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12 Angry Men

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2:13

12 Angry Men

Released Apr 20, 1957

1h 35m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

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61 Reviews

97%

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100,000+ Ratings

Following the closing arguments in a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the accused, an inner-city teen. As the dozen men try to reach a unanimous decision while sequestered in a room, one juror (Henry Fonda) casts considerable doubt on elements of the case. Personal issues soon rise to the surface, and conflict threatens to derail the delicate process that will decide one boy's fate.

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Critics Consensus

Sidney Lumet's feature debut is a superbly written, dramatically effective courtroom thriller that rightfully stands as a modern classic.

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Edward Kosmal

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Sidney Lumet's solid success is achieved without even once resorting to flashbacks or other standard procedures of the film trade. The secret rests in spirited dialogue, realistic setting and, of course, the excellent cast of outstanding character actors.

Jan 31, 2023

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

This movie is a masterpiece. That term gets thrown around a lot -- it's a very easy thing to say about great films like this -- but this movie is one of the best. This is one of the very few films that I will call perfect.

Rated: A+

Jan 26, 2018

Full Review

Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

Too few films take on the art of arguing as a subject; we could certainly use more of them, but until then, Lumet's window into strained civic duty will continue to serve mightily.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 3, 2013

Full Review

Nadir Samara

Screen Rant

A film like 12 Angry Men comes around once in a lifetime, and it will remain a blueprint for what a masterpiece looks like.

Rated: 10/10

Nov 11, 2024

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

This arguably remains Sidney Lumet's most compelling work, a sweaty, sustained drama that milks its claustrophobic setting for all it’s worth.

Rated: 4/4

May 8, 2023

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

12 Angry Men is one of the best courtroom dramas in cinematic history.

Rated: 5/5

Apr 18, 2023

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Audience Member

This is what you call entertainment, no fancy sets or anything... pure talent and a great plot...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/14/25

Full Review

Louise C

A true classic that has sustained interest over decades.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

Full Review

Davi Soares D

The First 10 minutes is really slow, but when the movie start with the judgement of the 12 jurors, the movie shines until the end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/12/25

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Josh D

You know who’s NOT angry? Me after watching this movie, because it’s very good While I had never seen the movie before, I’ve read the play pretty recently, so I was already pretty familiar with the story. As far as adaptations go, this is a masterpiece. The visual element adds so much more to the story than you’d expect for a movie about twelve guys talking in one room. Being able to see the characters faces, body language, etc. really adds a lot of depth to the characters with smaller roles. The actors all do such a great job bringing the jurors to life. Of course, the story itself is incredible. Hearing about a court case after-the-fact in the jury room is such a unique narrative. The way that information is slowly introduced to the audience keeps things very interesting in well-paced. A movie set in one room without much action going on could easily drag, but this one never does. There’s a reason this one is a classic.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/25

Full Review

Devin B

12 Angry Men is like a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final for your brain, eh? It's intense, it's strategic, and by the end, you'll feel like you've just played one heck of a game. If you haven't seen it yet, you're missin' out on one of the best lessons and makin' the right call when the pressure's on. Trust me, you wont regret it, bud! 5 outta 5 Twigs!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

Full Review

Chaim Yuir B

Extremely insightful, should be shown to kids in school to teach them

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

Full Review

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Henry Fonda

Juror No. 8

Lee J. Cobb

Juror No. 3

Ed Begley

Juror No. 10

E.G. Marshall

Juror No. 4

Jack Klugman

Juror No. 5

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Re-enactment

3:42

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - These People

2:18

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Not Guilty

3:42

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - A Responsibility

0:59

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Nose Marks

2:40

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - This Isn't a Game

1:30

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - It's the Same Knife!

2:04

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Kids These Days

2:16

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Who Changed Their Vote?

2:37

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Down & In

2:24

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12 Angry Men: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Following the closing arguments in a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the accused, an inner-city teen. As the dozen men try to reach a unanimous decision while sequestered in a room, one juror (Henry Fonda) casts considerable doubt on elements of the case. Personal issues soon rise to the surface, and conflict threatens to derail the delicate process that will decide one boy's fate.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Henry Fonda, Reginald Rose
Screenwriter: Reginald Rose
Distributor: Criterion Collection, United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Orion-Nova Pictures
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 20, 1957, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 4, 2012
Runtime: 1h 35m

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