‘September 5’ Examines Media’s Role in the 1972 Munich Olympics Tragedy

The claustrophobic thriller explores the ethical dilemmas faced by ABC journalists reporting on the first globally televised terrorist attack.

The film dramatizes the 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis, where 11 Israeli athletes were killed by Palestinian group Black September.
Set entirely within ABC’s broadcast studios, the movie highlights the technical and ethical challenges of covering the event live.
Swiss director Tim Fehlbaum, nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, focuses on the media's perspective rather than the broader political context.
The cast, led by Peter Sarsgaard, John Magaro, and Ben Chaplin, portrays the mounting tension and moral conflicts among the ABC team.
Critics praise the film’s intense atmosphere and historical accuracy, though some note its limited exploration of deeper political and ethical questions.