District 13

District 13 or Banlieue 13 as known in France is a 2004 action packed movie that introduces parkour (freerunning) to the movie world and does not hold any punches with its intense fight scenes and enemy evasiveness using techniques and movements from the phisical activity known as parkour. The term ‘Parkour’ was first introduced by one of its co-founders David Belle in 1998, Belle also stars in this adrenaline filled movie in which he can be seen all the way through performing amazing skills in parkour making this movie unique and ground breaking to the point that the American rapper, actor and director Rza (Wu Tang Clan) decided to remake it in 2014 with the title Brick Mansions which also stars David Bell alongside the late Paul Walker. Before its American remake the original had a sequel called District 13: Ultimatum which came out in 2009. Theres enough for any action junkie in this movie and if you like parkour its an extra, i mean why would'nt you, even if it is only from a spectators point, its still breathtaking, so sit back and take a ride thhrough District 13.

Official synopsis and trailer

“ In 21st-century Paris, a member (Cyril Raffaelli) of an elite police squad must enter a crime-ridden ghetto to defuse a bomb that has fallen into the hands of Taha (Larbi Naceri), a powerful hoodlum. The cop joins forces with a civilian (David Belle) who must rescue his sister (Dany Verissimo) from the same criminal who holds the bomb.”

This movie was written and produced by the critically acclaimed, award winning french director Luc Besson and see's the directorial debut of Pierre Morel who directed Taken.


Directed by: Pierre Morel
Produced by: Luc Besson, Bernard Grenet
Written by: Luc Besson, Bibi Naceri
Starring: David Belle, Cyril Raffaelli, Dany Verissimo, Bibi Naceri
Tony D'Amario
Running time: 1hr 26mins
Country: France
Language: French   
Release dates: 10 November 2004 (France)