‘Jack Ryan’ Star’s Michael Bay Thriller Is Officially One of Netflix’s Best
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Michael Bay's 2016 war thriller, has proven a surprise hit on streaming, currently performing strongly on HBO Max in international markets after also being highlighted for its Netflix success. The film marks a departure for Bay, better known for the bombastic Transformers franchise, offering a grittier, more grounded war drama in the vein of Black Hawk Down and Zero Dark Thirty. Its renewed popularity years after release highlights how streaming can give commercially modest films a second life with new audiences.
Based on Mitchell Zuckoff's book, the film dramatises the September 2012 attacks on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, following a six-man CIA security team as they defend US personnel. It stars John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, Pablo Schreiber and Toby Stephens among others. Made on a roughly $50 million budget, it earned about $69 million at the box office, including $52.9 million domestically, and holds a mixed 51% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes against a much warmer 83% audience score; it is currently available to stream on digital platforms and HBO Max.
- Bay's grounded 2012 Benghazi thriller is finding fresh streaming success
- Stars John Krasinski, James Badge Dale and Pablo Schreiber
- Modest box office ($69m) but strong 83% audience approval rating