Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing Documentary Review

Rory Kennedy returns to the subject of Boeing in her latest documentary, Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing. Following her previous film, Downfall, this new project digs deeper into the ongoing safety issues and lack of accountability at the company. It serves as a stark reminder of the 346 lives lost in 2018 and 2019, while highlighting how little has truly changed since those tragedies.

The film focuses heavily on the stories of whistleblowers like John Barnett, who faced immense pressure from the company for speaking out. By centering on these employees, the documentary paints a disturbing picture of a corporate culture that prioritizes profit over people and retaliates against those who raise safety concerns. It covers the 2024 Alaska Airlines incident and the legal failures that allowed Boeing to avoid meaningful consequences despite violating its agreements.

Clocking in at 90 minutes, the documentary is fast paced and visually direct. While it provides a comprehensive look at the company's failures, it is a difficult watch that offers very little optimism for the future. The film makes a strong case that Boeing requires a total structural overhaul to ever regain integrity.

If you have already seen Downfall, you might find some of the information familiar, but this follow up provides a more expansive look at the corruption involved. It is an important, if grim, look at the reality of modern corporate negligence. Freefall: A Reckoning for Boeing is available to stream now on Netflix.