The film had its world premiere out of competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 23 May. It was theatrically released in France on 27 June by Pathé. It received generally positive reviews, with critics praising Zem performance, but under-performed at the French box office despite its €30 million budget.
Plot
On 15 August 2021, as U.S. forces withdraw from Afghanistan and Kabul is captured by the Taliban, hundreds of Afghans gather at the gates of the French Embassy in Afghanistan trying to escape alongside NATO forces. Martinon, the French ambassador, is evacuated by helicopter to the U.S. forces headquarters at the Kabul airport, but some DGSE and embassy staff stay behind.
As Mohamed Bida drives through the city searching for Sediqi, an Afghan interpreter who collaborated with occupation forces, he witnesses the ensuing chaos and the insurgents hostility towards civilians and journalists, including Kate who has her camera shot after questioning the Taliban brutal repression of women. Despite Martin and other DGSE members hesitation, Bida convinces Martinon to authorize the entry of all civilians. This includes Eva, a Franco-Afghan aid worker, and her mother Amina. The first planned evacuation is frustrated when American helicopters are attacked by Taliban forces just outside the embassy. While negotiating with Taliban, Bida's frustration increases as the insurgents belittles Eva, as she translates the negotiation from Dari to French, and impose several obstacles to allow safe passage for the 400 refugees. Meanwhile, inside the embassy, Kate intervenes in DGSE decision to leave behind unidentified men, arguing they are local artists. Bida decides to evacuate all civilians in a six-bus convoy, even though he has not received a green light from Martinon. During the escape route, Taliban members surround the convoy demanding further investigations of the civilians identities, Bida once again tries to negotiate while Kate and some civilians are threatened by the armed insurgents. Arriving near the Kabul airport, the convoy is once again stopped and cleared, this time by a small group of the Afghan National Security Forces who are securing the road alongside the American forces. Near the airport gates, the last bus gets stuck in a containment fence, forcing Kate and Amina to walk by foot to the crowded gates, where thousands of Afghans are trying to escape.
Inside the airport, Martinon and Bida are informed by the CIA about an ongoing ISIS-K terrorist attack plan targeting the airport gates. Bida and Eva head to the main evacuation checkpoint hoping to rescue Amina and the bus group, while the U.S. military forces are containing a possible mass invasion. Bida is able to rescue most of the bus passengers before the gates close, but Kate and Amina are left behind amidst a dissatisfied crowd. Eva instructs her mother through phone to go the last open evacuation checkpoint. Nicole Gee, an American marine soldier, introduces herself to Bida while complains about her team's lack of proper training.
Bida bids farewell to Sediqi, who asks for a Islamic Republic of Afghanistan flag, and rushes to the last open evacuation checkpoint, where the U.S. forces struggles to maintain the order. Eva saves an injured Aminda from the agitated crowd, but Nicole spots a suicide bomber in the crowd. The attack kills at least 11 U.S. military members including Nicole, and injures Bida, Eva, Aminda and Kate. As one of the last airplanes is about to leave, Bida collects a IRA flag and a small portion of soil.
Bourboulon discovered Bida's novel while editing The Three Musketeers: Milady (2023). He was drawn to the "meticulous" details of the operation and its emotional stakes.[2] The project marked Bourboulon's shift from period films to contemporary drama.
Filming
Principal photography took place in Morocco, with additional scenes shot in France. Stunt sequences involved local performers and military advisors to recreate the Kabul chaos.
Release
The film had its world premiere
Box office
The film opened in 526 French theaters on 27 June 2025, and had 468 533 admissions at the box office.[3][1] It grossing $4 million worldwide against its €30 million budget.[4]
Its United States' distribution rights were acquired by Samuel Goldwyn Films shortly before the American French Film Festival in October.[5]
Critics
13 Hours, 13 Day received generally positive reviews from critics, who highlighted its commitment to historical accuracy and the compelling performance of Roschdy Zem.
Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 67 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[6]
RTS (Switzerland) described the film as "a tense yet uneven tribute to unsung heroes," praising its depiction of the evacuation from Kabul but pointing out moments where the storytelling lost focus.[7]
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