Sean Penn, Ed Harris and Gary Oldman star in this neo-noir crime drama directed by Phil Joanou. Irish-American Terry (Penn) returns to his old neighbourhood after a mysterious absence. He is reunited with his childhood friend Jackie (Oldman) who is now working in arson and extortion rackets, but a possible alliance with an Italian mob brings trouble for Terry's friends. The film is based on real-life New York gang, The Westies, who ruled 'Hell's Kitchen' during the 1970s.

It is 922 AD. Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan (Antonio Banderas) is an Arab ambassador travelling through Northern Europe with his mentor Melchisidek (Omar Sharif). They chance upon a band of Vikings, who are licking their wounds after an attack by mysterious creatures. A fortune teller prophecies that unless the Vikings can find a 13th warrior then they are doomed to destruction. This warrior must be an outsider, and soon Ahmed is enlisted to join the clan, but further attacks rapidly place the band under mortal threat.