12 Angry Men

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2:13

12 Angry Men

1957

1h 35m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

100%

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63 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

01/31/2023

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.

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Chris Stuckmann

ChrisStuckmann.com

01/26/2018

A+

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.

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Joshua Rothkopf

Time Out

07/03/2013

5/5

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.

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Matthew Rozsa

Reason Online

08/02/2025

4/4

The 1957 courtroom drama (based on an acclaimed 1954 teleplay) celebrates reasoned dissent, open debate, and the power of a single voice challenging consensus, principles Bhattacharya values deeply, especially in science.

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Joshua Stevens

Loud and Clear Reviews

07/08/2025

5/5

It’s a classic for a reason, and it’s a film that everyone should see at least once in their life.

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Nadir Samara

Screen Rant

11/11/2024

10/10

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

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Dbtracing

Apr 21

We love the old movies. No profanity, no blood and gore, no nudity. Just a great story with top notch acting.

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Naruto U

@shinobi1 18h

If you haven't watched this you're a nutjob.

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Jim M

@BigKahuna169 1d

Yeah, its as good as they say lol!

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Freddie H

@HairyHudini 4d

An Absolute Must-See!!! A brilliant movie with great acting and great tension.

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Cinema S

@cinema_sensei Aug 7

As a Gen Z viewer, I wasn't expecting a 1957 black and white classic to feel this much gripping. No action, no spectacle - just brilliant writing and unforgettable performances. "12 Angry Men" movie proves that great cinema never gets old. This'll be one of the best classic movies I've seen so far.

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gungi T

@WhatWhere Aug 1

An inspirational study of group mentality and psychology, investigating the nuanced dynamics of the performers involved, who are keen to come to term with an alleged obvious case, but deteriote into a complex detective-like work that concerns itself with reality making and the art of suggestion as well as conviction. The face-to-face interactions, drifting from banter and congenial conversations to quarrelsome and argumentative discussions craft a compelling atmosphere that sheds light to the individual players' social vitality. Significantly, however, while the truth that the movie drives towards seems to be convincing in the end, there is still a chance, albeit minimum, that the conviction the jurors have come to terms with remains only subjective. The various allusions to games, combat and odds underlines the climate of an abstract reality, while Henry Fonda's character, Juror No.8, represents the gamemaster. As his cigarette pack named Viceroy indicates, he dictates the table.

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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

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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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