迈克尔·贝导的这部新片根据米切尔·朱可夫(Mitchell Zuckoff)同名小说改编,是一部政治题材的电影。2012年9月11日,在利比亚班加西的美国领事馆前发生一起反美示威事件,入夜后数十名武装分子冲进领事馆,示威演变为暴力冲突,最终导致包括美国大使约翰·克里斯托弗·史蒂文斯(Christopher J. Stevens)在内的四人死亡,这也是33年以来第一个被恐怖分子杀害的美国大使,影片《危机13小时》就是由这一真实事件取材。Libya, 2012. At an unofficial CIA base in Benghazi a group of ex-military contractors are providing security. In the aftermath of Gaddafi's downfall a power vacuum exists and the climate is volatile. Military weapons are freely available. The US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, makes a visit to the area, staying in a compound near the CIA base. On the night of 11 September, 2012, the Ambassador's compound is attacked by hordes of heavily armed locals. The only forces willing and able to defend it are six CIA contractors.