Overview
In the chaos of a war-torn city, a small group of heroes stands against overwhelming odds to protect what matters most.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Breakneck
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- intense
- gritty
- patriotic
- action movie night
- war film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film to be an engrossing, comparatively restrained Michael Bay action thriller whose strong battle staging and ensemble work are undermined by a thin script and limited character development.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story recreates the 2012 Benghazi attack from the security contractors' perspective and is adapted from Mitchell Zuckoff's nonfiction book.
The contractors defend the diplomatic compound amid a post-Gaddafi power vacuum, freely circulating weapons, and uncertain local allegiances.
Six CIA security contractors become the only force willing and able to defend the ambassador's compound against heavily armed attackers.
The film focuses on the contractors' prolonged armed battle and uses intense, closely observed battle sequences to depict their experience.
Films like 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, and why
Lone Survivor
fact-based military action, patriotic heroism, and a small team defending against overwhelming hostile forces
Black Hawk Down
true-event combat thriller focused on civilians and operatives trapped in a politically volatile foreign crisis
Argo
tense real-world rescue mission, procedural urgency, and morally complicated American intervention
American Sniper
ground-level depiction of modern warfare, tactical teamwork, and intense battle sequences
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Bay
- Release Date
- 2016-01-14
- Runtime
- 144 min
- Rating
- 7.3 / 10 (4079)
Cast
- John Krasinski
- James Badge Dale
- Dominic Fumusa
- Max Martini
- Pablo Schreiber
- Matt Letscher
- Alexia Barlier
- David Costabile
- David Denman
- Payman Maadi
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi about?
- Six security contractors fight through a chaotic night of armed attacks to defend an American diplomatic compound in Benghazi.
- What is 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi as breakneck, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi as graphic.
- What did critics think of 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi?
- Critics broadly found the film to be an engrossing, comparatively restrained Michael Bay action thriller whose strong battle staging and ensemble work are undermined by a thin script and limited character development.
- Which films are like 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi?
- Films with a similar feel include Lone Survivor, Black Hawk Down, Argo, and American Sniper.
- How long is 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi?
- 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi runs 144 minutes.
- Where can I watch 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi?
- In United States, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex.
