WORLD TRADE CENTER
Finding strength and hope through God and family.
Should You Watch It?
WORLD TRADE CENTER is a stirring, suspenseful, patriotic, and ultimately inspiring portrayal of a sobering day in America’s history. It is emotionally powerful without being maudlin, and its strongest moments find hope in family, faith, courage, and people helping one another.
The film’s major weakness is its language. The content rating is −1, so this is a discernment decision rather than a family-wide recommendation for every age. Teenagers and adults may find the movie’s Christian, pro-family, and pro-American themes deeply encouraging, while younger children may not be ready for its language or the emotional weight of the story.
For a teenager or adult in your family, WORLD TRADE CENTER is worth the trip if you can accept the language and the difficult subject matter.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESOn September 11, two New York City Port Authority officers, John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno, become trapped beneath the rubble of the World Trade Center.
As they wait for rescue, their families struggle with fear and uncertainty. A determined U.S. Marine searches for survivors, while John and Will draw strength from one another, their families, and faith.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is an exceptional film. Oliver Stone’s most heartfelt movie holds viewers on the edge of their seats while remaining emotionally powerful without becoming maudlin.
The movie gives weight to the officers’ ordeal and to the families waiting for news. Its portrayal of courage, hope, and mutual care makes the drama deeply moving. The film also succeeds as a stirring and suspenseful account of a sobering day in America’s history.
The Worldview
WORLD TRADE CENTER presents a very strong Christian worldview. It includes positive references to Jesus and His death on the Cross, positive Christian characters, and a Christian Marine who feels called by God to serve his country and help people in need.
The movie strongly affirms family, love, hope, strength, duty, and service. It portrays police officers, firefighters, the United States military, America, and Americans in crisis positively. Families face fear and separation, but love and strength help them endure. The film also presents people helping and inspiring one another.
The movie’s Christian perspective is paired with strong pro-family and pro-American convictions. Its central hope is found through God, family, courage, and sacrificial service. Scripture says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son” (John 3:16).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian worldview with very strong moral, pro-family, pro-American, and pro-military content and elements, including positive references to Jesus, positive Christian characters and man quotes most of the Lord’s Prayer, loving families are depicted, positive portrayals of America and Americans in crisis, a no-nonsense U.S. Marine is shown to be a Christian with a sense of God and duty, a positive portrayal of President George Bush and his leadership in one scene, and people help and inspire one another; 16 obscenities (including one “f” word), 12 profanities; no sex scenes but two married couples shown sleeping in same bed, married couple holds one another in bed, and husband kisses pregnant wife in bed; brief upper male nudity as man takes shower; no alcohol; some smoking; and, married couple have drifted apart but tragic situation brings them back together and man says the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks must be avenged.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
John and Will draw strength from their families during a terrifying ordeal. How can your family offer hope and strength when someone is afraid?
Romans 12:15 · Galatians 6:2Staff Sergeant Dave Karnes feels called by God to serve people in need. What gifts or responsibilities might God be asking you to use for others?
1 Peter 4:10 · Micah 6:8The film portrays police officers, firefighters, and military personnel serving their country. What does loving your neighbor look like in a crisis?
Mark 12:31 · Philippians 2:3–4The movie includes positive references to Jesus and His death on the Cross. Where does Christian hope come from when circumstances seem hopeless?
Romans 5:8 · 1 Peter 1:3The Final Word
WORLD TRADE CENTER is a heartfelt, suspenseful film about courage, family, faith, and service. Its language requires discernment, but its hopeful Christian and pro-family content gives the film lasting value. For teenagers and adults who can handle the subject matter, WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP.
