Ocean's Thirteen

{{Short description|2007 film by Steven Soderbergh}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}

{{Infobox film

| name = Ocean's Thirteen

| image = Oceans-thirteen_9d67fd94.png

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Steven Soderbergh

| producer = Jerry Weintraub

| writer = {{ubl|Brian Koppelman|David Levien}}

| based_on = {{based on|Characters|George Clayton Johnson|Jack Golden Russell}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = David Holmes

| cinematography = Peter Andrews

| editing = Stephen Mirrione

| studio = {{ubl|Village Roadshow Pictures|Jerry Weintraub Productions|Section Eight Productions}}

| distributor = Warner Bros. Pictures

| released = {{film date|2007|05|24|Cannes|2007|06|08|United States}}

| runtime = 122 minutes

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget = $85 million{{cite web|url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Oceans-Thirteen#tab=summary|title=Ocean's Thirteen (2007) - Financial Information|publisher=The Numbers}}

| gross = $311.7 million

}}

Ocean's Thirteen is a 2007 heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien. It is the third in the Ocean's film trilogy and a sequel to Ocean's Twelve (2004). The film features an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy García, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Qin Shaobo, Carl Reiner, and Elliott Gould. Its plot centers on Danny Ocean and his team as they seek revenge against ruthless casino owner Willy Bank after he double-crosses one of their own.{{cite web |date=March 27, 2006 |title=Ocean's 13 to Start on July 21 |url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=13812 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060330100303/http://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=13812 |archive-date=March 30, 2006 |website=ComingSoon.net}}

The film was screened out of competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival on May 24 and was released theatrically in the United States on June 8, 2007, by Warner Bros. Pictures.{{cite web |title=Festival de Cannes: Ocean's Thirteen |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4402485/year/2007.html |access-date=2009-12-20 |work=festival-cannes.com}}{{cite web |title=Movie Insider: Ocean's Thirteen (2007) |url=http://www.themovieinsider.com/m3254/oceans-thirteen/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720203630/http://www.themovieinsider.com/m3254/oceans-thirteen/ |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |access-date=July 14, 2006}} It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its return to form after Ocean's Twelve, highlighting the performances and tighter plot. The film was a commercial success, grossing $311.7 million worldwide against an estimated production budget of $85 million.

Plot

Reuben Tishkoff partners with casino mogul Willy Bank to build a new hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Despite warnings from his longtime friend Danny Ocean, Reuben is coerced into signing away his ownership stake and suffers a heart attack shortly after. When Bank refuses to make amends, Ocean reunites his crew to sabotage the grand opening of Bank's new property, aptly named "The Bank," as an act of revenge.

The team devises a two-pronged strategy. First, they aim to prevent the hotel from earning the prestigious Five Diamond Award, which Bank's previous establishments have consistently received. Saul Bloom impersonates the anonymous reviewer, while the real evaluator is subjected to poor treatment. Second, they plan to rig the casino's gaming systems to produce significant payouts, forcing Bank to fail his financial targets. If the casino fails to generate $500 million in its first quarter, Bank risks losing ownership to his board.

To circumvent the Greco, an advanced biometric security system designed to detect fraud, the team gifts Bank a custom cell phone embedded with a magnetron to disable the system. Additionally, they acquire a tunnel-boring machine once used to construct the Channel Tunnel, intending to simulate an earthquake and prompt an evacuation that allows players to leave with their winnings.

When the drill malfunctions, the team turns to their former adversary Terry Benedict for funding. Motivated by his disdain for Bank, Benedict agrees—on the condition that they also steal Bank's diamond collection, awarded for his Five Diamond wins. Linus Caldwell is assigned to seduce Bank's assistant, Abigail Sponder, to access the vault where the jewels are stored. Unbeknownst to Ocean's crew, Benedict hires master thief François "The Night Fox" Toulour to intercept the diamonds.

On opening night, the plan is set in motion. FBI agents on Ocean's payroll "arrest" Livingston Dell to replace the shuffling machines with rigged ones. Linus, posing as a diamond courier, is also arrested by an FBI agent—revealed to be his father, Robert Caldwell—who extracts him and the decoy jewels. Toulour intercepts the switch but discovers too late that the diamonds were never in Linus's possession. Linus and his father escape via helicopter, piloted by Basher, who extracts the diamond case from the rooftop.

The earthquake simulation forces a casino evacuation, with players exiting the premises carrying millions in rigged winnings. Ocean confronts Bank and reveals the scheme was done in retaliation for Reuben's betrayal. He warns Bank against retaliation, citing the influence and loyalty of his industry peers. Legal recourse is also off the table due to Bank's own illicit operations.

With their shares, the crew purchases land for Reuben to develop a new casino. Ocean donates Benedict's $72 million cut to charity in his name, forcing Benedict into public acknowledgment on The Oprah Winfrey Show. At the airport, as the crew prepares to part ways, Rusty gives his last coin to the real Five Diamond reviewer. Unaware the slot machine is rigged, the reviewer wins $11 million, celebrating as Rusty walks away, smiling.

Cast

=The Thirteen=

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{{div col end}}

=Others=

Production

= Development =

In January 2006, reports emerged that producers were in discussions to set and film most of Ocean's Thirteen at the Wynn Las Vegas. George Clooney had previously expressed interest in shooting the film at his planned Las Ramblas Resort in Las Vegas, but the project was not expected to be completed in time for production.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Norm |date=January 22, 2006 |title=Sequel might be filmed at Wynn |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-22-Sun-2006/news/5479157.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060126090904/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jan-22-Sun-2006/news/5479157.html |archive-date=January 26, 2006 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}} By March 2006, it was announced that a large portion of the film would instead be shot on a fabricated casino set constructed across five sound stages at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Norm |date=March 28, 2006 |title='Ocean's' gang ready for reunion |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Mar-28-Tue-2006/news/6564619.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060405021500/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Mar-28-Tue-2006/news/6564619.html |archive-date=April 5, 2006 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}} Principal photography was scheduled to begin in Las Vegas and Los Angeles in July 2006.

= Casting =

Al Pacino joined the ensemble cast in April 2006, portraying the film's primary antagonist, Willy Bank.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Norm |date=April 30, 2006 |title=Celine Dion deals with ear trouble |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-30-Sun-2006/news/7123038.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518114509/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-30-Sun-2006/news/7123038.html |archive-date=May 18, 2006 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}} Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who played Tess Ocean and Isabel Lahiri in the previous installments, did not return for the sequel. According to reports, both actresses declined to participate due to the limited nature of their roles in the new script, which the filmmakers opted not to expand.{{cite news |date=March 28, 2006 |title=Clooney Dives Into 'Ocean's 13' |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/clooney-dives-into-oceans-13/ |work=CBS News}} Their absence is briefly addressed in the film, with Danny Ocean noting that the heist "is not their fight." Topher Grace, who made cameo appearances in the first two films as a satirical version of himself, was also unable to return due to reshoots for Spider-Man 3 (2007). Grace later revealed that his intended scene would have involved a cryptic conversation with Rusty while holding an Asian baby, with no explanation given for the child's presence.{{cite web |last1=Raup |first1=Jordan |date=August 8, 2018 |title=Topher Grace on Portraying the Racism of Today in 'BlacKkKlansman,' Spike Lee's Brilliance, and the 'Ocean's Thirteen' Cameo He Couldn't Shoot |url=https://thefilmstage.com/topher-grace-on-portraying-the-racism-of-today-in-blackkklansman-spike-lees-brilliance-and-the-oceans-thirteen-cameo-he-couldnt-shoot/ |access-date=26 July 2020 |website=The Film Stage}}

= Filming =

Location scouting began in mid-July 2006, with the Bellagio—previously featured in Ocean's Eleven (2001)—confirmed as one of the film's settings.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Norm |date=July 21, 2006 |title='Ocean's 13' crew scouts locations |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jul-21-Fri-2006/news/8610486.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101023735/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jul-21-Fri-2006/news/8610486.html |archive-date=November 1, 2007 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}} Filming commenced on August 7, 2006, in Las Vegas, with scenes shot at McCarran International Airport and a nearby heliport.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Norm |date=August 4, 2006 |title=Shop owner tells tale of two roomies |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-04-Fri-2006/news/8865114.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107011448/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-04-Fri-2006/news/8865114.html |archive-date=January 7, 2008 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Norm |date=August 8, 2006 |title=Teen singer pulls vanishing act |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-08-Tue-2006/news/8937935.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821220824/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-08-Tue-2006/news/8937935.html |archive-date=August 21, 2006 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}} The following day, production moved to the under-construction Palazzo resort.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Norm |date=August 10, 2006 |title=New 'Ocean' might premiere in Vegas |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-10-Thu-2006/news/8987753.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822063319/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-10-Thu-2006/news/8987753.html |archive-date=August 22, 2006 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}} Las Vegas filming wrapped on August 9 after key scenes involving George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Andy García were completed at an office behind the Bellagio. A return shoot was planned for September 2006, including additional scenes at the Bellagio.{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Norm |date=August 6, 2006 |title=Keep lookout for 'Ocean's' crowd |url=http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-06-Sun-2006/news/8914430.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311182756/http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-06-Sun-2006/news/8914430.html |archive-date=March 11, 2008 |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}

Producer Jerry Weintraub and Clooney considered hosting the film's world premiere in Las Vegas to reflect the setting's central role in the trilogy.

Music

{{Main|Ocean's Thirteen (soundtrack){{!}}Ocean's Thirteen (soundtrack)}}

Reception

= Box office =

Ocean's Thirteen opened in the United States and Canada on June 8, 2007, debuting at number one at the box office. Despite opening in 250 more theaters than its predecessor, Ocean's Twelve (2004), the film earned $36 million during its opening weekend, slightly below the $39 million debut of the previous installment.{{cite news |date=June 10, 2007 |title="Ocean's Thirteen" steals No. 1 spot at box office |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boxoffice-idUSN1044050920070610 |access-date=June 10, 2007 |publisher=Reuters}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{cite news |last=Douglas |first=Edward |date=June 10, 2007 |title=The Summer Box Office Gets All Wet |url=http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20925 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612143027/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20925 |archive-date=June 12, 2007 |access-date=June 10, 2007 |publisher=Box Office Mojo}} It went on to gross $117.1 million domestically and $194.6 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $311.7 million. While its performance fell short of the $450.7 million global gross of Ocean's Eleven (2001), the film was still considered a commercial success and outperformed Ocean's Twelve internationally.

= Critical response=

On Rotten Tomatoes, Ocean's Thirteen holds an approval rating of 70% based on 201 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Ocean's Thirteen reverts to the formula of the first installment, and the result is another slick and entertaining heist film."{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|id=oceans_thirteen|title=Ocean's Thirteen|type=movie|access-date={{RT data|access-date}}}}{{RT data|edit}} On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 62 out of 100, based on 37 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite Metacritic|id=oceans-thirteen|title=Ocean's Thirteen|type=movie|access-date=May 3, 2022}} Audiences polled by CinemaScore awarded the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale.{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |date=June 10, 2018 |title='Ocean's 8' Steals Franchise Record With $41.5M Opening – Final Sunday Update |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/oceans-8-sandra-bullock-box-office-hereditary-hotel-artemis-1202406200/ |access-date=May 3, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

David Edelstein of New York praised Steven Soderbergh's style, writing, "As the plotting gets knottier, [Soderbergh]'s technique gets more fluid—the editing jazzier, the colors more luscious, the whip-pans more whizbang. It's all anchored by George Clooney, looking impudent, roguish, almost laughably handsome."{{cite news |last=Edelstein |first=David |date=June 3, 2007 |title=What Happens in Vegas... |url=http://nymag.com/movies/reviews/32866/ |access-date=June 18, 2008 |work=New York}} Manohla Dargis of The New York Times commented that Soderbergh "has learned to go against the grain while also going with the flow," adding that he "proves that in spades by using color like Kandinsky and hanging a funny mustache on Mr. Clooney's luscious mug."{{cite news |last=Dargis |first=Manohla |author-link=Manohla Dargis |date=June 8, 2007 |title=They Always Come Out Ahead; Bet on It |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2007/06/08/movies/08ocea.html |access-date=June 18, 2008 |work=The New York Times}}

In a more mixed assessment, Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two-and-a-half stars out of four, writing, "Ocean's Thirteen proceeds with insouciant dialogue, studied casualness, and a lotta stuff happening, none of which I cared much about because the movie doesn't pause to develop the characters."{{cite news |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |date=June 7, 2007 |title=Ocean's Thirteen |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070606/REVIEWS/706060301 |access-date=June 18, 2008 |work=Chicago Sun-Times}} Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian was more critical, noting, "There is no human motivation and no romance... the scenes could be reshuffled and shown in any order and it would amount to the same thing."{{cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=June 8, 2007 |title=Ocean's Thirteen |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Critic_Review/Guardian_review/0,,2097605,00.html |access-date=June 18, 2008 |work=The Guardian |location=London}}

Accolades

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" |Award

! scope="col" |Date of the ceremony

! scope="col" |Category

! scope="col" |Recipients

! scope="col" |Result

! class="unsortable" scope="col" |{{Refh}}

rowspan="3" |Teen Choice Awards

| rowspan="3" |26 August 2007

|Choice Movie – Comedy

|Ocean's Thirteen

|{{nom}}

| rowspan="3" |{{Cite web |last=Register |first=Orange County Register {{!}} Orange County |date=2007-08-27 |title=List of Teen Choice Awards winners |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2007/08/27/list-of-teen-choice-awards-winners/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}

Choice Movie Villain

|Al Pacino

|{{nom}}

Choice Movie Chemistry

|Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Don Cheadle, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy García, Elliott Gould, Eddie Izzard, Eddie Jemison, Bernie Mac, Brad Pitt, Qin Shaobo, and Carl Reiner

|{{nom}}

People's Choice Awards

|8 January 2008

|Favorite On Screen Match-Up

|George Clooney and Brad Pitt

|{{won}}

|{{Cite web |date=2008-01-11 |title=People's Choice Awards Past Winners:2008 - pcavote.com |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111223602/http://www.pcavote.com/pca/history.jsp |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=web.archive.org}}

Costume Designers Guild

|19 February 2008

|Excellence in Contemporary Film

|Louise Frogley

|{{nom}}

|{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Libby |date=2008-02-20 |title='Sweeney,' 'Glory' win at CDGs |url=https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/sweeney-glory-win-at-cdgs-1117981158/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

scope="row" |BET Awards

|24 June 2008

|Best Actor

|Don Cheadle (also for Talk to Me)

| {{nom}}

|{{Cite web |date=2012-11-13 |title=BET Awards 2008 {{!}} BET Awards {{!}} Shows {{!}} BET |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113141455/http://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards/2012/my-bet-awards/bet-awards-2008.html |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=web.archive.org}}

Home media

Ocean's Thirteen was released on DVD and Blu-ray in Region 1 on November 13, 2007. A 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition, including a limited SteelBook release, was subsequently made available on April 30, 2024.

Future

=Potential sequel=

Following the release of Ocean's Thirteen, discussions regarding a potential sequel continued for several years. However, the project was put on hold after the death of cast member Bernie Mac in 2008. In June 2021, Don Cheadle stated in an interview that director Steven Soderbergh had been developing a concept for a new installment in the Ocean's franchise.{{Cite web |last=Russell |first=Shania |date=June 29, 2021 |title=Could There Be An 'Ocean's 14'? It Sounds Like Steven Soderbergh Is Considering It |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/582057/oceans-14-possible-steven-soderbergh/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111115754/https://www.slashfilm.com/582057/oceans-14-possible-steven-soderbergh/ |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |access-date=November 11, 2021 |website=/Film}} The following month, Matt Damon expressed interest in reprising his role, noting that any future sequel would ultimately depend on Soderbergh's involvement and vision for the project.{{Cite web |last=Russian |first=Ale |date=July 27, 2021 |title=Matt Damon Says He'd Return for Ocean's 14 If Director Steven Soderbergh Is Up for It |url=https://people.com/movies/matt-damon-says-hed-return-for-oceans-14-if-director-steven-soderbergh-is-up-for-it/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111115736/https://people.com/movies/matt-damon-says-hed-return-for-oceans-14-if-director-steven-soderbergh-is-up-for-it/ |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |access-date=November 11, 2021 |website=/Film}}

=Spin-off=

{{Main|Ocean's 8{{!}}Ocean's 8}}

Ocean's 8, a spin-off of the Ocean's trilogy, was directed by Gary Ross and released theatrically on June 8, 2018. The film stars Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, the sister of Danny Ocean, who assembles an all-female crew to execute a high-stakes heist during the annual Met Gala in New York City. The ensemble cast includes Cate Blanchett, Helena Bonham Carter, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, and Nora "Awkwafina" Lum.

See also

References

{{Reflist}}