The Thirteenth Floor
Performance & Direction: The Thirteenth Floor Review
Last updated: January 23, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Thirteenth Floor (1999) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.0/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Thriller.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Thriller is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Thirteenth Floor features a noteworthy lineup led by Craig Bierko . Supported by the likes of Armin Mueller-Stahl and Gretchen Mol , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of The Thirteenth Floor (1999) is overwhelmingly positive. With an audience rating of 7.0/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: The Thirteenth Floor
Quick Plot Summary: The Thirteenth Floor is a Thriller, Science Fiction, Mystery film that builds tension through unpredictable twists and keeps audiences guessing until the final reveal. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The plot weaves a complex web of mystery and suspense. In Los Angeles, a wealthy man, known as Mr. Fuller, discovers a shocking secret about the world he lives in. Fearing for his life, he leaves a desperate message for a friend of his in the most unexpected place. Information is revealed strategically, keeping viewers engaged as they piece together clues alongside the protagonist. The narrative maintains momentum through well-timed revelations and unexpected turns.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The opening scene plants the seeds of mystery, introducing questions that will drive the narrative forward.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: All mysteries converge in a climax that recontextualizes earlier events and delivers satisfying answers.
Ending Explained: The Thirteenth Floor
Ending Breakdown: The Thirteenth Floor resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to thriller resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the thriller themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of The Thirteenth Floor reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Thirteenth Floor?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Thriller films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want suspenseful moments and mystery
Box Office Collection: The Thirteenth Floor
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $16.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $18.6M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
The Thirteenth Floor Budget
The estimated production budget for The Thirteenth Floor is $16.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: The Thirteenth Floor
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Where to Watch The Thirteenth Floor Online?
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Apple TV StoreThe Thirteenth Floor Parents Guide & Age Rating
1999 AdvisoryWondering about The Thirteenth Floor age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Thirteenth Floor is 100 minutes (1h 40m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 7/10, and global collection metrics, The Thirteenth Floor stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1999 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Thirteenth Floor worth watching?
The Thirteenth Floor is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Thriller movies. It has a verified rating of 7/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Thirteenth Floor parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Thirteenth Floor identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Thirteenth Floor?
The total duration of The Thirteenth Floor is 100 minutes, which is approximately 1h 40m long.
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Critic Reviews for The Thirteenth Floor
The Thirteenth Floor has an amazing premise and some great ideas. Shame that it's also mired by terrible dialogue, B-movie plotting, and a cheap looking production. Blending elements of Dark City and The Matrix though never achieving the greatness of either of those magnificent works of sci-fi, I would still recommend The Thirteenth Floor for what it sets out to do. It's also cool to see the younger versions of Gretchen Mol, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Dennis Haysbert.
It's kind of like The Matrix, It is kind of like eXistenZ...only it is also kind of neo noir, and it is far more mystery/thriller...and it...wait, not it's actually a completely different film. Let me start again... It's kind of like Dark City and it's kind of like The Matrix and....no, that really doesn't fit either. It's kind of like a lot of elements in other movies that are kind of like this one. So people are going to see similarities...but it is also going to throw them for a loop and be a lot different than the movies that you can compare it to It's not original, it's just combined enough to be kind of completely original. In fact, forget it, just sit down and watch it yourself, it will entertain you and that was the point of making it.
"Fuller" (Armin Mueller-Stahl) needs to share the news of his ground-breaking discovery with his partner 'Hall" (Craig Bierko) but is wary that he isn't safe. He decides that the best precaution might be to leave a letter for him and deposit it in their computer-generated alter-world. This place wouldn't have looked out of place in a Fritz Lang movie, and when his colleague is, indeed, slain, it falls to "Hall" - now the prime suspect for the crime - to piece together the clues left by his friend and try to identify the true culprit whilst rescuing the innovation from it's simulated home. What I quite enjoyed about this drams is the simplicity with which it juggles it's timelines. We don't have to struggle or concentrate trying to follow the changing environments coming at us from all angles of the screen overpowering what is essentially quite an intriguing crime thriller. Nobody on the screen really stands out, but the ensemble approach along with some quite potent comment on just how dependent we are becoming on technology in our lives is quite effective at keeping the story tight and interesting. The denouement is also a little left field, and all told this is a surprisingly decent attempt at an early multi-verse experience that works quite well.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
