You know those movies that slip under the radar but slap harder than a triple espresso on a Monday morning? Yeah, Tom Hardy seems to know one such action movie full of parkour, punches, and political chaos. During an interview, Hardy spoke of the French action thriller, District B13, which moves faster than a Japanese bullet train. 

You might have never even heard of it, but Tom Hardy, being a man deeply immersed in his craft, gave the French film the shoutout it deserves. Although District B13 barely made $11M at the worldwide box office, Hardy believes this 2004 gem didn’t just jump over rooftops—it flew over expectations. 

Tom Hardy spoke of the iconic action scenes in a French film 

Let’s be real—when Tom Hardy talks about action, we listen. This man has thrown fists in Warrior, crashed planes in The Dark Knight Rises, and gone full beast mode in Venom. So, during an interview with Dexerto, when the actor casually dropped a rare gem, while discussing his favorite action sequences from films, we were all ears. 

While being asked about one particular action movie that stole his heart, Tom Hardy initially began by clarifying that it’s impossible for one action film to have all the ingredients. Therefore, reflecting on a bunch of movies that had the best action scenes in his opinion, Hardy mentioned a 2004 French film, District B13, in his conversation. 

Appreciating the film’s next-level stunts and mind-blowing parkour scenes that still hold up decades later, Tom Hardy seemed to be mesmerized by the movie’s raw, gritty action. Admitting that the film isn’t overloaded with CGI, Hardy mentioned that each scene is filmed with such precision that it feels more like a dance than action. 

There’s certain scenes in films which aren’t necessarily action films that I get drawn into and that’s really compelling for certain of a specific nature where I become immersed in the physicality and viewpoints. For example…

District B13, you start to see free running. There are certain movements in the stunt world when things suddenly change and somebody brings something—it could be from anywhere. When you see a sudden mobility or kinetic action come alive with character and story deliver, and it doesn’t have to be the whole movie. 

Tom Hardy praised how the movie pushed the limits of physical storytelling. According to him, District B13 doesn’t rely on big explosions or flashy editing to thrill you—it lets the human body do the talking. So, when Bane himself seems hyped about something that doesn’t involve CGI monsters or superhero suits, you know it’s worth a watch.

District B13 flew under the radar with $11M at the global box office 

Meanwhile, even though Tom Hardy appreciated the full-blown action-fest, District B13, the 2004 French film didn’t exactly break the bank. According to Box Office Mojo, the film only pulled in around $11 million worldwide—not bad, but definitely not blockbuster territory. Perhaps that’s why the rest of us haven’t heard of it. 

However, if you go by Tom Hardy’s remarks, then the film will feel like one of those sleeper hits that make you wonder, “How did I miss this?” So, don’t let the box office fool you—this movie has serious street cred. Over the years, it gained cult status among action lovers and film geeks. So, give it a watch if you believe in Hardy. 

In the end, District B13 serves as proof that big numbers don’t always mean a big impact. Sometimes, the most memorable movies are the ones that sneak up on you. So, this French film is like that scrappy underdog who shows up late, when there’s a fight, but then he backflips over the ring and punches you in the face mid-air.

District B13 is currently available on Prime Video