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Thirteen Lives
Thirteen Lives
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Thirteen Lives
Promotional release poster
Directed byRon Howard
Screenplay byWilliam Nicholson
Story by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySayombhu Mukdeeprom
Edited byJames D. Wilcox
Music byBenjamin Wallfisch
Production
companies
Distributed byUnited Artists Releasing
Amazon Studios
Release dates
  • July 29, 2022 (2022-07-29) (United States)
  • August 5, 2022 (2022-08-05) (Prime Video)
Running time
147 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
  • Canada
Languages
Budget$55 million

Thirteen Lives is a 2022 biographical survival film, based on the Tham Luang cave rescue, directed and produced by Ron Howard and written by William Nicholson. The film stars Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell, Joel Edgerton, and Tom Bateman.

Thirteen Lives was released in select theaters in the United States on July 29, 2022, by United Artists Releasing, and began streaming on Prime Video on August 5, 2022. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.

Plot

[edit]

On June 23, 2018, twelve boys of the junior football team "Wild Boars" and their assistant coach Ekkaphon Chanthawong leave practice to explore the Tham Luang cave. When the team fails to arrive at a birthday party organized by their parents, their families head to the caves, only to find them flooded and the boys missing, their bikes left at the entrance. The parents immediately alert emergency services.

Royal Thai Navy SEALs, led by Captain Arnont, arrive to search for the missing boys, but find the dive too difficult to locate the team. Vernon Unsworth, a local British caver, shares his extensive knowledge of the complex and dangerous cave and suggests the authorities get in touch with the British Cave Rescue Council. British cavers Rick Stanton and John Volanthen travel to Thailand and attempt the dive, finding the boys and coach four kilometres from the entrance. During an attempt to deliver air tanks to the boys to keep them alive in preparation for the rescue, former Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan drowns.

Meanwhile, as hundreds of volunteers try to mitigate poor weather conditions, a water technician from Bangkok gains the permission of local farmers to divert water from the mountain onto their fields, destroying their crop.

Realising the boys will have to be removed through the cave, via a six-hour dive, knowing what the risks are, Stanton and Volanthen contact Dr. Richard Harris, plus supporting divers Chris Jewell and Jason Mallinson. With permission from the regional governor and minister, the divers sedate the boys and, with one diver per boy, carry each member out of the cave safely. The coach is removed last.

The end scene is the boys celebrating the birthday party that was supposed to happen on the day they went into the cave. The end credits reveal that the coach and three of the boys, who were all stateless, are given Thai citizenship.

The film is dedicated to Saman Kunan, the Thai Navy SEAL who died on July 6, 2018, during the rescue operation, and Beirut Pakbara, a Thai Navy SEAL who later died from a blood infection.[2]

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]
Director Ron Howard

It was announced in April 2020 that Ron Howard was to direct the film, with William Nicholson writing the screenplay.[3] Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquired the rights to the film the following month.[4] In March 2021, Viggo Mortensen, Colin Farrell and Joel Edgerton were among the cast announced to star in the film.[5] Filming began on March 29, 2021, mostly done in Queensland with the support of Queensland and Gold Coast governments.[6] Scenes depicting Chiang Rai Province were shot at lush tropical tree-lined roads, hotels and golf courses across Mudgeeraba, Yatala, Numinbah Valley and Carrara in Queensland.[6] Two warehouses in Yatala were sourced for the production offices, as well as the construction of a custom-built water tank and cave interiors.[6] The hospital scene was filmed at Griffith University Logan Campus.[6]

The film's original score was composed by Benjamin Wallfisch.[7] When Howard approached his usual collaborator Hans Zimmer for the score, the latter strongly recommended his protégé Benjamin Wallfisch for the job.[8] Wallfisch had a 20-minute suite ready before Howard had started shooting in Thailand.[citation needed]

Release

[edit]

Thirteen Lives was released by United Artists Releasing in select theaters in the United States on July 29, 2022, before streaming on Amazon Prime Video on August 5.[9] The film was originally scheduled for a fully theatrical release by United Artists Releasing on April 15, 2022,[10] and was then postponed to November 18 (to contend during awards season) in response to the best test scores in MGM's history.[11] In May 2022, however, the film was brought to its current release date due to Amazon's acquisition of MGM in March.[12] Mortensen criticized the decision, given the film was considered an awards contender, and said, "I think Amazon could certainly have respected the deal, as they said they were going to, and released it widely in theaters and let it have its run. But they figured it would be more cost-effective if they didn't have to bother with spending money on promoting it and putting in theaters, and sharing that money with theaters, frankly. That's what it comes down to. To me, it's greed."[13]

Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 85% based on 182 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads, "Steadily helmed by director Ron Howard, Thirteen Lives offers an incomplete but still gripping dramatization of an incredible true story."[14] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100 based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[15]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Black Reel Awards February 6, 2023 Outstanding Editing James D. Wilcox Nominated [16]
British Film Designers Guild Production Design Awards February 18, 2023 Best Production Design – International Studio Feature Film – Contemporary Molly Hughes, Brandt Gordon, and Emma Rudkin Won [17][18][19]
Cinema for Peace Awards February 24, 2023 Cinema for Peace Dove for The Most Valuable Film of the Year 2023 Thirteen Lives Nominated [20][21]
London Film Critics' Circle February 5, 2023 British Actor of the Year Colin Farrell[a] Nominated [22]
San Diego Film Critics Society January 6, 2023 Best Cinematography Sayombhu Mukdeeprom Nominated [23]
Visual Effects Society February 15, 2023 Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature Jason Billington, Thomas Horton, Denis Baudin, Michael Harrison, Brian Cox Won [24][25]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Thirteen Lives is a biographical thriller film directed and produced by , based on the real-life 2018 in . The story centers on the harrowing international effort to rescue twelve boys from a local youth soccer team and their coach, who became trapped deep inside the flooded cave complex after exploring during a sudden rainstorm on June 23, 2018. Written by William Nicholson, the film emphasizes the collaboration among Thai authorities, British cave divers, and other experts in overcoming immense logistical and environmental challenges to save all thirteen lives. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of key rescuers, including British divers and , who led the initial search and discovery of the boys nine days after they went missing. Australian doctor played a crucial role in assessing the boys' health and devising the sedation method used for their extraction. The film portrays the high-stakes operation involving pumping out floodwater, navigating narrow passages, and coordinating a multinational team, all while highlighting the emotional toll on the participants and the families waiting outside. Starring as , Colin Farrell as , and Joel Edgerton as , the cast also features Tom Bateman as Chris Jewell and Thai actors such as Sukollawat Kanarot as Saman Kunan, a former Thai Navy SEAL who tragically died during the mission. Supporting roles include Paul Gleeson as Jason Mallinson and Vithaya Pansringarm as , capturing the diverse ensemble that made the rescue possible. The production, backed by and , was filmed primarily in , , using custom-built water tanks and caves to recreate the claustrophobic underground environment. by enhances the film's tense, immersive atmosphere. Upon release, Thirteen Lives had a limited theatrical run on July 29, 2022, and streaming debut on on August 5. It received positive reviews for its factual adherence, strong performances, and suspenseful direction, earning an 85% approval rating from critics on , who praised it as a "gripping dramatization" of the event despite some noting its straightforward approach. Audiences gave it a 93% score, appreciating the film's emotional depth and tribute to the real heroes. The movie contributed to renewed interest in the rescue story.

Background

The Tham Luang cave rescue

On June 23, 2018, twelve boys aged 11 to 16 from the Wild Boars soccer team, along with their 25-year-old coach Ekkapol Chantawong, entered the cave complex in , , for an exploration outing after soccer practice. Heavy monsoon rains that evening caused floodwaters to rise rapidly, trapping the group deep inside the flooded cave complex on a narrow ledge approximately 4 kilometers from the entrance, later referred to by rescuers as near "Pattaya Beach." The cave, part of a 10-kilometer-long system riddled with narrow passages and underground streams, became impassable due to the flooding, turning the site into a complex underwater maze. The initial search began that night when the boys failed to return home, with local park rangers and families alerting authorities. By June 24, British cave explorer Vernon Unsworth, familiar with the , joined Thai SEALs in assessing the flooded entrance, where fast-flowing waters prevented entry. Over the following days, Thai authorities deployed pumps to drain water and searched for alternative exits, while international experts arrived: British divers Richard Stanton, , and Robert Harper on June 27, followed by teams from the U.S. military, , , , and . A forward base was established in the 's third chamber by June 29, supported by religious ceremonies from a local to boost morale. After nine days of fruitless searching, on July 2, Volanthen and Stanton located the group alive on the ledge, weak but coherent, having survived on minimal water by licking walls. The discovery, approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from the entrance, sparked global attention, with oxygen levels in the chamber dropping to 15%—below the threshold of 19.5%—posing immediate risks of hypoxia. Supplies including , , and oxygen were delivered via divers over the next days, but extraction plans faced immense challenges: the boys lacked strong skills, passages were as narrow as 15 inches in places, and rains threatened further flooding. On July 6, retired Thai navy diver Saman Kunan died from oxygen depletion while placing air tanks along the route, underscoring the operation's dangers. With worsening weather forecasts, the decision was made to extract the group immediately starting , involving nearly 100 divers from and abroad. The boys were sedated with to prevent panic, fitted with full-face breathing masks, and strapped to experienced divers for a grueling journey: about 40% involved diving through submerged sections, taking up to five hours per person amid low visibility and strong currents. In three phases—four boys on , four on , and the remaining four boys plus the coach on July 10—all thirteen were safely brought out and airlifted to Prachanukroh Hospital for quarantine and treatment. Medically, the group showed remarkable resilience, with most suffering only minor issues or fatigue from calorie deprivation; psychological support included family letters and activities during their hospital stay. The successful operation, coordinated by Thai Governor Narongsak Osotthanakorn, highlighted unprecedented international collaboration and advanced diving techniques, though it left the cave partially drained and prompted discussions on turning the site into a .

Key figures in the real operation

The operation in 2018 involved a multinational team of experts, with local Thai authorities and military personnel coordinating alongside international divers and medical specialists. Narongsak Osotthanakorn, the governor of , served as the overall commander, overseeing the massive effort that included over 10,000 participants from 10 countries and providing daily updates to the media. Osotthanakorn died of cancer in June 2023 at age 58. Vern Unsworth, a British resident and experienced caver who had explored the Tham Luang cave system extensively, played a pivotal advisory role by urging Thai officials to seek international expertise early in the crisis, which facilitated the involvement of specialist divers. The search phase was led by British cave divers John Volanthen and Richard "Rick" Stanton, who on July 2, 2018, became the first to locate the 12 boys and their coach approximately 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) inside the cave after nine days of searching through flooded passages. Volanthen, an IT consultant, and Stanton, a retired , were instrumental in navigating the complex, narrow tunnels, setting the stage for the extraction plan; their discovery video, showing the group alive on a ledge, provided crucial morale boost to the operation. Thai SEALs, under Rear Admiral Arpakorn Yuukongkaew, formed the backbone of the local diving team, with nearly 100 members delivering supplies and maintaining contact with the trapped group; tragically, former SEAL Saman Kunan died on July 6 while replenishing oxygen tanks during a supply run, highlighting the mission's dangers. For the extraction, which occurred between July 8 and 10, a team of elite international divers executed the high-risk dives to carry the sedated boys through submerged sections. Australian cave diver and veterinarian partnered with anesthesiologist Richard "Harry" Harris to assess the boys' conditions and oversee the sedation protocol using , ensuring safe transport on stretchers through the flooded passages. Harris, who initially expressed doubts about the feasibility, gave final medical clearance and was the last diver to exit the cave. British divers Jason Mallinson and Chris Jewell, along with others like Belgian Ben Reymenants and Dane Claus Rasmussen, handled multiple rotations to ferry the boys in pairs, navigating tight squeezes and zero-visibility conditions. Four unnamed Thai Navy SEALs remained with the group until the end, emerging last to confirm all were safe. U.S. pararescuemen provided on-site medical support during the rescues, treating the boys for and infections upon extraction at Prachanukroh Hospital. Among the rescued boys, Peerapat Sompiang died in February 2023 in a car accident while attending school in the .

Plot

In June 2018, the Wild Boars soccer team, consisting of twelve boys aged 11 to 16 and their 25-year-old coach, explore the cave in following practice. A sudden traps them deep inside the cave complex, cutting off the entrance and forcing them to seek higher ground. As news of the missing group spreads, local authorities and Thai Navy SEALs launch a search, but initial efforts are hampered by the rising floodwaters. British cave divers and , experienced in underwater cave exploration, are called in to assist. After navigating treacherous, flooded passages, they discover the boys and their coach alive on a small ledge nine days after they went missing, having survived on minimal resources. With the continuing to flood, the rescue operation escalates into an international effort involving experts from multiple countries. Australian anesthesiologist "Harry" Harris assesses the boys' condition and devises a high-risk plan to sedate them for the perilous dive out through narrow, oxygen-poor tunnels. Meanwhile, efforts to pump out billions of gallons of water include diverting a nearby river and flooding local farmlands, coordinated by Thai governor Narongsak Osatanakorn. Tragically, Thai Navy SEAL Saman Kunan dies while delivering oxygen tanks to the trapped group. Over three days in , the sedated boys are guided out one by one by teams of divers, with the coach extracted last. All thirteen are safely rescued and receive medical attention, marking the successful end of the 18-day ordeal.

Cast

The following table lists the principal cast members and their roles:
ActorRole
Rick Stanton
John Volanthen
Harry Harris
Tom BatemanChris Jewell
Paul GleesonJason Mallinson
Sukollawat KanarotSaman Kunan
Governor Narongsak Osatanakorn

Production

Development

The development of Thirteen Lives began with Storyteller Productions, where producer P.J. van Sandwijk, alongside Michael Lesslie and Marie Savare, initiated the project by securing rights to dramatize the 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue. They approached acclaimed screenwriter William Nicholson, known for his work on Gladiator, to pen the script, with producer Gabrielle Tana also joining early in the process. In April 2020, the project gained significant momentum when director and his production company, —co-founded with —attached themselves to the film, with Howard set to direct. This package, featuring Nicholson's screenplay, attracted interest from multiple studios due to the compelling true-story premise and Howard's track record with survival dramas like . By early May 2020, (MGM) won a competitive bidding war for worldwide distribution rights, acquiring the project with a $55 million production commitment. The studio committed substantial funding, viewing the film as a prestige biographical thriller with global appeal, and production was greenlit under the oversight of producers including van Sandwijk, Tana, , Grazer, and Karen Lunder.

Filming and post-production

Principal photography for Thirteen Lives began in March 2021 in , , selected for its topography resembling and due to travel restrictions that prevented filming on location in . Specific sites included areas around the Gold Coast such as Mudgeeraba, Yatala, Numinbah Valley, and , along with Logan Campus for a scene and Brisbane Domestic Airport standing in for Airport. At , Molly Hughes oversaw the construction of elaborate cave sets, including four 100-foot-long water tanks in a warehouse equipped with advanced filtration systems to simulate the Tham Luang cave's challenging environment. Tunnels were built on the ground, then hydraulically lifted into the tanks and filled with water to recreate eight distinct rescue scenarios, ensuring authenticity through collaboration with real-life divers and Richard Stanton. Cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom employed a mix of large-format cameras for establishing shots and compact RED KOMODO 6K cameras for tight, immersive cave sequences, including over-the-shoulder and POV angles. The KOMODO's lightweight design (2.1 pounds) and global shutter allowed for agile filming in cramped spaces, with actors like Colin Farrell operating it underwater to capture natural reactions. Lighting challenges arose from the absence of natural light in the sets, addressed through scene-specific setups using soft fluorescents, headlamps, and influences from horror genres to convey underwater chaos and tension. Director Ron Howard emphasized the difficulty of making artificial caves visually convincing, noting that textures, lighting, and practical details were crucial to avoid an overly polished look. In , editor James Wilcox reviewed approximately 382 hours of footage to craft a balancing peril, hope, and cultural elements, incorporating subjective diver perspectives for immersion. played a subtle but essential role, with MPC delivering over 545 shots, including around 350 sequences that enhanced practical footage through simulations of flow, debris, and particulates. A 5-million-polygon scan of the actual Tham Luang cave was digitally reconstructed to extend physical sets, adding details like stalactites, drips, and environmental hazards while maintaining via matchmoving and 3D particle effects. Supervising sound editor Oliver Tarney designed contrasting audio landscapes, using diffuse, compromised sounds recorded from Volanthen's breathing to evoke sensory disorientation, with deliberate muffling to simulate 's acoustic properties.

Release

Thirteen Lives had a on July 29, 2022, distributed by . It became available for streaming worldwide on on August 5, 2022. The film was released theatrically in the on August 5, 2022. As of November 2025, no physical home media release (DVD or Blu-ray) has been announced.

Reception

Critical response

Upon its release, Thirteen Lives received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its tense depiction of the real-life rescue operation and Ron Howard's restrained direction, though some noted shortcomings in emotional depth and narrative completeness. On , the film holds an 85% approval rating based on 182 reviews, with an average score of 7.1/10; the site's critics' consensus states, "Steadily helmed by director , Thirteen Lives offers an incomplete but still gripping dramatization of an incredible true story." On , it earned a score of 66 out of 100 from 40 critics, signifying "generally favorable reviews," with praise centered on its grounded realism and technical achievements. Critics frequently highlighted the film's ability to build suspense through its focus on the logistical challenges and human endurance of the divers, avoiding sensationalism. In The New York Times, Manohla Dargis described it as a "pragmatic recounting of a nigh-impossible mission," commending Howard's thriller-like approach that required "very little goosing from the composer Benjamin Wallfisch’s rattling cymbals" to maintain intensity, while appreciating the understated performances of Viggo Mortensen and Colin Farrell as the British cave divers. Similarly, The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw called it "compulsively watchable and breathlessly tense," lauding the "unbearably claustrophobic array of sub-aqua sound design" that effectively conveys the peril, and noting its emphasis on collaborative efforts involving Thai personnel like the navy SEALs and groundwater expert. Variety's Owen Gleiberman praised the "grittier, more immersive" style, crediting cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom for an "eyewitness feel" and the ensemble cast—including Mortensen, Farrell, and Joel Edgerton—for portraying the rescuers as "ordinary" heroes rather than saviors in a stereotypical dynamic. However, some reviewers critiqued the film for its mechanical pacing and limited exploration of the trapped boys' perspectives, which diminished emotional investment. Dargis pointed out that the heavy emphasis on the rescuers "leaves scant time for the rescued," resulting in underdeveloped coverage of the boys' ordeals. Gleiberman echoed this, noting the repetitive depiction of rescue dives felt inefficient and that the story missed opportunities for deeper subplots, such as the media frenzy or the children's personalities, observing, "There has to be a more original way in to the Thai cave rescue story." In a more negative assessment, RogerEbert.com's Odie Henderson awarded it 2 out of 4 stars, calling it a "tedious, mediocre retelling" that lacks tension due to a disjointed timeline and flat characters, despite acknowledging the impressive underwater cinematography and eerie sound design; he concluded, "The process just looks like an assembly line spitting out product; it’s mechanical and efficient, but completely devoid of feeling." Overall, the critical response positioned Thirteen Lives as a solid, procedural drama that excels in procedural authenticity but falls short of profound emotional resonance compared to prior depictions like the 2021 documentary The Rescue.

Audience and commercial performance

Thirteen Lives was produced with a budget of $55 million by , which secured the rights in a competitive . The film had a in select markets, including the on July 29, 2022, through , before becoming available for streaming on worldwide on August 5, 2022. This hybrid release strategy, influenced by the ongoing recovery of the theatrical market post-COVID-19 and the Amazon acquisition of , limited its traditional potential, positioning it primarily as a streaming title rather than a wide theatrical event. Despite the subdued theatrical rollout, the film achieved strong audience engagement on streaming platforms. On , it holds a 93% audience score based on over 1,000 verified ratings, with viewers praising its tense dramatization of the real-life and strong ensemble performances. Similarly, on , Thirteen Lives earned a 7.8 out of 10 rating from more than 76,000 user votes, reflecting broad appreciation for its factual grounding and emotional depth. These metrics indicate solid commercial viability in the streaming era, where viewer retention and positive word-of-mouth contributed to its visibility amid Amazon's content slate.

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
February 6, 2023Outstanding EditingJames D. WilcoxNominated
February 5, 2023British/Irish Actor of the YearNominated
Film Critics SocietyJanuary 6, 2023Best Nominated
AwardsFebruary 15, 2023Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal FeatureJason Billington, Thomas Horton, Denis Baudin, Michael Harrison, Brian CoxWon
As of November 2025, no additional major awards or nominations have been announced.

References

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