The film Patriot Day is a dramatization based on a true story; it is not a direct factual reenactment. It accurately portrays the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the subsequent city-wide manhunt for the perpetrators. However, its central protagonist, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders (played by Mark Wahlberg), is a fictional composite character created for the narrative.
The narrative blends real individuals with this fictionalized lead. Key figures such as Police Commissioner Ed Davis, FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers, and Watertown Sergeant Jeffrey Pugliese are based on their real-life counterparts. The film also incorporates the true stories of survivors and witnesses, including carjacking victim Dun Meng. The creation of the Tommy Saunders character is a common cinematic device, amalgamating the experiences of multiple law enforcement officers to provide a cohesive viewpoint through which the audience can follow the sprawling, multi-agency investigation and manhunt.
Consequently, Patriot Day is best classified as a historical docudrama. It uses real events and people as its foundation but employs dramatic license to streamline the complex timeline and heighten emotional resonance. While the film's depiction of the bombing, the investigation's key milestones, and the Watertown shootout are largely faithful to the factual record, the specific actions and presence of its main character represent a significant fictionalization. It is an interpretation of events, not a documentary record.
