™
Hostages
On HBO — From Show of Force · HBO Documentary Films
444 days. Decades in the making.
Create a free account to see where Hostages is streaming, with prices and your services first.
Where to watch
Not available to stream in US
🔔 Notify me about new seasonsSynopsis
On November 4, 1979, Iranian student activists stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking over 60 Americans hostage. What was planned as a 48-hour sit-in to protest American imperialism, ballooned into an international crisis and 24/7 media event that would last 444 days. With never-before-seen archival footage and revelatory new interviews with the American hostages and Iranian hostage-takers alike, the series is a gripping chronicle of one of the most dramatic international deadlocks in American history, a deep dive into the geo-political history that led to the crisis, and an exploration of the political fallout that reverberates today.
Themes
Episodes
Create a free account to track the episodes you’ve watched.
- E1 Part One: The Peacock ThroneNext upSep 28, 2022 · 60 min
Synopsis
Under the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah, Iran experiences an oil-driven economic boom, but the government’s excesses and repressive tactics lead to increasing hostility towards the monarch and his closest ally: the United States. As religious cleric Ayatollah Khomeini grows in popularity, the Shah flees and the country becomes engulfed in revolution, endangering the U.S. embassy.
- E2 Part Two: Den of SpiesSep 28, 2022 · 59 min
Synopsis
November 1979. In protest of the United States’ long-standing relationship with the now-deposed Shah, an Iranian student group plans a 48-hour sit-in at the American embassy in Tehran. But what starts as a political statement quickly turns into chaos as Khomeini’s regime sanctions the embassy takeover and uses it to shore up power.
- E3 Part Three: The Sand StormSep 29, 2022 · 60 min
Synopsis
With 1980 fast approaching, and the crisis nowhere near ending, the situation takes on a life of its own in American and Iranian media. After diplomatic efforts to secure the hostages’ release fail, and their fates become more dire, President Carter launches a rescue operation – with disastrous results.
- E4 Part Four: The TransactionSep 29, 2022 · 60 min
Synopsis
A year into the siege, Carter works furiously to secure a deal as the 1980 U.S. presidential election approaches. As Ronald Reagan prepares to take office, the outgoing administration enters a final, desperate diplomatic push. Today, those on both sides of the conflict weigh in on the crisis’ complex and enduring legacy.
Videos
Trailers
Images · 5
