The Thirteenth Floor

Name: The Thirteenth Floor
Genre: Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Romance
Released: May 28, 1999
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 36
Cast: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Craig Bierko, Gretchen Mol

1999

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 157 Ratings

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2.8

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2.8	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 157 Ratings

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The Thirteenth Floor

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Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: May 28, 1999 | R

Starring: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Craig Bierko, Gretchen Mol

Summary: A sci-fi thriller that explores the ominous possibility of computer-simulated universes, where people only believe they are real. (Sony)

Director: Josef Rusnak

Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Romance

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

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Critic Reviews

Rick Groen

Well acted and crisply directed, this latest version can at least make a claim to competence. Read full review

Keith Phipps

A solid, interesting B-movie, in another season it would seem a good deal fresher. Read full review

Walter Addiego

No-one's-home acting by Bierko and Mol doesn't help, while the talented D'Onofrio ("The End of the World") and Mueller-Stahl (a veteran of European pictures) are better than the material. Read full review

Kevin Thomas

For all the soaring visual splendor of its past, present and future, it's hobbled by a murky plot that proves to be not all that original once it starts unraveling. Read full review

Barbara Shulgasser

Let's just say that not revealing this film's idiotic intricacies would be like not divulging that the fish is rotten lest the news spoil the surprise of food poisoning. [28 May 1999, Friday, p.A]

Andrew O'Hehir

Between the 12th floor and the 14th floor, boredom awaits! Read full review

Ernest Hardy

Offers no perverse philosophical conundrums and no eye-popping visuals. It's a dull, lifeless bore. Read full review

SEE ALL 22 REVIEWS

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User Reviews

KoKoJie

Aug 22, 2011

Excellent sci-fi film, its ideas pre-date The Matrix and Inception. Multi-level reality and simulated worlds. I really liked this film, also the 1937 setting is excellent and well done.

4 of 10 users found this helpful46

Mike191

Dec 21, 2005

Really engaging.

1 of 3 users found this helpful

Tss5078

Feb 22, 2013

The Thirteenth Floor was Columbia Pictures answer to the Matrix and is based on the award winning 1964 Sci-Fi novel, Simulacron 3 by Daniel Galouye. I have known about this movie for a long time, but was always hesitant to see it, because when something like this appears in theaters 6 monthsThe Thirteenth Floor was Columbia Pictures answer to the Matrix and is based on the award winning 1964 Sci-Fi novel, Simulacron 3 by Daniel Galouye. I have known about this movie for a long time, but was always hesitant to see it, because when something like this appears in theaters 6 months after a groundbreaking film like the Matrix, you fully expect it to be a complete rip off. I was sitting at home flipping through the channels and saw the Matrix on, but I didn't wanna see it for the millionth time and decided to see if the Thirteenth Floor was streaming and sure it enough it was, and what a terrific story it turned out to be! In the year 2000, scientists have found a way to transfer a persons consciousness into a fully interactive computer program which has the potential to replace video games. The creator however has discovered a major problem with the system and is found dead. The second in charge of the project soon learns the answer to this brutal murder appears in the simulator, which is a replica of 1937. The story is absolutely ingenious and I loved how the film jumps between present day and the 1930s, it was like watching two stories at once that you knew would eventually come together. Craig Bierko stars in what turns out to be one of his few leading roles and he's just terrific. I remember him as the bad guy in the Long Kiss Goodnight and I thought he was great then, and he's great now. To make the cast even stronger, they take the intense Bierko and pair him with Law Order's Vincent D'Onofrio, who is quite possibly the most intense actor in Hollywood. To top the whole thing off, this movie has a huge twist in the end, a twist that will make a lot of people wonder about the true nature of their own reality. The Thirteenth Floor is a fresh story with an amazing cast that will make you think, movies like this don't come along as often as they should!… Expand

4 of 9 users found this helpful45

HellHoleHorror

Feb 15, 2022

This is the type of head-f**k film that you need to watch twice. Although having now watched it twice I think that you should only ever watch it once – a lot is lost on the second viewing. It is confusing but when you get your head around the concept it becomes very interesting andThis is the type of head-f**k film that you need to watch twice. Although having now watched it twice I think that you should only ever watch it once – a lot is lost on the second viewing. It is confusing but when you get your head around the concept it becomes very interesting and pertinent. One problem though is that this kind of film will date badly. It already looks a bit preposterous in some ways. Possibly that was deliberate as nothing is tangible. Or should that be nothing is intangible? Just want to confirm that the effects look cheesy but overall it is fine to watch – the camerawork was a touch static – I do like that jittery new style. Apart from the strong thoughts that I cannot get out of my head I would still say how powerful this exploration into our mind's reality is. A little more action and graphical effects would have been nice although this is only a minor gripe. It is possibly a bit predictable too but not a long way in advance. Made me think a little too much possibly, I may unravel the mystery... The tacked-on love story is stupid but the premise is clever and gripping.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Duraznito

Jul 21, 2018

Yo solamente voy a decir que para ser de 1999 el final es muy bueno, no se por que hay tantas malas reviews, lo que si les acepto es que la película no envejeció tan bien, ademas en ese mismo año salio matrix y bueno, nada que decir, pero mala no es, tampoco es espectacular, esta buena paraYo solamente voy a decir que para ser de 1999 el final es muy bueno, no se por que hay tantas malas reviews, lo que si les acepto es que la película no envejeció tan bien, ademas en ese mismo año salio matrix y bueno, nada que decir, pero mala no es, tampoco es espectacular, esta buena para ser ciencia ficcion… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

NicoDaFlagburna

Jan 30, 2011

Unbelievably nonchalant in it's approach to existence and has none of the power exhibited by 'The Lawnmower Man'. It's simply uninspiring and feels like a real cold attempt at being daring or unique. All I could understand was how sarcastic this idea felt and that how the director has made aUnbelievably nonchalant in it's approach to existence and has none of the power exhibited by 'The Lawnmower Man'. It's simply uninspiring and feels like a real cold attempt at being daring or unique. All I could understand was how sarcastic this idea felt and that how the director has made a film that is inconsiderate to audience expectations. There is so little intelligence, flair or creativity on show that the good visuals are undermined. 40/100… Expand

5 of 8 users found this helpful53

shiftworker

Nov 30, 2016

Crime. Dull 90s murder plot with a bit of sci-fi thrown in. Seems really dated now, with TV movie quality. Gave up after half an hour. Not the worst film I've seen this year, but the worst one that I can find on Metacritic

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

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