United 93 (2006)
Apollo 13 (1995)
The Terminal (2004)

Sully (2016)

Detailed Summary