The Thirteenth Floor
A murder investigation pulls a computer scientist through nested realities where artificial lives and human identity become impossible to separate.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- paranoid
- cerebral
- surreal
- late night sci fi viewing
- cult movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film's simulated-reality premise and ideas compelling but judged its dialogue, plotting, and production comparatively weak.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Douglas Hall investigates Hannon Fuller's murder by searching for clues inside the company's computer-generated parallel world.
The plot moves between the late-1990s real world and a computer-generated 1930s world while withholding the full truth about their relationship.
The simulated world contains seemingly real people with genuine emotions, making its inhabitants central to the film's ethical and existential conflict.
Computer simulation, telepresence, dystopian technology, and the murder investigation are filtered through neo-noir mystery conventions.
Films like The Thirteenth Floor, and why
The Matrix
Shared simulated reality premise, cyberpunk ideas, paranoia, and philosophical science fiction.
Dark City
Shared neo-noir mystery, constructed reality, identity uncertainty, and stylized dystopian atmosphere.
eXistenZ
Shared virtual-reality technology, psychological disorientation, and unsettling science fiction thriller tone.
Blade Runner
Shared detective investigation, layered realities, and noir-inflected science fiction mystery.
Movie Details
- Director
- Josef Rusnak
- Release Date
- 1999-04-16
- Runtime
- 100 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (1628)
Cast
- Craig Bierko
- Armin Mueller-Stahl
- Gretchen Mol
- Vincent D'Onofrio
- Dennis Haysbert
- Steven Schub
- Jeremy Roberts
- Rif Hutton
- Leon Rippy
- Janet MacLachlan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- 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 The Thirteenth Floor about?
- A murder investigation pulls a computer scientist through nested realities where artificial lives and human identity become impossible to separate.
- What is The Thirteenth Floor like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Thirteenth Floor as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Thirteenth Floor violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Thirteenth Floor as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Thirteenth Floor?
- Critics generally found the film's simulated-reality premise and ideas compelling but judged its dialogue, plotting, and production comparatively weak.
- Which films are like The Thirteenth Floor?
- Films with a similar feel include The Matrix, Dark City, eXistenZ, and Blade Runner.
- How long is The Thirteenth Floor?
- The Thirteenth Floor runs 100 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Thirteenth Floor?
- In United States, The Thirteenth Floor streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
