The 15:17 to Paris is a movie that tells the story of three American friends who stopped a terrorist attack on a train bound for Paris in August 2015. The movie was directed by Clint Eastwood and was released in 2018. But the question that many viewers have is whether this movie is based on a true story or not.
Was the 15:17 to Paris a True Story?
Yes, The 15:17 to Paris is based on a true story. The three American friends, Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler were on vacation in Europe when they boarded the train from Amsterdam to Paris. They were traveling in the same carriage as Ayoub El-Khazzani, a terrorist who had an AK-47 rifle and other weapons with him.
During the journey, El-Khazzani emerged from the bathroom with his rifle and started shooting. The three Americans quickly realized what was happening and decided to take action. They rushed towards him and managed to disarm him before he could cause any more harm.
The heroic actions of these three friends saved countless lives that day, and they were awarded France’s highest honor for bravery by President François Hollande.
How Accurate is the Movie?
The movie tries to stay as faithful as possible to what happened but does take some creative liberties. For example, it shows flashbacks of the three friends growing up together which were not present during the actual event.
Additionally, Stone’s injuries are depicted differently in the movie than they actually were. In real life, he sustained injuries while trying to break a window with his elbow but in the movie he is injured during the scuffle with El-Khazzani.
However, overall it can be said that most of what is shown in the movie did happen during that fateful train ride from Amsterdam to Paris.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The 15:17 to Paris is a movie that is based on a true story. The heroic actions of Spencer Stone, Alek Skarlatos, and Anthony Sadler saved countless lives that day and their bravery will never be forgotten. Though the movie takes some creative liberties, it stays true to the main events that took place during the train ride from Amsterdam to Paris.