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The Defiant Ones

Play trailer Poster for The Defiant Ones 1958 1h 37m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 58 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
In the 1950s America, members of a chain gang are being transported through the South when their truck crashes. Two of the convicts, John Joker Jackson and Noah Cullen, who are chained together, find an opportunity to escape. Jackson is white, Cullen is black and, at first, the men appear to be opposites in every way. But as they flee across the country, the two form a deep bond. A female landowner leads Jackson to make a difficult decision about his own freedom.
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The Defiant Ones

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Critics Consensus

An advocacy drama that makes its points without belaboring them, The Defiant Ones relies on its clever concept and brilliant performances to repudiate racial prejudice.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonas Mekas Village Voice 04/20/2022
One can feel that Kramer, instead of letting the idea grow from an inner necessity, started with a cliche: "Now I am going to make a social film." Go to Full Review Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer 01/30/2021
The Defiant Ones is a film no one with mind or heart is likely to forget in a long, long time. Go to Full Review Kim Newman Empire Magazine 01/30/2021
3/5
This Stanley Kramer messageathon plays better as a high-concept thriller than a statement about race relations or the human condition. Go to Full Review James Baldwin The Devil Finds Work 05/01/2024
No one, clearly, was able to foresee what Poitier would do with his role -- nor was anyone, thereafter, able to undo it -- and his performance, which lends the film its only real distinction, also, paradoxically, smashes it to pieces. Go to Full Review Jet Staff Jet Magazine 01/16/2024
In his attempt to keep from making the movie a maudlin mess, Kramer has indeed made The Defiant Ones Hollywood’s best message film ever. Go to Full Review Moira Walsh The Catholic World 08/24/2023
Kramer has given the story the kind of stark production it needed and especially has obtained heightened realistic effects through the calculated omission of background music. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Rachan S @Peaches104 Feb 19 A movie about humanity. Honest, and Sad take of on the state of Race. See more jacob c @RT09118617 03/13/2025 A very smart, socially conscious film. See more David S @RT68837966 01/06/2025 What a great movie and quite an excellent idea at such a critical time in our countries history to put this film into circulation! Two great performances highlight this classic! See more Fierce T @RT13504970 07/13/2024 Curtis & Poitier give outstanding performances in The Defiant Ones, and the supporting cast is stellar as well. The remakes don't hold a candle to the 1958 original. WHERE TO WATCH?: As of July 2024, the original & its poorly done remake are both available on the Tubi app (for free). See more Leaburn O @RT35452347 02/27/2024 Picks up in the second half with a decent ending. Shame the first half was awash with so much forced moralising. Some of the characters were cartoonish but there's enough in the plot to keep it just on tracks. Watched on Amazon Prime See more Georgan G @RT98616417 05/14/2023 Really, really great acting makes this movie work. Poitier and Curtis kept my interest from start to finish. Clever plot with the main theme of interracial relationships. See more Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Stanley Kramer

Director

Tony Curtis

John "Joker" Jackson

Sidney Poitier

Noah Cullen

Theodore Bikel

Sheriff Max Muller

Charles McGraw

Capt. Frank Gibbons

Cara Williams

Billy's Mother

Movie Clips

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The Defiant Ones

The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Chasing the Train The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Chasing the Train 2:59 The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Afraid of Catching My Color? The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Afraid of Catching My Color? 2:59 The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - You Don't Even Know My Name The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - You Don't Even Know My Name 2:48 The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - You Can't Go Lynching Me, I'm a White Man The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - You Can't Go Lynching Me, I'm a White Man 3:57 The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Trapped in the Quarry The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Trapped in the Quarry 3:22 The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - I Been Mad All My Natural Life The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - I Been Mad All My Natural Life 1:54 The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - I'm Lettin Ya Loose The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - I'm Lettin Ya Loose 2:19 The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - North vs. South The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - North vs. South 2:54 The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Words That Stick Like Needles The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Words That Stick Like Needles 2:38 View more videos

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The Defiant Ones

The Defiant Ones (1958) The Defiant Ones (1958) The Defiant Ones (1958) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1950s America, members of a chain gang are being transported through the South when their truck crashes. Two of the convicts, John Joker Jackson and Noah Cullen, who are chained together, find an opportunity to escape. Jackson is white, Cullen is black and, at first, the men appear to be opposites in every way. But as they flee across the country, the two form a deep bond. A female landowner leads Jackson to make a difficult decision about his own freedom.
Director
Stanley Kramer
Producer
Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter
Harold Jacob Smith
Distributor
United Artists
Production Co
Stanley Kramer Company
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 27, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 37m
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