District B13 (Banlieue 13) (2006)
83%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 1 nomination
A nonstop thrill ride, District B13’s dizzying action sequences more than make up for any expository flaws
District B13 is a wild ride that’s perfect for anyone who loves action movies. The stunts are insane and the pace is non-stop. Sure, the story might not be the most original, but who cares when you’re watching David Belle jump around like a superhero? Plus, it’s always fun to see civil servants as the bad guys for once. Overall, District B13 is a great way to spend 85 minutes if you’re in the mood for some mindless entertainment.
Production Company(ies)
Film4 Ingenious Film Partners Special Treats Production Company,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Pitesti, Romania
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for strong violence, some drug content and language
Year of Release
2006
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS-ES Dolby Digital EX
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):French, Spanish
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Country of origin:France
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 5, 2006
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
starring Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle, Tony D’Amario, Bibi Naceri, Dany Verissimo, François Chattot, directed by Pierre Morel, written by Luc Besson, Bibi Naceri, action, R rating, Luc Besson produced, box office gross $1.2M, reviewed by Lisa Nesselson, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Peter Bradshaw, David Jenkins, Digby Lewis, Joe Williams, Richard Propes, Dorothy Woodend, Sean Axmaker, Scott Nash, Jeffrey M Anderson, French language, crime-ridden ghetto, elite police squad, bomb, powerful hoodlum, civilian, rescue, acrobatic stunts, Tarzan, CGI, fake stunts, urban ills, Frenchness, theme park show
Worldwide gross: $11,169,386
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $16,471,014
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,786
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 1,796,185
US/Canada gross: $1,200,216
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,769,907
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,065
US/Canada opening weekend: $410,000
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $604,609
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,361
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): 12000000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $17,695,885
Production budget ranking: 1,428
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $9,529,234
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$10,754,105
ROI to date (est.): -40%
ROI ranking: 1,618
David Belle – Leito
Tony D’Amario – K2
Bibi Naceri – Taha
Dany Verissimo – Lola
François Chattot – Kruger
Director(s)
Pierre Morel
Writer(s)
Luc Besson, Bibi Naceri
Producer(s)
Luc Besson
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (116) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (23)
A message-based actioner that’s fast, dumb fun.
June 6, 2007
Lisa Nesselson
Variety
TOP CRITIC
I was delighted by the balletic and acrobatic stunts, some of which evoke Tarzan.
June 6, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
A 90-minute feature simply showing [David] Belle’s stunts with no frills would be great; unfortunately, they only account for about 10 minutes – the rest of the time, Belle is called upon to act.
July 8, 2006 | Rating: 2/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
As 85-minute testosterone binges go, you could do a whole lot worse.
July 6, 2006
David Jenkins
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Instantly forgettable, but hugely entertaining for 85 minutes.
July 4, 2006 | Rating: 3/5
Digby Lewis
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
District B13 doesn’t waste time with fake personality clashes. Both lead actors are amazingly fluid athletes, and during the many getaway and shoot-’em-up sequences, there is a minimum of special effects or wire choreography.
June 24, 2006 | Rating: B
Joe Williams
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
By returning to true action instead of CGI gimmicks or fake stunts, Morel has crafted a film that is electrifying to watch.
September 6, 2020 | Rating: 2.5/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com
Urban ills are pretty much the same worldwide. But it’s the very Frenchness of the film that makes it amusant. Unlike a typical American actioner, the villain is not a megalomaniacal genius, nor a corporate overlord; it’s the civil servants. . .
August 23, 2017
Dorothy Woodend
The Tyee (British Columbia)
The straight-faced outrageousness is part of the film’s charm, while the stripped down aesthetic, driving pace, and impressive action sequences are the film’s charge.
June 15, 2017
Sean Axmaker
Stream on Demand
When Belle is in motion, the movie excels.
October 6, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
Scott Nash
Three Movie Buffs
This action film from Luc Besson’s B-movie factory is one of his best.
February 5, 2010
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
Comes off more like a theme park show than an actual film, it’s there to deliver stunts and never an actual story.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed…
Plot
In the near future, the worst ghettos of Paris, France are literally walled off and among the worst is District B13. Controlled by the ruthless crime lord, Taha, a young righteous punk named Leïto is determined to bring him down. When the boss retaliates by kidnapping his sister, Lola, a rescue attempt by Leïto is destroyed by betrayal that gets him arrested and Lola kept in the clutches in Taha. Six months later, a crackerjack undercover cop named Damien is given a urgent mission: a neutron bomb has been stolen by Taha in District B13 which has an automatic timer function engaged and set to detonate in less than 24 hours. Now with time running out, Damien and Leïto must work together to find and stop the bomb, but there is far more to this crisis than any of the field players realize.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
District B13 features David Belle, who is known for inventing the parkour style of movement.
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