10 Most Claustrophobic Movies Of All Time

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

On 11 September 2001, Islamic extremists seized control of four American passenger planes, one of which was United Airlines Flight 93. Director Paul Greengrass tells the story of the passengers that prevented that craft from reaching the White House with the blessing of all of the families of the deceased, beginning with the flight taking off and chronicling what happened in the air in real time.

The film is a difficult and upsetting experience for obvious reasons, though even without the memory of that day looming large over the picture, United 93 would have still been a thoroughly uncomfortable watch. Airplanes, while obviously varying in size, are not considered your typical small space, though tell somebody that they probably won't make it off alive and the walls will soon start closing in.

This was what Greengrass achieved with United 93. Confusion turns to panic and then to despair, and when by the time the passengers face reality and accept their fate the interior of the plane is positively suffocating. Crucial to the success of this somewhat risky venture was allowing the viewer to experience what the heroic passengers must have been feeling before they conspired to bring the plane down early, and the British director achieved what he set out to do in this, creating a film that is to be endured more than enjoyed.