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12 Angry Men

Play trailer 2:13 Poster for 12 Angry Men Released Apr 20, 1957 1h 35m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 97% Popcornmeter 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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12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Aaron R An absolute masterpiece! Reginald Rose's writing is poignant, thought-provoking, and evocative. This gripping tale will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Every character is very well-developed and we see each characters prejudices and assumptions come to light as the story progresses. Our protagonist is a wise and soft-spoken gentleman who does not let himself be swayed by the majority. Instead, he constantly searches for the truth and invites every juror to negotiate in a principled manner. The dialogues and stellar performances of the cast make this a must-see for fans of powerful storytelling! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/13/24 Full Review Chan H 12 Angry Men is a classic American courtroom drama that examines the delicate balance between justice, prejudice and the power of doubt. Set almost entirely in a claustrophobic jury room, the film follows twelve jurors tasked with determining the fate of a young defendant accused of murder. Even more than 60 years after its release, the film remains a reminder that the pursuit of justice often requires courage to question the majority and a willingness to engage in honest, critical dialogue. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/13/24 Full Review clarence c ’12 Angry Men’ is a wild rollercoaster ride. It portrays 12 male Jurors that are tasked with handling a young boy’s guilty or not verdict. In the beginning, the circumstances and verdict seem to be clear, then, the movie challenges the audience’s perceptions by slowly introducing new pieces of information in a calculative and effective way, to sway the audience’s emotions in all sorts of directions. In essence, the movie also proves the efficacy of principled negotiation when it comes to achieving a fast, wise, and amicable agreement between relevant parties, contrasted with the typical negotiation tactics focused on positional bargaining that would oftentimes lead to mis-catering of interests between one or even multiple parties. The movie portrayed a single juror, not intimidated by the ridicule and judgment of others, focusing on the relevant facts and utilising objective measurements to establish his argument. He successfully utilises certain aspects of principled negotiation to communicate effectively to the other jurors, opening the door to various opportunities by brainstorming, ultimately allowing a more informed decision to be made. The movie also portrays the dynamics of different personalities involved in a negotiation very well. One might find that these dynamics are very real, and might be particularly relevant to them. Besides the fact that this movie is directed well, captivating and an all-around great movie, you should also give this a watch as you might learn a thing or two about leading discussions. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/11/24 Full Review shermaine l This movie portrayed a compelling view of justice, morality, and the power of negotiation. Set in a single jury room, this movie follows twelve jurors deliberating the fate of a teenage boy accused of murder. At its core, the film exemplifies principled negotiation. The protagonist separates people from the problem, addressing biases and prejudices that cloud the judgment of his peers. By focusing on interests rather than positions, he shifts the discussion from a rigid "guilty versus not guilty" debate to a collective effort to uncover the truth. His logical reasoning gradually dismantle the prejudices of other jurors, leading to a unanimous and just verdict. The film’s most compelling moments come from its use of creative problem-solving. The protagonist challenges the reliability of evidence through experiments and logical arguments, such as questioning the eyewitness’s ability to see without glasses or timing an old man’s walking pace. These tactics align with the book’s principles of inventing options for mutual gain, proving that rationality and persistence can overcome deeply entrenched biases. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie as I gained insights on how principled reasoning can transform conflicts into resolutions. It was both entertaining and inspiring to see how they approached disagreements. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/10/24 Full Review Isaac Lum ' The movie is a great example of on how principled negotiation is key to a successful end verdict. Firstly, negotiators are people first, meaning they come into the discussion zone bringing their own emotions, priorities and interests. For example, Juror 7 cared more about watching baseball games so he was impatient throughout the discussion and did not care about fighting for a fair judgement for the accused boy. However, Juror 8's interest was to advocate for the boy's fair judgement, so he put his heart into analysing the crime. With such differences in interests in a group, it will be difficult for the negotiation to proceed well especially if the negotiators do not express them. Secondly, negotiators should focus on interests instead of positions. The jurors arguing back and forth about whether the boy was guilty or not did not take the discussion anywhere. It was only through the process of negotiation that most of the jurors who initially voted the boy to be guilty understood Juror 8 and 9’s interest in advocating for a fair judgement for the boy and gradually became more open to unpacking the crime in greater detail to take a more informed position eventually. Thirdly, negotiation should be based on objective criteria, meaning the negotiation is based on fair, moral standards and not pressure. Jurors 8 and 9 negotiated based hopes for a fair judgement for the boy, whereas Juror 7 changed his vote to 'not guilty' based on his impatience because he wanted the jury to end quickly so he could watch his baseball games. Should everyone be casting their vote based on pressure, it would only cause more conflict, as each person would not have a strong, convincing stance on the case, let alone base their arguments on principles and logic Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review odelia c The film 12 Angry Men explores the dynamics of a jury deliberating a murder trial. The jurors, each with unique communication styles, engage in a heated discussion. Some are logical and objective, while others are quick to judge or easily swayed by personal opinions. The film emphasizes the importance of effective communication, critical thinking, and empathy in reaching a fair verdict. It highlights how diverse perspectives can lead to better decision-making when approached with respect and understanding. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/09/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Re-enactment 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Re-enactment 3:42 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - These People 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - These People 2:18 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Not Guilty 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Not Guilty 3:42 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - A Responsibility 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - A Responsibility 0:59 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Nose Marks 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Nose Marks 2:40 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - This Isn't a Game 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - This Isn't a Game 1:30 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - It's the Same Knife! 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - It's the Same Knife! 2:04 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Kids These Days 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Kids These Days 2:16 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Who Changed Their Vote? 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Who Changed Their Vote? 2:37 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Down & In 12 Angry Men: Official Clip - Down & In 2:24 View more videos
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Movie Info

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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