9/11 20th Anniversary: 22 Compelling New Documentaries

ACROSS AMERICA — Those old enough to remember the day al-Qaida operatives carried out one of the deadliest terror attacks on U.S. soil likely haven’t forgotten where they were when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. Most remember who they were with. Most still recall how it felt.

Two decades later, however, new details are still emerging, providing a clearer picture of what happened the day when 2,997 people lost their lives.

As the 20th anniversary of 9/11 nears, these 22 documentaries will offer a new perspective into that fateful day, the people who lost their lives, and how the attacks changed and continue to change America.

Stream Now

Generation 9/11
PBS | Streaming now
About: This documentary explores the impact of 9/11 through the stories of seven children who lost their fathers in the attacks before they were born.
How to watch: Online at PBS.org

Turning Point: 9/11 And The War On Terror
Netflix | Streaming now
About: This five-part series documents the 9/11 terrorist attacks, from al-Qaida's roots in the 1980s to America's response, both at home and abroad.
How to watch: Netflix

NYC Epicenters 9/11—>2021½
HBO/HBO Max | Streaming now
About: From director Spike Lee, this four-part documentary weaves together the stories, memories and insights of those who were eyewitnesses to New York’s greatest challenges to create a rich tapestry of New York City in the 21st century.
How to watch: The documentary premiered on HBO on Aug. 22. New episodes air on subsequent Sundays, and the finale will air on Saturday, Sept. 11. Episodes are also streaming on HBO Max.

9/11: One Day In America
National Geographic Channel/Hulu
About: An official collaboration with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, this series takes viewers through the harrowing moments on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, using archival and first-person testimony from first responders and survivors.
How to watch: The series premiered Aug. 29 and aired through Sept. 1 on National Geographic Channel. Episodes are available to stream on Hulu.

Sept. 5

CIA vs. Bin Laden: First In
Reelz | Airs at 8 p.m.
About: This documentary features interviews with 18 people, including senior CIA leaders, who played critical roles in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.
How to watch: Live on Reelz or stream online at Reelz.com

Lost Calls of 9/11
Fox News | Airs at 10 p.m.
About: This one-hour special spotlights the story of a Houston man who purchased a piece of used computer equipment without knowing that it contained 103 never-heard-before calls from a trading room floor across the street from the World Trade Center on the morning of the attacks.
How to watch: Live on Fox News or stream on Fox Nation

Sept. 6

9/11 Twenty Years Later: Women of Resilience
ABC News | Airs at 7:30 p.m.
About: Twenty years after the attacks, four women who put their lives on the line tell their remarkable stories for the first time.
How to watch: Live on ABC or stream on abcnews.go.com

Ten Steps to Disaster: Twin Towers
Smithsonian Channel | Airs at 9 p.m.
About: Smithsonian Channel’s new docuseries uncovers 10 little-known “mistakes, oversights, and missed opportunities that paved the way to disaster on 9/11.”
How to watch: Live on Smithsonian Channel

9/11 + 20: The Longest Shadow
ABC News
About: Returning to the morning of Sept. 11, the series explores what America is and has become in the aftermath of one of the most traumatic events in history. Each episode navigates viewers through the past 20 years to today.
How to watch: Stream on abcnews.go.com starting on Sept. 6.

Sept. 7

Crowning New York
Smithsonian Channel | Airs at 10 p.m.
About: After the devastating attacks of 9/11, New York City needed to rebuild itself — emotionally, spiritually and physically. Witness the story of One World Trade Center, one of the most significant and dangerous construction jobs ever launched.
How to watch: Live on Smithsonian Channel

Sept. 8

Women of 9/11: A Special Edition of 20/20
ABC | Airs at 9 p.m.
About: From first responders to the miracle survivors, the women whose lives changed forever on Sept. 11 tell their stories of survival, pain and redemption.
How to watch: Live On ABC or abcnews.go.com

Memory Box: Echoes of 9/11
MSNBC | Airs at 10 p.m.
About: In the wake of 9/11, hundreds of people recorded their stories in a small plywood booth. Twenty years later, these same voices return to the booth to share their memories and reflect on America today.
How to watch: Live on MSNBC or stream on Peacock

Sept. 9

No Responders Left Behind
Discovery +
About: A documentary about the fight waged by former “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart, social activist John Feal and Fire Department of New York hero Ray Pfeifer to get health benefits and compensation for 9/11 first responders.
How to watch: Stream on Discovery +

Sept. 10

I Can Hear You: President Bush at Ground Zero
Fox Nation
About: Hosted by Martha MacCallum, this documentary focuses on then-President George W. Bush’s visit to ground zero and how his impromptu speech there became an important part of America’s response to the attacks.
How to watch: Stream on Fox Nation

9/11: The Legacy
History Channel | Airs at 7 p.m.
About: More than 72 million children woke up the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, to what seemed like an ordinary Tuesday. This one-hour documentary shares stories of resilience and healing from the children impacted on 9/11, showcasing their life and legacy 20 years later.
How to watch: Live on the History Channel

Rise and Fall: The World Trade Center
History Channel | Airs at 8 p.m.
About: With the help of harrowing firsthand testimonies, expert interviews, never-before-seen graphics, and the benefit of two decades of engineering hindsight, viewers will understand how the Twin Towers rose — and why they fell.
How to watch: Live on the History Channel

20/20: Special Edition with Diane Sawyer
ABC | Airs at 10 p.m.
About: Twenty years ago, ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer sat down with young women holding their infants, all of whom were pregnant when their husbands died in the attacks. Now, as those children approach their 20th birthdays, a special edition of “20/20” brings nearly 40 families together again.
How to watch: Live on ABC or abcnews.go.com

Sept. 11

9/11: Inside the President’s War Room
Apple TV+
About: Narrated by Jeff Daniels, this documentary recounts the 12 hours after the attacks from the perspective of the 43rd president’s inner circle, including then-President George W. Bush himself.
How to watch: Stream on Apple TV+

CNN Films Presents: 9/11
CNN | Airs at 8 p.m.
About: “9/11” is a minute-by-minute portrayal of the attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, from the perspective of the first responders who answered the call on that fateful day. The documentary includes never-before-seen footage from inside the towers before they fell.
How to watch: Live on CNN

Verdi’s Requiem: The Met Remembers
PBS | Airs at 8 p.m.
About: Presented in partnership with the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Misty Copeland hosts this special performance of Verdi's "Requiem" to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
How to watch: Live on PBS

The 9/11 Classroom: Front Row to History
CNN | Airs at 10 p.m.
About: CNN’s Victor Blackwell documents the events of 9/11 through the eyes of the second grade students, their teacher and the former White House aides who were in the classroom with President George W. Bush when he was told about the terrorist attacks.
How to watch: Live on CNN

9/11: I Was There
History Channel | Airs at 10 p.m.
About: Told without interviews, commentary or narration, this documentary uses rare footage and audio to paint an intimate picture of the events of Sept. 11 captured by ordinary people who recorded the historic event.
How to watch: Live on the History Channel