List Rules Only films that were released (or wide released) in the United States in 2013
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A list of the best movies of 2013, as ranked by movie fans and critics. Every year, around the holiday season, film critics and fans alike gather together to proclaim that a select few movies were the best the film world had to offer during the year. For some, the best movies are those that evoke an emotional response and memorable acting performances. For other movie fans, it’s the entertainment value of a film that earns its place on the “best of” lists. Whatever the personal preferences of the movie viewer, people have strong feelings about what they believe is the best movie of the year.
The films on this list are among the best movies made in 2013. These films gathered strong reviews from the most respected film critics in the country, entertained audiences across the globe, and stayed in their thoughts long after the credits rolled. This list includes movies of many different genres, as well as both indie and major studio releases.
What are the best movies of 2013? While much of the debate rests on personal taste, the movies on this list received great reviews, captured the attention of the audience, and earned a place in cinema history. For more 2013 movie lists, check out Ranker's lists of the funniest movies of 2013 and the most overrated 2013 films.
list ordered by
1
362 292
Captain PhillipsTom Hanks, Catherine Keener, Max Martini Captain Phillips is a 2013 American biographical thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass and starring Tom Hanks and Barkhad Abdi. The film is inspired by the true story of the 2009 Maersk ...more
2
510 343
GravitySandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris Gravity is a 2013 science fiction thriller film directed, co-written, and produced by Alfonso Cuarón. It stars Sandra Bullock and George Clooney as astronauts, and sees them stranded in ...more
3
399 166
gschwayze added The Wolf of Wall StreetLeonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Margot Robbie The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 American biographical black comedy film directed by Martin Scorsese. The screenplay by Terence Winter is adapted from the eponymous memoir by Jordan Belfort and ...more
4
442 319
wiabux added The Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugCate Blanchett, Evangeline Lilly, Ian McKellen The Hobbit: There and Back Again retitled to The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is a 2013 fantasy adventure film written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and one more and ...more
5
497 278
The Hunger Games: Catching FireJennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson This film is a 2013 American science fiction action film based on Suzanne Collins' dystopian novel and the second installment in The Hunger Games trilogy. The film is the sequel to The Hunger ...more
6
376 226
12 Years a SlaveChiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch 12 Years a Slave is a 2013 period drama film directed by Steve McQueen, based on the 1853 memoir by Solomon Northup In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free ...more
7
316 201
PrisonersHugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello Prisoners is a 2013 drama thriller film written by Aaron Guzikowski and directed by Denis Villeneuve.
8
361 195
ChangesDownClub added Despicable Me 2Russell Brand, Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig Despicable Me 2 is a 2013 computer animated comedy film written by Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul.
9
340 275
wiabux added Thor: The Dark WorldChris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston Thor: The Dark World is a 2013 American superhero film directed by Alan Taylor, based on the Marvel Comics character. When Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) gets cursed with a powerful entity ...more
10
328 148
ChangesDownClub added FrozenKristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Alan Tudyk Chris Buck Frozen is a 2013 American 3D computer-animated musical fantasy–comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 53rd animated feature in the ...more
11
413 251
Star Trek Into DarknessZoe Saldana, Benedict Cumberbatch, Alice Eve Star Trek Into Darkness is a 2013 American science fiction action film. It is the twelfth installment in the Star Trek franchise and the sequel to 2009's Star Trek. J. J. Abrams directed a ...more
12
411 263
Iron Man 3Gwyneth Paltrow, Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley Iron Man 3 is a 2013 superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008's ...more
13
310 176
Monsters UniversityHelen Mirren, Kelsey Grammer, Billy Crystal Monsters University is a 2013 animation adventure comedy film directed by Dan Scanlon.
14
265 188
ChangesDownClub added Now You See MeMorgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson Now You See Me is a 2013 thriller film directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt .
15
204 129
wiabux added Dallas Buyers ClubJennifer Garner, Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto Dallas Buyers Club is a 2013 American biographical drama film, co-written by Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack, directed by Jean-Marc Vallée. Ron Woodroof was an AIDS patient diagnosed in ...more
16
248 257
The Great GatsbyLeonardo DiCaprio, Isla Fisher, Carey Mulligan The Great Gatsby is a 2013 Australian-American 3D drama film based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel of the same name. The film was co-written and directed by Baz Luhrmann, and stars Leonardo ...more
17
328 282
Man of SteelHenry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon Man of Steel is a 2013 superhero film directed by Zack Snyder, based on the DC Comics character. Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), one of the last of an extinguished race disguised as an unremarkable ...more
18
272 169
wiabux added We're the MillersJennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts, Molly Quinn We're the Millers is a 2013 American comedy film directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. It stars Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Roberts, Will Poulter, Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn, and Ed ...more
19
323 263
World War ZBrad Pitt, Matthew Fox, David Morse This film is a 2013 American apocalyptic action horror film directed by Marc Forster. The screenplay by Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, and Damon Lindelof is from a screen story by ...more
20
158 116
ManningFranks added Saving Mr. BanksTom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Emma Thompson Saving Mr. Banks is a 2013 period drama film directed by John Lee Hancock from a screenplay written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith. Centered on the development of the 1964 Walt Disney Studios ...more
21
254 251
wiabux added Pacific RimIdris Elba, Charlie Hunnam, Ron Perlman Pacific Rim is a 2013 action sci-fi film directed by Guillermo del Toro.
22
157 85
Lone SurvivorMark Wahlberg, Eric Bana, Taylor Kitsch Lone Survivor is a 2013 American film written and directed by Peter Berg, and starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Eric Bana. The film is based on the 2007 ...more
23
160 169
ChangesDownClub added Olympus Has FallenMorgan Freeman, Gerard Butler, Ashley Judd Olympus Has Fallen is a 2013 American action thriller film. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, it stars Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, and Morgan Freeman, with Angela Bassett, Robert Forster, Cole ...more
24
117 73
American HustleJennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams, Robert De Niro American Hustle is a 2013 American comedy-drama film directed by David O. Russell. It was written by Eric Warren Singer and Russell, inspired by the FBI ABSCAM operation of the late 1970s and ...more
25
239 179
wiabux added The WolverineHugh Jackman, Tao Okamoto, Rila Fukushima The Wolverine is a 2013 American superhero film directed by James Mangold, based on the Marvel Comics superhero. When Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) is summoned to Japan by an old acquaintance, he is ...more
