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Thirteen Lives(2022)

PG-13

Movie2h 27mEnglishDrama, Thriller

8.0

User Score

76%

Critic Score

Director: Ron Howard

Writers: William Nicholson, Don MacPherson

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Free

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$14.99 4K

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$14.99 SD

Overview

After a sudden rainstorm floods a cave system in Thailand, a youth soccer team and their coach are trapped deep underground with no clear way out. As time and weather work against them, an international group of expert divers and local helpers race to plan and carry out a risky rescue through narrow, submerged passages.

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Review Summary

Pros: tense true-story suspense; strong ensemble performances; grounded, authentic tone | Cons: long runtime; slow pacing at times; limited trapped group focus

Will You Like This?

You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a realistic, high-pressure true-story survival rescue with steady tension and teamwork at its core; Not for you if you dislike long runtimes, subtitles, or slower, procedural pacing like Rubicon.

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Featured Comments/Tips

MrBLAQK

Having seen both this and the documentary, I really appreciated Howard's widening the scope to include the less visible helpers, like the farmers whose crops were ruined and the water engineers/laborers. Beautifully made. Might just be Ron Howard's best work for me. No dramatization of anything. No portrayal of politics, or the rights and the wrongs. A movie that truly honors the people, the volunteers involved in the rescue, and most importantly the people who lost their lives.

StephanOtter

Good, pretty long, but good 7/10.

justlarissa

This is an emotionally charged film that had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The tension and anxiety I felt while watching the rescue divers navigate the treacherous waters was intense. I couldn't help but feel the weight of their bravery. Those men are true heroes, undertaking a 6+ hour dive in conditions that would terrify even the most seasoned adventurers. I'm in awe of their selflessness and skill, and I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty that gripped the hearts of the trapped boys and their families. The film's realistic feel and masterful direction by Ron Howard make the story feel raw and real, and the true events that unfolded over 18 days are both haunting and inspiring. The fact that 12 boys and their coach were trapped in a six-mile-long cave system, with thousands of people working tirelessly to rescue them, is a testament to the power of human connection and community. This is a must see, a powerful tribute to everyone involved.

RomeroLivesOn

I've watched a ton of TV and Films this year that have come out to much hype that I have found underwhelming to say the least, so it was nice that this film slipped out on Amazon Prime without much fanfare or build up to be one of the enjoyable 2022 releases I’ve seen. Ron Howard mentioned on Mark Kermode’s podcast that Farrell and Mortensen asked for prep time to learn how to dive (hardly surprising considering Viggo is infamous for disappearing on his horse into the New Zealand wilderness during Lord of the Rings casting) and the film is all much stronger for it, Howard brings his eye for documentary making to the direction and you feel right up there with the divers throughout. Colin being teamed up with Viggo appears to have brought out the best in Farrell; he delivers a low-key performance that his genuinely great to see. Viggo is excellent as always but he’s one to not accept a role unless he believes in it, so you always know he’ll bring his A-game. If you have Prime Video this is a no-brainer to check out.

Demeter

Let me tell you, I was STRESSED while I was watching this. I was STRESSED.

celozzip

Great film. When I saw Vern in the cast list I wondered how they would handle this with all the social media goings on and it was all completely ignored in favour of focusing on the rescuers and the kids. Treated very well like United 93, Apollo 13 etc

ritz657

Honest, Tense, Gripping, Thirteen Lives is not a gasp-inducing action adventure that you might assume it to be but is a faithful and honest adaptation of the biggest rescue operation in the history of Thailand. Ron Howard's direction is fantastic In extremely difficult conditions and settings he has made a tension-filled episode of the great operation. Viggo Mortensen and Collin Farrell as the British divers are exceptional. The production value, the actors involved and the reimagining of all circumstances along the operation is presented in a way close to reality with no theatrics and drama. I wished they could have added a bit more scenes with the boys and their conversations in the tough time. Even the background sound could have been much better to build the tension around it. Overall though, a thoughtful and gripping re-telling of what happened, and ALL of the people who helped to save them proving as a triumph of the human spirit. Check my page www.instagram.com/stream.genx

CH0MSKYH0NK

This is a very competent Hollywood movie, but it lacks the 'oomph' or soul that it really needed to take it to that next level, either by elevating the drama and tension or making the acting more memorable. Instead, it is overlong and steeped in realism in an attempt to make up for its shortcomings. The two leads are still very strong, and it is directed well aside from some annoying diving scenes.

mbze430

As a SCUBA divemaster and Los Angeles County ADP, Rescue diver I approve this movie.

DarthDoggo

This was a great movie, usually reenactment movies can be a little rough or cringy to watch but I was surprised at how good this movie was. The writing, acting, and realism were really good

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Featured User Reviews

CinemaSerf

0/10

What's possibly most remarkable about this real life tale of courage and ingenuity is that a pretty A-list cast don't really overwhelm the story. Their contributions are solid and fairly undramatic as they allow the chronology to develop and the suspense and pressure to accumulate. It's history - so we know what happens, but somehow that lack of jeopardy doesn't really matter as we follow the efforts of an international team trying to rescue the twelve boys and their coach who have found themselves stuck underground, a few kilometres from the entrance, after heavy monsoon rains struck and flooded the tunnels. Now, of course, the first question might have been for the coach - didn't he look at the weather forecast first? However, now marooned quickly in their dark and claustrophobic environment, Ron Howard takes his time to demonstrate to us all just how this most innovative and challenging of evacuations was planned and executed - none of it without considerable risk to everyone involved. We are drawn into the scenarios, and I felt that I had skin in this game - the story has a palpable immersion (no pun intended) for the viewer. The cast gel well without any stand-out contributions or wordy dialogue, which I think well illustrates the strenuous pressures put on these men, essentially volunteers, by themselves, the families, the authorities and the relentless rain. The subterranean photography works really well in generating a feeling of peril and I certainly shared in that sense of relief at the end... A cinema watch is better, if you can - somehow the big screen demonstrates the small, tight spaces, better!

MSB

0/10

MORE SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/ "Thirteen Lives follows the usual formulas of works based on true events, but Ron Howard's honest, non-Hollywoodized direction allows him to efficiently tell one of the most remarkable survival stories of the last decade. The entire cast is extraordinary, but it's Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell who mainly guide the film through all the relevant, claustrophobic plot points in a somewhat heavy viewing runtime-wise. Interesting for viewers with little to no knowledge of what happened, but the question remains as to whether it adds anything truly significant to the documentary The Rescue about the same 18 days of suffering, anxiety, and uncertainty. Massive praise for the worthy amount of screentime of the Thai language." Rating: B-

RalphRahal

0/10

Thirteen Lives is a deeply moving film that highlights the incredible true story of the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thailand. Directed by Ron Howard, the movie focuses on the global effort and teamwork that led to the miraculous rescue of a young soccer team and their coach. The performances by Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, and Joel Edgerton are excellent, portraying the bravery and skill of the divers who risked everything to save the boys. The film is technically outstanding, with gripping underwater scenes and a realistic portrayal of the challenging conditions faced by the rescuers. Howard’s direction keeps the focus on the human element, showing the immense sacrifices and collaboration that made the rescue possible. However, I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing. The movie spends so much time on the rescuers’ perspective that it doesn’t dive deeply into the emotional experiences of the boys and their coach. This lack of focus on their side of the story left me feeling that a key part of the event’s impact was underexplored. Despite this, Thirteen Lives is still a powerful film that captures the resilience and determination of everyone involved in the rescue. It’s a testament to what humanity can achieve when people come together in the face of impossible odds. While it might not fully explore every emotional angle, it’s a well-made and inspiring story that’s worth watching.

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