A 1998 thriller about martial law in New York became a real-life haunting memory.

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Released in 1998, The Siege depicts a fictional New York City under military occupation following terrorist attacks. While critics gave the film mixed reviews, its portrayal of civil rights abuses and mass detention of Arab-Americans later resonated in unexpected, chilling ways for those caught in real-world geopolitical conflicts.

Directed by Edward Zwick, The Siege follows FBI agent Anthony Hubbard as he attempts to stop terrorist cells in New York. After a series of bombings, including the destruction of One Federal Plaza, the President declares martial law. Major General William Devereaux, played by Bruce Willis, occupies Brooklyn and detains young men of Arab descent in a stadium. The film explores the tension between national security and the erosion of civil liberties, with Hubbard eventually arresting the General for his unauthorized actions and human rights abuses.

Upon its release, the film faced significant backlash from groups like the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which argued that the movie reinforced dangerous stereotypes and equated Muslim religious practices with violence. Despite these protests, director Zwick defended the film, suggesting that art should provoke discomfort and dialogue. He argued that the film’s true focus was on the latent potential for domestic repression and the violation of constitutional rights, such as habeas corpus.

The film’s legacy took a surreal turn after the September 11 attacks. Screenwriter Lawrence Wright claimed it became the most rented movie in America during that period. More strikingly, Guantánamo Bay detainee Yunis Abdurrahman Shokuri later described his experience at Kandahar Air Base as feeling like he was living inside the movie. He recalled being shocked by the similarities between the film’s depiction of mass detention and his own reality, famously asking himself when the movie would finally end.

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