The film had its world premiere out of competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, on 23 May 2025. It was theatrically released in France on 27 June 2025, by Pathé. It received mixed critical reception and under-performed at the French box office despite its €30 million budget.
Plot
On 15 August 2021, as U.S. forces withdraw from Afghanistan, Taliban insurgents seize Kabul. Amid the chaos, French commander Mohamed Bida (Roschdy Zem) negotiates with the Taliban to secure safe passage for 2,800 refugees trapped in the French Embassy. With the help of Eva (Lyna Khoudri), a Franco-Afghan aid worker, he orchestrates a 13-day race to evacuate them via the airport before the Taliban close in.
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
Box office
The film opened in 526 French theaters but averaged only 206 spectators per screen, grossing $2.39 million worldwide against its €30 million budget.[3] By July 2025, it had accrued 311,320 admissions in France.[1]
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. Several reviewers, however, noted issues with the film's pacing, suggesting that the narrative momentum occasionally lagged.
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.
Other critics commended the film’s attention to detail in recreating real-life events and credited Zem’s portrayal for bringing emotional depth to the story.
Some reviewers felt that, despite its strengths, the film’s pacing and structure detracted from its overall impact.
Overall, the film was recognized for shedding light on a significant historical event and for strong performances, even as it drew mixed reactions regarding its narrative flow. [4]
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