12 Years a Slave

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12 Years a Slave

R

Released Oct 18, 2013

2h 14m

History

Drama

Biography

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Popcornmeter

95%

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377 Reviews

90%

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100,000+ Ratings

In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner (Michael Fassbender), he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity. Then in the 12th year of the disheartening ordeal, a chance meeting with an abolitionist from Canada changes Solomon's life forever.

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Critics Consensus

It's far from comfortable viewing, but 12 Years a Slave's unflinchingly brutal look at American slavery is also brilliant -- and quite possibly essential -- cinema.

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Nijla Mu'min

Bitch Media

Director McQueen, drawing on the visual aesthetic of his previous works Shame and Hunger, never shies away from frames that capture the ways that beauty exists in the most painful situations.

Jan 20, 2021

Full Review

J. Hoberman

Harper's Magazine

12 Years a Slave is, like The Trial, a trapdoor over the abyss. Although less abrupt than Kafka's novel, the movie wastes little time before plunging its viewer into a nightmare of dehumanization.

Mar 4, 2018

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

Ambitious, honest and horrifying all at once, 12 Years a Slave may not be the easiest film to watch more than once, but it will stay with you forever once you see it.

Rated: A

Sep 6, 2017

Full Review

JD Duran

InSession Film

Steve McQueen brought it to life and didn’t hold back from intensity this story has at its foundation. Incredible performances from Chewitel Ejifor and Lupita Nyong’o carry this film.

Aug 13, 2024

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

What’s most impressive about the film is the way it shows how slavery distorts humanity on all levels.

Mar 8, 2024

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

A searing and thought-provoking portrait of pre-Civil War American slavery... 12 Years a Slave is an absorbing and divinely crafted film, even if it is a brutal watch.

Jun 14, 2023

Full Review

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Leo H

Una muy buena película si la recomiendo

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/21/25

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Stephen C

2 hours and 14 minutes of success!!!!! Rated R for Some Nudity, Brief Sexuality and Violence/Cruelty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/07/25

Full Review

Faiz D

"Slavery is an evil that should befall none." Not everyone will be able to stomach it but this is an outstanding film that deserves and needs to be seen.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Audience Member

I didn't like the movie, really boring for me...

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Todd B

I watched this because the youtube algorithm was throwing me clips of it - I'm glad. Powerful movie. Horrific story.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/09/25

Full Review

Blu B

All Time Classic and a deserving Best Picture Winner. The acting is excellent. Ejiofor does an excellent job along with everyone with amazing physical acting as well. Solomon is a great vessel to take us into a different time, place, and world. When we see brutality or things that just seem foreign to us his emotional response is exactly what we would have seeing it for the first time just like him. It's something I thought was a really nice touch. Fassbender is amazing as the villian and truly dispicable. I appreciate how Cumberbatch's character showed not every single white slave owner was a monster as well. And that's something I appreciate how it doesn't make the people involved with slavery so bad and evil that they come off as cartoonish. The cinematography is first rate as well. The direction is really good, the production, sets, costumes are first rate and truly make you feel your back in the 1840's. This is a brutal film to watch pretty much from the moment Solomon is whipped and never lets up. It's a slow burn brutal journey that is unrelenting in showing the brutality and compassion of people in the South. This makes the pacing excellent though. Everything else is really good. Once he's sold to Fassbender it can feel like stuff just happens a bit before coming back to him trying to get a letter out. But the relationship building with others, the exploration of the morality of slavery, and culture of the South is so layered and so well done it carries through those moments easily. The folk music and cinematic tracks are excellent too and blend perfectly. the songs the slaves sing are super catchy and memorable also. Everyone should give this a try once. I can't state enough though this is a brutal film to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/30/25

Full Review

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12 Years a Slave: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner (Michael Fassbender), he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity. Then in the 12th year of the disheartening ordeal, a chance meeting with an abolitionist from Canada changes Solomon's life forever.

Director: Steve McQueen
Producer: Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Bill Pohlad, Steve McQueen, Arnon Milchan, Anthony Katagas
Screenwriter: John Ridley
Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Production Co: River Road, Plan B Entertainment, New Regency Pictures
Rating: R (Some Nudity|Brief Sexuality|Violence/Cruelty)
Genre: History, Drama, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 2013, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jan 17, 2014
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 31, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $56.7M
Runtime: 2h 14m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

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