Story Overview

Based on a true story, The Finest Hours recounts one of the most daring and heroic rescue missions in the history of the United States Coast Guard. Set on February 18, 1952, the film unfolds during a catastrophic storm that devastates the eastern coastline, tearing apart everything in its path.

Caught in the heart of the violent tempest, the SS Pendleton, a T-2 oil tanker operating out of Boston, is split in half by the overwhelming force of the storm. With its structure fatally compromised, the ship begins to sink rapidly, trapping a crew of thirty men in a desperate fight for survival.

As fear and chaos threaten to overwhelm the crew, chief engineer Ray Sybert takes command, using his authority, technical knowledge, and steady leadership to restore a sense of order aboard the fractured vessel. Battling towering waves, freezing temperatures, and relentless winds, the crew faces the storm head-on while clinging to the hope of rescue.

Blending large-scale spectacle with human drama, The Finest Hours is a gripping tale of courage, resilience, and sacrifice, honoring the extraordinary bravery of ordinary men who risked everything to save lives against impossible odds.