September 11 attacks impacted New York City film depictions

The September 11 attacks profoundly impacted the entertainment industry and American culture, specifically affecting how New York City was depicted in film. Director Barry Sonnenfeld, who was filming ‘Men in Black II’ in New York during the summer of 2001, noted that the tragedy forced immediate changes to the production.

The film’s original climax was set to take place on the roof of one of the Twin Towers. Following the attacks, this narrative element became impossible to use. The Twin Towers had served as iconic visual landmarks in cinema since their construction, appearing in films such as ‘The Putney Swope’, ‘The French Connection’, and ‘The Hot Rock’, before becoming symbols of a global tragedy.