Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Biographical thriller

Thirteen Lives (2022): Cast, Ratings & Ending

Thirteen Lives (2022) movie poster

Thirteen Lives is a 2022 biographical thriller directed by Ron Howard, starring Viggo Mortensen as Rick Stanton, Colin Farrell and Joel Edgerton. It runs 2 hours 22 minutes and was made on a reported $93 million budget. Critics gave it 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10.

IMDb rating
7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes
85%
Echo Score
72
Metascore
66
Loading streaming availability…
Thirteen Lives (2022) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h 22m (142 min)
Director
Ron Howard
Genres
Biography , Drama , Thriller
Original language
English
Budget
$93M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Thirteen Lives About?

The premise of Thirteen Lives without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A Thai youth soccer team becomes trapped in a flooded cave system, triggering an extraordinary and complex international rescue effort. As floodwaters rise and time dwindles, a team of highly skilled divers joins forces with Thai authorities and a massive network of volunteers. The perilous mission pushes everyone involved to their limits, demanding ingenuity, perseverance, and unwavering hope in a race against the elements.

Thirteen Lives Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • thailand
  • 2010s
  • soccer
  • cave
  • year 2018
  • based on true story
  • docudrama drama
  • boys' soccer team
  • flooding cave
  • anesthesia
  • underwater rescue
  • survival drama
+38 more
  • prayer
  • boy
  • flooding
  • worried parents
  • monsoon
  • heavy rain
  • rescue
  • cave diver
  • drowning
  • producer director
  • sports team
  • disaster action
  • police captain
  • firefighter
  • chiang rai thailand
  • rice field
  • altar
  • base camp
  • staging area
  • navy captain
  • guide rope
  • map on screen
  • water hole
  • coventry england
  • stalactite cave
  • thai american
  • rice farmer
  • information technology
  • self sacrifice
  • monsoon season
  • anesthetist
  • monks
  • religious ceremony
  • team spirit
  • meditation
  • video camera
  • flashlight
  • ketamine
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Thirteen Lives Cast & Characters

Viggo Mortensen leads the cast as Rick Stanton, with Colin Farrell as John Volanthen and Joel Edgerton as Harry Harris. Directed by Ron Howard; 14 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Ron Howard

More films directed by Ron Howard, best-rated first: Parenthood, Rush, Frost/Nixon and Rebuilding Paradise.

Full filmography
Ratings

Thirteen Lives Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Thirteen Lives 85% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.8/10. Our Echo Score gives it 72/100, strongest in sensory experience (80) and weakest in story & flow (65).

72 /100

Thirteen Lives Echo Score Breakdown

Thirteen Lives delivers a competent retelling of the 2018 Thai cave rescue, balancing technical precision with emotional moments. Critics note its well‑crafted procedural approach and impressive underwater visuals, though some find the first half plodding and the narrative familiar. Audience reactions echo this split, praising the cinematography and intensity while mentioning occasional pacing issues. The film’s strengths in craftsmanship and tension outweigh its lack of novelty, resulting in a solid, if not groundbreaking, viewing experience.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 78

    ART: The direction adopts a restrained, no‑frills style that keeps the focus on the rescue operation, while the cinematography excels in capturing the claustrophobic underwater environment. Critics highlight the impressive technical execution of the cave sequences, and users applaud the vivid visuals and authentic footage. Though some note a lack of stylistic flair, the overall craftsmanship is strong.

  • Character & Emotion 70

    CHARACTER: Performances anchor the film, with the ensemble delivering nuanced portrayals of divers, rescuers, and the trapped children. Reviewers commend the emotional resonance generated by the divers’ camaraderie and the urgency of their mission. Some audience members, however, mention limited character depth due to the film’s focus on events rather than personal backstories. Overall, the acting provides a credible emotional core.

  • Story & Flow 65

    STORY: The narrative follows the chronological rescue effort, offering a clear but familiar account of the well‑documented incident. Critics observe that the film provides a solid procedural structure yet adds little new insight, leading to a sense of redundancy for seasoned viewers. Audience feedback reflects this mix, noting engaging tension but occasional pacing drag, especially in the early half.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    SENSORY: The film’s sound design immerses viewers in the echoing caves, while the score underscores moments of peril and triumph without overwhelming the scene. Visuals receive particular praise for crisp underwater photography and detailed diagrammatic overlays that clarify the complex cave network. Though a few reviewers cite a restrained musical palette, the overall sensory experience is immersive and effective.

  • Rewatch Factor 68

    REWATCH: The film’s vivid depiction of high‑stakes rescue and its authentic underwater sequences provide compelling reasons for repeat viewings, especially for fans of survival dramas. However, the familiar storyline and occasional pacing slow‑downs may reduce its long‑term appeal for some viewers. On balance, its technical achievements and emotional moments give it modest rewatch value.

Plot

Thirteen Lives Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in Thirteen Lives from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

On June 23, 2018, an innocent outing quickly turns perilous for the twelve boys of the junior football team “Wild Boars” and their assistant coach, Ekkaphon Chanthawong (Teeradon Supapunpinyo). After concluding their practice in Ban Chong, located in Chiang Rai province, the group decides to explore the Tham Luang cave. Little do they know, this adventure will take a dramatic turn. The caves, known for their depth—particularly Chamber 3, which is 800 meters from the entrance—begin to flood unexpectedly as rain pours down.

Full summary

The whole story of Thirteen Lives, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Videos

Thirteen Lives Trailers & Videos

9 videos: 1 trailer, 4 clips, 3 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

All 9 videos
Official Trailer
  • Clip They're Alive Clip
  • Clip Finding The Boys Clip
  • Clip Rescuing the First Boy Clip
  • Clip Underwater ASMR Scuba Diving
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Thirteen Lives?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What was the name of the junior football team trapped in the cave?

Details

Thirteen Lives Also Known As

38 alternative titles, including “Тринаесет Животи” and “Trece vidas”.

Also known as
  • Тринаесет Животи
  • Trece vidas
  • Trinásť životov
  • 13 жизней
  • Trylika gyvybių
  • Treize vies
  • 서틴 라이브스
  • じゅうさんにんのいのち
  • 13 ชีวิต
  • Treze Vidas: O Resgate
  • Treze Vidas
  • سیزده جان
+26 more
  • Trzynaście Żyć
  • Trzynastu
  • المحاصرون الـ13
  • 13 живота
  • Тринадцять життів
  • Tredici vite
  • 13 라이브즈
  • A tizenhármak
  • Dreizehn Leben
  • 十三条命
  • ثلاث عشرة حياة
  • Třináct životů
  • สิบสามชีวิต
  • שלושה עשר חיים
  • 13 Sinh Mạng
  • 13 Vidas
  • Trinaest života
  • 13人の命
  • On Üç Yaşam
  • Δεκατρείς Ζωές
  • 十三條命
  • Treisprezece vieți
  • Trinajst življenj
  • Tretze vides
  • سیزده زندگی
  • Тринаест живота

Seen Thirteen Lives?

FAQ

Thirteen Lives FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, budget, ratings and post-credit scenes of Thirteen Lives, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Thirteen Lives?

Thirteen Lives runs 2 hours 22 minutes (142 minutes).

When was Thirteen Lives released?

Thirteen Lives was released on July 29, 2022.

Who directed Thirteen Lives?

Thirteen Lives was directed by Ron Howard.

More films by Ron Howard

Who is in the cast of Thirteen Lives?

Thirteen Lives stars Viggo Mortensen as Rick Stanton, Colin Farrell as John Volanthen and Joel Edgerton as Harry Harris, among 14 credited actors.

What was the budget of Thirteen Lives?

Thirteen Lives had a reported budget of $93 million.

How is Thirteen Lives rated?

Thirteen Lives has 7.8/10 on IMDb, 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, 66 on Metacritic and 79% on TMDB.

Does Thirteen Lives have a post-credit scene?

No. Thirteen Lives has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app