2013 Movies

Presenting a comprehensive Plex database of the best movies released in 2013. This user-friendly platform places the entire cinematic landscape of the year at your fingertips. With its streamlined interface, swiftly locate and access your favorite titles or explore fresh releases.
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Browse 11,385 titles in our 2013 Movies Database

The Best Movies of 2013

Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips, directed by Paul Greengrass, recounts the intense real-life incident of Captain Richard Phillips, brought to life by Tom Hanks. The narrative details the hijacking of Phillips' cargo ship by Somali pirates in 2009, pushing the limits of docudrama and action thrillers.

Before Midnight

In Before Midnight, Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Celine (Julie Delpy) ascend the Mount Everest of their relationship. It's the third part of a poignant trilogy that began with Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. Directed by Richard Linklater, this film creates a love story for a generation.

12 Years a Slave

Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave stands as the most poignant film ever made about slavery and also the best movie of the year. Chiwetel Ejiofor, with his evocative performance, embodies the horrific true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who becomes enslaved.

Blue Jasmine

Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine is one of his most robust films in years. The narrative, a mix of splendor and desperation, centers around Cate Blanchett's performance. She masterfully portrays a character akin to Blanche Dubois marrying Bernie Madoff, earning her the title of actress of the year.

American Hustle

David O. Russell's American Hustle transforms the Abscam political scandals of the 1970s into a raw human drama filled with emotion. Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, and Bradley Cooper from Russell's previous films contribute to turning life on the edge into an exhilarating cinematic experience.

Inside Llewyn Davis

The Coen brothers masterfully capture the early-1960s New York folk-music scene in Inside Llewyn Davis. It is a melancholic film imbued with dry wit, following the journey of musician Llewyn Davis, compellingly portrayed by Oscar Isaac. From obscurity to further obscurity, Davis, and indeed the filmmakers themselves, refuse to simply follow the crowd.

Gravity

Alfonso Cuarón's Gravity is an enthralling cinematic experience about being lost in space. Sandra Bullock gives a nerve-shattering performance as a rookie astronaut in this intimate epic. The visual prowess of the film, crafted by Cuarón, Emmanuel Lubezki, and Tim Webber, trailblazes a path in the realm of cinema.

Her

In Her, Spike Jonze creates a unique narrative where Theodore, an exquisite portrayal by Joaquin Phoenix, falls for his computer operating system. The system, voiced by Scarlett Johansson, is filled with humor, warmth, and sincerity. This film marks a groundbreaking peak in personal filmmaking.

The Wolf of Wall Street

Martin Scorsese's polarizing The Wolf of Wall Street details the real-life tale of Jordan Belfort, exceptionally portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio. A chronicle of white-collar crime in the 1990s, it's a morally complex story delivered with bravura filmmaking and a killer script.

Nebraska

Nebraska is a profound study of delusions and dreams. Bruce Dern delivers a career-best performance as a man under the false impression of winning a million-dollar lottery. The stellar cast, including Will Forte and June Squibb, brilliantly express the screenplay's piercing wit and insights. Directed by Alexander Payne, Nebraska leaves a lasting impression on the viewers.

2013 Movies & Industry Highlights

2013 was a year that displayed an exceptional tapestry of cinematic brilliance. Not merely a good year for movies but one that brought us face-to-face with narratives and storytelling styles that were nothing short of amazing.

Setting the Stage

The year 2013 wasn't just about the movies, but the dynamic between cinema and television, the contrast of their respective narratives, and the absorption of the viewer in these narratives. Despite the growing influence of television, the cinema emerged as an art form that showcased its non-disposable imagery with unique charm.

Characterizing the Best Movies

In an age where reinvention is crucial, the standout films of 2013 were notable for their audacity and their combativeness, challenging the norm and pushing the boundaries of storytelling. They demonstrated a fierce inventiveness in creating moving images and narratives, shifting perspectives, and painting a new vision of cinema.

The Revitalization of Storytelling

2013 marked a special year where cinema became a primordial mode of experience, transcending the boundary of being a mere storytelling medium. The narratives didn't just tell a story; they redefined consciousness, connecting with viewers on a more profound level.

The Generation Behind the Films

Interestingly, many of the standout filmmakers in 2013 were not newcomers but veterans of the industry. This indicated a resurgence, a second youth in their careers, where they seemed to be reinventing themselves and breaking new ground.

The Role of Technology and Independent Producers

One of the critical catalysts in this rejuvenation of cinema was the rise of digital technology and independent producers. The accessibility of cinematic history through DVDs and streaming video further added to this surge, providing an open vault of resources for filmmakers.

The Influence of Youth

The internet age has facilitated a global community of young cinephiles, critics, and filmmakers whose appreciation and contribution to cinema are notable. This young generation has played an instrumental role in the resurgence of high-quality cinema.

A Note on Mainstream Viewership

The challenging part of this surge in innovative cinema was its reach to mainstream viewership. Often, the more subtle, sublime extremes of these cinematic masterpieces were missed by mainstream viewers and reviewers.

The Top 10 Grossing Movies of 2013

Despite these subtleties, some films truly stood out and gained both critical acclaim and commercial success. Here are the top 10 highest-grossing films of 2013:

  1. Frozen by Disney, earning $1,280,802,282.
  2. Iron Man 3 by Disney, with earnings of $1,214,811,252.
  3. Despicable Me 2 by Universal, garnering $970,766,005.
  4. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug by Warner Bros., making $959,027,992.
  5. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Lionsgate, bringing in $865,011,746.
  6. Fast & Furious 6 by Universal, earning $788,679,850.
  7. Monsters University by Disney, with a revenue of $743,559,607.
  8. Gravity by Warner Bros., earning $723,192,705.
  9. Man of Steel, with a revenue of $668,045,518.
  10. Thor: The Dark World by Disney, earning $644,783,140.

Box Office Records

It's worth mentioning that Frozen and Iron Man 3 both surpassed the $1.2 billion mark, becoming some of the highest-grossing films of all time. Frozen became the second animated film after Toy Story 3 (2010) to gross over $1 billion and held the record for the highest-grossing animated film at the time of release. Iron Man 3 joined the billion-dollar club as the second film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to do so, after The Avengers.