The 15:17 to Paris

This 2018 American biographical drama, directed by Clint Eastwood, is based on the autobiography "The 15:17 to Paris: The True Story of a Terrorist, a Train, and Three American Heroes" and recounts the real-life events of August 21, 2015, when three Americans—Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler—thwarted a terrorist attack on Thalys train No. 9364 traveling from Amsterdam to Paris. The film traces their lives from childhood in Sacramento, California, where they faced challenges in school and sought purpose, to the moment they found themselves on that train. Spencer Stone (playing himself), a U.S. Air Force serviceman, exhibits a keen interest in military affairs and aspires to heroism; Alek Skarlatos (playing himself), a National Guard soldier, displays discipline and determination; Anthony Sadler (playing himself), a student, supports his friends and shares their aspirations. While traveling through Europe, they confront a terrorist armed with an assault rifle and pistol, and, risking their lives, subdue him, preventing a mass killing. The film emphasizes their friendship, personal growth, and the preparation leading up to the defining moment of their lives, highlighting the idea that ordinary individuals are capable of extraordinary acts of heroism.