The final scene from Martin Scorsese’s 2002 film “Gangs of New York” is eerie in many ways. It’s a brutal, bloody film about the New York City in the mid-1800s. The film closes with the above scene, which shows the destruction – and then the re-build – of Manhattan’s skyline.

Scorsese got some grief about the scene because of its depiction of New York City in destruction – a touchy subject to say the least, being that it was released only one year after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. The movie, though, was filmed before the attacks, and Scorsese defended keeping the final scene as he originally planned.

From IMDB:

“Scorsese chose to end on that shot rather then continue with a skyline without the WTC (World Trade Center) because the movie is supposed to be about the people who build New York, not those who tried to destroy it.”

The “Gangs of New York” scene reminds us that, despite the fact that they are no longer standing, the Twin Towers are forever ingrained in our mind, and in popular culture, through Hollywood movies.

Lives of all Americans – and, in fact, for people worldwide – changed since 9/11. But the iconic images that were destroyed in physical form that day live on.

Here are some examples of Hollywood movie posters that feature the Twin Towers. Click on one to see a full-sized image, and the entire gallery. To see even more, visit this site. To view a cool video collage of movies in which the Twin Towers have appeared, click here.