District 13

In 2010, Banlieue 13 is surrounded by a high wall topped with barbed wire, with checkpoints that seal the district from the outside world. The residents must survive without education, proper utilities, or police protection. The setup establishes the stakes for what will follow.

Three years after the wall goes up, Leïto disposes of a case of drugs dumped into a drain during a clash with the gangs. He escapes from the gang led by K2, showing his fighting skills even as the district tightens its grip. This scene establishes Leïto as a formidable local fighter.

Taha Ben Mahmoud, the gang's ruthless leader, is enraged by recent losses and pushes for harsher retaliation. K2 suggests kidnapping Leïto's sister Lola to hit back. The plan sparks a chain of events that will escalate the conflict.

Lola is seized by K2's men at a supermarket. Leïto rescues Lola and brings Taha to the police station, hoping for protection. The police chief betrays them, arrests Leïto, and lets Lola go with Taha.

The chief's betrayal fuels Leïto's rage and he kills him by breaking his neck. The act underscores how broken institutions have left B13 to fend for itself. Lola's safety remains uncertain as Taha escapes with her.

Six months pass and Damien Tomaso, an undercover officer, conducts a daring operation at an underground Paris casino, taking down guards and arresting the pit boss. His success earns him a briefing from Kruger, a government official, about a new assignment. The mission marks Damien's entry into the B13 crisis.

Taha's gang has taken a bomb from a nuclear transport and activates it, giving the district 24 hours before detonation. The stakes shift from turf war to a high-stakes counterterror operation. Damien is briefed to infiltrate B13 and disarm the bomb.

Damien enters the district by posing as a prisoner to reach the bomb. Leïto sees through the disguise but reluctantly teams up with him to save Lola and stop the threat. Their uneasy partnership becomes the lynchpin of the rescue.

Leïto and Damien surrender to Taha to gain entry to his base. They discover the bomb is mounted on a missile launcher aimed at Paris, with Lola handcuffed to it. The situation tightens into a dangerous deadline.

Taha demands a ransom to deactivate the bomb, but the government refuses. Damien hands over Taha's bank codes to drain his funds, undermining Taha's leverage. Leïto and Damien escape as K2 and his men realize Taha cannot pay.

With Taha unable to pay, K2 turns on him, shooting him and taking control of the gang. K2 and his men set out to find Leïto and Damien, shifting the power dynamics within the district. The protagonists face a reorganized foe who will not hesitate to kill.

K2 catches up to Leïto and Damien, but a temporary truce lets them reach the bomb. They fight and defeat a large guard named Yeti guarding the device. Damien calls Kruger for the deactivation code, the moment of truth arrives.

Kruger asks if the bomb is in the exact spot, and Leïto spots the code ending with B13, realizing the government planned to explode the district. Damien refuses to accept this, leading to a clash that Lola interrupts. The timer runs out, and the bomb does not explode, validating Leïto's suspicions.

Leïto and Damien return to the government building with the bomb and force Kruger to admit he planned to destroy B13. The confession is broadcast nationally, exposing the government's plan. Officials pledge reforms and promise to tear down the containment wall.

The government promises to tear down the containment wall and restore schools and police to B13. Leïto and Damien leave as friends, and Lola kisses Damien, inviting him to visit B13. The film closes on a note of cautious hope for a rebuilt community.