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Thirteen Days

Play trailer Poster for Thirteen Days PG-13 2000 2h 25m History Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 122 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
For thirteen extraordinary days in October of 1962, the world stood on the brink of an unthinkable catastrophe. Across the globe, people anxiously awaited the outcome of a harrowing political, diplomatic and military confrontation that threatened to end in an apocalyptic nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union. Thirteen days captures the urgency, suspense and paralyzing chaos of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
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Thirteen Days

Thirteen Days

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Critics Consensus

Thirteen Days offers a compelling look at the Cuban Missile Crisis, and its talented cast deftly portrays the real-life people who were involved.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/29/2010
5/5
An outstanding movie for families with older kids. Go to Full Review
Steven D. Greydanus Decent Films 05/08/2002
A-
A fitting dramatic tribute to the deadly brinksmanship that pulled us back from the edge during the most volatile two weeks of the Cold War. Go to Full Review
Mick LaSalle San Francisco Chronicle 01/12/2001
4/4
Thirteen Days is a good movie about a profound moment in world history. Go to Full Review
Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies 12/25/2020
3.5/5
Kennedy fans might appreciate Thirteen Days for what it is but the film could do better in putting the right faces up front. Go to Full Review
Yasser Medina Cinefilia 07/21/2020
7/10
I find vertiginous and very palpitating what happens in this political thriller, directed by Roger Donaldson, about one of the most tense moments of the Kennedy administration: the Cuban missile crisis. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
PJ Nabarro Patrick Nabarro 07/24/2019
3/5
It really is the Cuban Missile Crisis played out on a grand scale, and, in some respects, this grandiosity is permissible. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Rob W 4d Thirteen Days' is a gripping reminder of how little the world understood just how close we came to World War III.I cannot believe this masterclass in film-making has slipped under my radar, but with how things are panning out in the US I thought it was well worth a watch, and boy is it. The film turns the Cuban Missile Crisis into a nerve‑shredding cat‑and‑mouse thriller, charting each escalation with an almost unbearable sense of inevitability. Its long runtime becomes an asset, allowing tension to accumulate in slow, deliberate waves as political manoeuvring tightens the noose. Outstanding performances across the board ground the drama in human stakes, Costner of course is superb, the constant bickering between Politicians and the armed forces is edgy and cold. It’s a masterclass in sustained suspense, revealing that if things had gone as many feared, I wouldn't be on this Earth now!!!! check out my movie blog folks theabsolutehorror.blogspot.com/ See more miro z Nov 8 This along with many other films of that era just blatant cigarette advertising. Every scene some one is lighting up or blowing smoke as if to show this is cool. Just an overkill of 1960’s See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 2 Success in 2 hours and 25 minutes. Rated PG-13 for Brief Strong Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Jelisije J @jjosifovic Apr 16 A very well done film of the Cuban Missile Crisis of how the USA handled the situation and the aftermath. A must watch for anyone wanting to see how the world almost ended. See more Michael W @mawilps Apr 6 This political movie was really good. Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Gulp, Dylan Baker, and the rest of the cast did an excellent job in this movie. This true story about the Cuban Missile Crisis was dramatic, suspenseful, and thrilling. It's about making the right decision to prevent a war from ever happening. If you haven't seen this movie yet, check it out sometime. It's a definite must see. See more Mar 30 Everyone but Kevin Costner nailed it. His Massachusetts accent stinks. See more Read all reviews
Thirteen Days

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Movie Info

Synopsis For thirteen extraordinary days in October of 1962, the world stood on the brink of an unthinkable catastrophe. Across the globe, people anxiously awaited the outcome of a harrowing political, diplomatic and military confrontation that threatened to end in an apocalyptic nuclear exchange between the United States and the Soviet Union. Thirteen days captures the urgency, suspense and paralyzing chaos of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Director
Roger Donaldson
Producer
Marc Abraham, Peter O. Almond, Armyan Bernstein, Kevin Costner
Screenwriter
Ernest R. May, Philip D. Zelikow, David Self
Distributor
New Line Home Video [us], New Line Cinema
Production Co
Beacon Communications, New Line Cinema, Tig Productions, Beacon Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 16, 2000, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 24, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$34.6M
Runtime
2h 25m
Sound Mix
Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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