13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (also known simply as 13 Hours) is a 2016 American biographical action-thriller film directed and produced by Michael Bay and written by Chuck Hogan; it is based on Mitchell Zuckoff's 2014 book of the same name. The film follows six members of the Annex Security Team who fought to defend the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya after waves of attacks by militants on September 11, 2012. The film stars James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, Max Martini, David Denman and Dominic Fumusa, with supporting roles by Toby Stephens, Alexia Barlier and David Costabile.
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Directed by | Michael Bay |
Screenplay by | Chuck Hogan |
Based on | 13 Hours by Mitchell Zuckoff |
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Cinematography | Dion Beebe |
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Music by | Lorne Balfe |
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Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
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Running time | 144 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $50 million |
Box office | $69.4 million |
Filming began on April 27, 2015, in Malta and Morocco. The film was released on January 15, 2016, by Paramount Pictures. Upon release, 13 Hours grossed $69 million worldwide against a production budget of $50 million (not including advertising and distribution), and became one of Bay's lowest-grossing films until the 2022 release of Ambulance. 13 Hours also received many mixed reviews from critics. While the film was praised for its acting performances, action sequences, and dark tone, the script was criticized for its historical liberties. Bay's direction also received a mixed response, with many criticizing his emphasis on over-the-top action, but some also noting it as one of his most mature and grounded films.
The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Sound Mixing at the 89th Academy Awards.