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12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men

1957
Drama, Crime
1h 36m
In a New York City jury room, 12 jurors must deliberate the guilt or innocence of a teenager accused of murdering his father. The evidence against the boy seems overwhelming, but one juror, Juror 8, is not convinced. He begins to challenge the other jurors' assumptions and to point out flaws in the evidence. As the debate rages, the jurors are forced to confront their own biases and prejudices.
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12 Angry Men

1957
Drama, Crime
1h 36m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 82.35% from 12256 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(12256)
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Rated 28 Jan 2007
100
99th
A group of jurors examine a case of a teenage boy murdering his father. All but one of the jurors say the boy is guilty. Will this one juror be able to convice the jury that the boy is innocent? The movie asks us - " how far will you go to save one human being?". This movie is a treat to this world. It's overly clever, the script and acting were astounding, but it is also sad, for when you see the way some jurors really don't care for the lives of others. I recommend this to all.
Rated 23 Feb 2010
100
99th
If you told me beforehand that a decade old, dialog-laden movie, trapped inside a single room could magically hold my attention for more than a mere 5 minutes, I would have questioned your sanity (seeing how easily bored I am). Alas, I was completely wrong. This is one hell of a cinematic masterpiece, nay; a timeless, sociological accomplishment, as tackling primordial themes like peer pressure and the responsibility to question authority are more relevant than ever. Defines "essential viewing".
Rated 30 Sep 2023
100
97th
On the twelfth day of deliberations, my lawyer gave to me...
Rated 16 Mar 2007
98
99th
Thoroughly fascinating by any standard, amazingly so for a movie mostly taking place in just one room. Reginald Rose's writing is superb: He characterizes with utmost care and never looks down on anyone, the conversation is masterfully conceived and strewn with delicate humor. Great acting across the board. To me as a foreigner, this movie is also a good example of how screwed-up two aspects of the American judicial system are: The jury system and the death penalty.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
100
98th
12 Angry Men is a 100% delightful courtroom Drama that's intensely gripping tight on every level of filmmaking, including acting, script, premise, characters and of course, entertainment value. It has held up really well over the years too. Overall this is a powerhouse dialogue-driven classic, that's easily one of the greatest movies ever.
Rated 21 Jun 2017
84
93rd
For younger audiences not in the know, it's exactly like John Wick except it replaces revenge with reason and headshots with sound arguments.
Rated 23 Apr 2010
82
94th
Emotionally gripping, thought provoking and superbly crafted. This film is definitely one of my favourite crime films. It's amazing how a room of 12 people with no names for the core of the film, can be so colourful as characters and put on such great performances. This film really makes you see how many guilty/innocent people have been wrongly sentenced due to these subtle case-deciding facts that people think are insignificant.
Rated 12 Jul 2007
95
96th
This is an absolute classic. It's dramatic and compelling, and has held up really well over the years. This film is driven by dialogue and yet maintains a really good pace, all supported by the excellent acting. My only complaint is the lack of car explosions....
Rated 19 Apr 2008
9
93rd
Hats off to Sidney Lumet. Anyone who can make a movie this entertaining where the ENTIRE story is in one room is a genius.
Rated 06 Mar 2007
5
91st
A film that manages the tricky feat of being intensely political and polemical without feeling like propaganda, as its defenses of healthy skepticism, questioning authority, and overcoming your own prejudices are all in service of an absolutely rip-roaring, expertly-staged bottle narrative. Lumet made plenty of other great films, but he was probably never better.
Rated 13 Nov 2009
99
99th
How an hour and a half of dialogue in one room can be so incredibly intense and gripping amazes me. Fonda and the gang's flawless performance helps make this a timeless classic, and to think this was only Lumet's directorial debut. Go see it. Now.
Rated 05 Sep 2008
94
97th
Stellar performances and superb direction in such a confined space make this movie. The set (well sets as technically there are three or four) is incredibly minimalist and, as such, only the actors and the story provide the entertainment. Raises important issues and asks important questions. In addition it's packed with incredible dialog. This is a must see, without a doubt.
Rated 15 May 2016
100
99th
It seems petty to be bothered by Lumet's more obvious attempts at manipulation (showing us a boy who looks nothing like the hardened youth described, some overly stylized close-ups, Fonda's white suit) given how well this works. It's riveting to watch what seems to be an open & shut case slowly become one filled with plenty of reasonable doubt. The performances are fantastic with a script & direction that gives us some insight as to who each of these men are in the briefest of exchanges.
Rated 16 Feb 2008
10
97th
Would've sucked for them had he really been guilty. What? I'm just sayin'...
Rated 07 Dec 2020
100
97th
The aura of the star & director unusually factor into a viewer's appreciation of this picture. Like Fonda, the film is full of staunch liberal beliefs--such as principled men reforming bigots. It also starts a theme of Lumet's work: angry men battling a corrupt system. Still, the script uses the morals, age, and ethnicity of the dissenting jurors to connect the audience to the characters. Those values, along with the spartan production value, all add up to wonderful wish fulfillment at the end.
Rated 26 Feb 2007
5
93rd
This film might be judged more harshly by its apparently simple-minded morality if it wasn't still so unfortunately relevant. In a flawed justice system carried out by a society steeped so deeply in prejudice, no moral allowance should be made for state-administered death. Even if one mistakenly wishes to leave politics aside, Lumet's directorial effort is beyond reproach: how filmic this single-room, real-time, large ensemble piece is. A stagey conceit elevated by the singular powers of cinema.
Rated 28 Mar 2008
10
99th
The ending is kind of underwhelming, but the incredible dialogue and acting still make this a great film.
Rated 22 Sep 2008
95
97th
Is this movie the perfect cross-section of America? I mean each juror represents a type in American culture: the arrogant tough guy, trivial loser, wise but put-down older man, cold and calculating professional, charming salesman, self-loathing immigrant, the mocked immigrant, and -- maybe -- the humble critical mind. Yes, the mind that does not say "Yes" or "No" with utter conviction behind it, but simply "I don't know." That's the mind America needs and is sorely lacking. Remarkable film.
Rated 09 Dec 2008
95
98th
"Gripping" is probably the best word to use, this film works so simply yet so effectively to tell a story that you can't turn away. A masterful example of dialogue being a driving force in film, with great acting, cinematographic tricks, and a bare yet brilliant plot backing it all up.
Rated 05 May 2015
90
94th
the beginning of my journey in film. a film in 1957 which was this good, set me off to explore the 50s, the 40s as well as before and after to find more like it.
Rated 12 Dec 2006
97
99th
An absolutely brilliant courtroom drama. The pacing is perfect and the tension that it manages to build with a room of 12 jurors is amazing. An incisive commentary on the justice system, and group dynamics and psychology in general, that should be required viewing for everyone.
Rated 24 Nov 2007
93
97th
It takes talent to make an exciting movie from inside a single room. Amazing.
Rated 08 Feb 2008
88
90th
They don't make them like this anymore. Supremely well directed and populated with great characters and engrossing dialogue. You barely even realize that the action never leaves the deliberation chambers.
Rated 11 Mar 2008
90
95th
A clever dialogue-driven yarn on the subjectivity of human morals. The atmosphere is perfect. The characters are realistic (for the period) and well acted. My only complaint is that the ending, seeming to portray the entire thing as being some sort of elated victory, didn't quite fit the point of the movie. That being said, Lumet is definitely good at what he does and, in my opinion, is one of the most underappreciated (yet still relevant) directors working in film today.
Rated 30 Jul 2008
90
92nd
This film is all about dialogue, and every single line is there for a reason, a very clever script. Throw in the great acting and you've got something special. I think "ahead of its time" would be a proper description to 12 Angry Men, not only from a cinematic standpoint, but also with dealing with prejudice and everything. Damn near perfect, overall.
Rated 26 Apr 2011
100
99th
It's not especially didactic, yet manages to position itself as the sort of film that you'd salvage first if humanity needed rebooting. It's also my go-to film for showing people that you don't need large sets (or CGI) to make a film utterly engrossing. It's a marvellous reflection of how frustrating - but vitally important - it can be to promote rational thought in an environment of prejudice and emotional attachment. Truly great.
Rated 16 Jul 2014
85
97th
More idealistic than realistic, the film nonetheless conjures an entirely tense pressure cooker atmosphere that intensifies as the film progresses towards its stunning finale. A veritable masterclass in staging and blocking, Lumet creates a visual dynamism in such an impossibly restricted setting that always serves the story and heightens our emotional involvement. Consequently, Lumet effectively demonstrates that you can open a play up cinematically without losing its essence.
Rated 20 Oct 2014
99
99th
The acting is perfection, the direction is laser-focused, and of course the source material is top-notch. Definitely a must-see, and it ranks very near the top of that list.
Rated 21 May 2018
90
96th
Was transfixed. Not even the rustling of popcorn bags could put me off.
Rated 25 Mar 2007
100
95th
One of the greatest courtroom dramas ever. It takes place almost entirely in that one room, with the actors practically breathing down your neck... yet it works brilliantly as cinema. You pray for jury duty after seeing it
Rated 14 Aug 2007
8
93rd
The definitive Henry Fonda role. The script is easily one of the best ever and manages to create a genuinely involving and dramatic mystery out of these dudes sitting in a room talking. The bubbling tension between Juror #8 and Juror #3, despite the simplicity of it, is one of the best conflicts in cinema. It has held up almost flawlessly.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
82
73rd
Very compelling, though I thought the ending wrapped things up a little too quickly and neatly. Seemed like they had a really good movie up until that point and then realized they didn't know how to make the last guy change his mind.
Rated 15 Sep 2008
100
90th
Well written and well acted characters such as I've never seen before. This is just great in every way. Henry Fonda is magnificent.
Rated 10 Jan 2009
85
92nd
The art of conversation. 90 minutes - 1 room - 12 men just talking ... and not even a second boredom.
Rated 06 Apr 2009
93
99th
This is how they did it back in the day, no sets, no locations, no effects, just a bunch of guys in a room talking at each other in black and white. And 50 years on it's still absolutely compelling. It has lost nothing of its simple power and puts 99% of technologically more advanced productions to shame. Should be required viewing for any film-maker today.
Rated 09 Jun 2009
90
94th
That's how dialogs make the movies great.
Rated 03 May 2010
95
99th
Just about perfect I'd say
Rated 25 Sep 2010
97
99th
Fascinating, and just goes to show you , you don't have to have special effects, action, or even sets to have a thouroughly provacative and entertaining film.
Rated 05 Nov 2012
97
99th
I love great acting. I love (well-written) "talky" chamber plays. I love courtroom dramas and crime fiction and everything related. And who doesn't love admiring bravery and [spoiler coming up] watching an underdog win? '12 Angry Men' gets my vote for one of the best films of all time.
Rated 21 Jun 2015
5
70th
rewatch. a very engaging film with excellent framing and some great acting, but also heavily calculated in a highly unrealistic way to deliver a clear polemic, celebrating representative democracy and due process and political tolerance and defence lawyer activism. it just so happens that there comes a time in a leftist's life, where one learns of structural oppression and institutional male violence, that this sort of liberal trumpeting just doesn't cut the mustard anymore.
Rated 12 Aug 2018
100
99th
Up there as one of the best written humanistic films created. Not only asks us to reflect on a murder case and the facts being discussed by 12 jurors, but brilliantly leaves us so many poignant moments to ask why.
Rated 02 Mar 2007
80
95th
Classic film.
Rated 18 Mar 2007
96
95th
12 Angry Men is a great representation of how objectivity is the most important thing in the legal system. If this movie doesn't prove bias is detrimental then nothing does. It's superbly acted and written. So much so that it's hard to think of many films that are better.
Rated 20 Mar 2007
100
99th
A very careful movie. Very few films have ever needed to be perfect to be successes, this is one of them. It's failure or success rested solely on the shoulders of the writer and the actors. Just one small plot hole, or one slightly clumsy line delivery, and it would have gone down in history as one of the worst films ever made... but, it doesn't fail, not in the slightest. And to this day it stands as a masterpiece of dialog and acting. Amazing, just amazing.
Rated 08 Jul 2007
5
96th
Incredible courtroom drama. A tense, engaging, finely crafted film with excellent performances across the board. It's almost impossible for me to believe that this was Lumet's directorial debut. One of the best.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
90
85th
The big revelation near the end and the way they finally convinced the last guy wasn't all that impressive, but other than that it's pretty much perfect.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
99
92nd
Pretty much a perfect film, incredible piece of writing, cinematography and editing to make a one room location so incredible exciting.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
100
98th
Absolutely stunning from start to finish
Rated 08 Jan 2009
90
94th
Maybe the most intelligent script made to film about court. Despite the almost complete absence of action, the quality and speed of the dialogue, the consistency of performances and the ability of the director, prevents the movie fall into the monotony so common in movies like this.
Rated 06 Jun 2009
96
97th
Very well scripted, even though the whole movie is shot in one room only there is not even a moment when you get bored. This movie reminds me of the books like 'You be the Jury' and others which I used to read in my young age.
Rated 18 Jun 2009
90
95th
Engrossing, intense, entertaining all without leaving one small room (for the most part anyway)
Rated 01 Aug 2009
92
98th
A film that is deservedly loved by almost everyone that sees it or loves movies. A cracking screenplay and top drawer performances all round make this one of the finest dialogue driven films ever made.
Rated 14 Oct 2009
3
80th
Utterly gripping. Among millions of other things, I particularly love how the camera sloooowly edges downwards over the course of the movie as things heat up.
Rated 11 Feb 2010
90
97th
Ironically, I skipped out of jury duty so I could see this movie. Not quite like rain on my wedding day, but still somewhat ironic.
Rated 11 Jul 2010
95
97th
Reginald Rose - Dialogue tutorial - A+
Rated 25 Jul 2010
95
88th
Sidney Lumet's debut was a very promising one
Rated 22 Feb 2011
90
97th
one of the few times that popular likeability wins. this movie does not fail in any way. the direction is awesome, the acting is undeniebly great, but most of all is the writing, it's simply an impeccable film that takes place in two rooms and has no fault. of course i have to give props to fonda, who wouldn't.
Rated 10 Mar 2012
89
96th
Very entertaining courtroom (juryroom?) drama. It's amazing how this worked so well with just 12 people and the same setting. I was not bored at any moment. One of the best pre-1970s films I've seen.
Rated 16 Feb 2014
94
98th
This movie is pure proof that you dont need special effects and loads of millions to make an intriguing and attractive movie. For me this movie is one of the best character studies done on a big screen. Wonderful! Also Henry Fonda must be mentioned as he delivers an epic performance that you dont see so often.
Rated 13 Mar 2014
90
99th
Absorbing textbook classic with a better screenplay and more nuanced characters than almost any contemporary movie. Watch and learn.
Rated 22 Oct 2014
97
95th
This was an excellent movie! Watched it in school and loved the acting and writing. Good screenplay and some really good direction make this a very entertaining movie. Worth a watch if you haven't already seen it.
Rated 29 May 2016
94
95th
As soon as they take the first vote you can guess exactly how this will end up but that doesn't keep it from being constantly electric, and by the time juror #3 lays everything on the table and they all realize exactly why this is so personal for him it's already earned its status beyond any shadow of a doubt. I like that we're never shown that Henry Fonda's character is actually right.
Rated 29 Dec 2006
96
99th
This is one of the greatest movies of all time. The drama is amazing. This puts all modern courtroom dramas to shame.
Rated 09 Mar 2007
95
95th
back when the internet was just this one table
Rated 14 Aug 2007
98
71st
A treatment about consistent argumentation through generation of doubts in others, the interest conflicts, the racism and the hipocrisy expost. A 50-old year movie and one of the best maked. If you want let off be a blockbuster and watch a reflexive history, that is it.
Rated 29 Aug 2007
96
85th
A taught, sweaty, piece of character driven story-telling. Not a second is wasted in this compelling masterpiece. A lesson in film making that shows how less can be more.
Rated 02 Jan 2008
85
75th
An amazing study on group behaviour, racism and honesty. The writing is superb as is the acting balancing 12 characters in the pursuit of a correct verdict. The intensity of the film is increased by the single room set which appears to be the only room on the planet at times. Thought provoking and a great glimpse into some aspects of the post war southern states.
Rated 03 Feb 2008
98
99th
The most powerful film I have ever seen.
Rated 01 Mar 2008
93
96th
Probably the best courtroom drama ever made
Rated 06 Jun 2008
100
99th
This movie does so much with so little. The whole movie is character development: a great choice when you're ready to think.
Rated 29 Sep 2008
90
94th
Riveting from start to finish. If you don't like it I shall become extremely distrustful of your tastes.
Rated 30 Oct 2008
92
81st
A classic, timeless movie with incredible acting. A blueprint piece that shows how a film can be made without tons of fancy sets and millions of dollars in budgeting and still be great.
Rated 04 Feb 2009
75
84th
The ability to grab a movie audience's attention with a movie shot almost entirely in one room astounds me, and deserves accolades.
Rated 08 Feb 2009
89
92nd
a great american movie
Rated 29 Apr 2009
93
98th
What an amazing piece of film making. This shows that a movie can just stand on a brilliant screenplay and solid acting. The drama, the suspense, the acting and also the skills of Lumet to pull this of in just one room. ... Not only a movie which stands the test of time, but also a victory for democracy. Absolutely beautiful
Rated 14 Jun 2009
88
91st
As someone that likes courtroom dramas I was hopeful I would like this one. And although the majority of this movie takes place in one room Lumet does a great job keeping the viewer interested. It is fun to watch how the tide slowly turns from one side to the other. I almost wish I could have watched the actual case, but I think that feeling must mean that the movie worked. Although did Cobb really didn't have to yell so much. And they never revealed if the game got rained out.
Rated 15 Jul 2009
95
99th
Excellent the of interpretation received near minimum centres variety is in this film. The film small draws in seemingly and it chains about many the spectator's attention better than a lot of super production.
Rated 08 Aug 2009
95
94th
Excellent group dynamics, and a great message of logic and objectivity overcoming emotion and prejudice. I like how convincing it all plays out - while you can see why one side holds a certain viewpoint, you ultimately know that the other side presents a superior argument. This is all greatly enhanced by wonderful acting and scriptwriting. It's a really clever film that never feels boring or convoluted.
Rated 10 Aug 2009
87
84th
I owe this a rewatch, but man, even as a 15 year old I was gripped. Each juror plays their part to perfection, embodying their own character incredibly well, and Lumet does a fantastic job of having us feel exactly what they're feeling.
Rated 02 Sep 2009
97
97th
Top-notch acting and dialogue which leads to a perfect atmosphere created in this movie. A seemingly simple story becomes incredibly enveloping; also, great and deep personality is demonstrated by all characters. I hate this cliche, but regardless of its age, this movie shows how cinema should be made. Really a must-see.
Rated 04 Oct 2009
10
98th
It never ceases to amaze how much Lumet achieved with how little set space he had. This one is confined to basically one room for the entire film, but spacial limitations aside what happens within is so moving and inspiring that it is quickly forgotten. Personalities are sculpted and shaped throughout and the way the dialogue twists and turns to the fitting finale is something all must see. Hard to remember a film with so many memorable characters, a real testament to how good this film is.
Rated 12 Oct 2009
95
98th
Contrived as it may be, it's still a perfectly executed drama and so extremely wellwritten.
Rated 21 Mar 2010
99
99th
As a soon-to-be lawyer this really struck a cord with me. Great performances all around and a wonderful script. It has really held up over the years.
Rated 10 May 2010
90
98th
this movie is the very definition of "classic". it has an elegant simplicity, and conveys some universal ideas which will probably be discussed while watching this 4000 years from now, on a galaxy far away. Lumet has pulled off an almost impossible stunt, with the help of brilliant cast.
Rated 12 May 2010
95
98th
Fantastic movie
Rated 30 Jun 2010
97
92nd
What a movie. Even folks I know who refuse anything in black and white or before nineteen sixty eight love this film. The dialog is crisp and like all great plays the trajectory of the ideas can be traced with relish in the human speech. But the camera is also busy picking everything up in an evolving pictorial design as camera levels and lens lengths gradually change to match the course of the deliberating. This is a resonant movie with ambiguous stances that push it to high art.
Rated 03 Jul 2010
100
96th
I didn't expect to love this movie. I can't help but compare it to Reservoir Dogs, which makes me feel silly, but I must. They're good for similar reasons. You enter a room knowing nothing, and through dialogue the characters slowly reveal the back story, constantly shifting it or refining it depending on the point of view. I love Reservoir Dogs, but 12 Angry Men is a much better, and purer, version of this. Really, it's one of the most brilliant movies ever made. Required Viewing, period.
Rated 01 Sep 2010
93
98th
Remarkable.
Rated 21 Oct 2010
93
98th
Very great movie
Rated 03 Dec 2010
0
2nd
IF I WANTED TO HEAR PEOPLE YELL FOR 90 MINUTES I WOULD TELL MY MOM ABOUT MY DAD'S "GIRLFRIEND"
Rated 12 Dec 2010
92
99th
Cinematic masterpiece. Set the tone for decades to come.For a first time in hollywood true character development. A must see for all film lovers.
Rated 09 Jan 2011
95
89th
A superb film that demonstrates, among other things, the intriguing dynamics in play with regard to minority versus majority influence, the drama and thrill of which is heightened massively when a young man's life rests on these 12 supposedly-angry men reaching a unanimous decision. Remarkable stuff all-round. The only reason it doesn't get 100 is because of the guy with the really high voice. I mean seriously, how do you even get a voice that high.
Rated 24 Jan 2011
90
89th
Well written with Fonda at the top of his career. Best courtroom drama ever.
Rated 24 Feb 2011
100
99th
Reasonable doubt is hellavu thing.
Rated 22 Jun 2011
85
87th
The fact that this is Lumet's first film, it's basically just dialogue in 1 room for the whole movie, and how well it has held up over the years is a testament to it's worth. I don't love it as much as many people, but it is quite good and worthy of a watch from anyone who likes movies.
Rated 06 Jul 2011
100
99th
Gives you the real drama of the courtroom but behind the doors where we are almost never taken. An amazing script, a spectacular cast and only 4 locations is enough to make an almost flawless film!
Rated 09 Jul 2011
95
97th
I can't believe I put off watching this for so long. This is a perfect character study/court room drama. I mean really, THIS is how it's done. Fantastic dialogue, memorable characters, wonderful directing and cinematography. Even though it's 12 guys in a room, there are some really inspired shots here, and the camera work is incredible. This is pretty much movie perfection. Sure there are a few movies I LIKE a teeny tiny bit more, but this is top of the food chain.
Rated 21 Jul 2011
100
98th
Sidney Lumet's feature debut is a superbly written, dramatically effective courtroom thriller that rightfully stands as a modern classic.
Rated 28 Jul 2011
95
98th
There aren't many films that could be considered perfect, but this is definitely one. A mind blowing cast of great character actors and one of the best screenplays of the fifties make for a rich drama. If you see one courtroom drama in your lifetime, then make sure it's 12 Angry Men.
Rated 30 Dec 2011
100
99th
I think that this movie in a way reflects the witch-hunts of the McCarthy period and conveys a feeling of a struggle in solitude against the oppressions and injustice. The production year of the movie symbolically coincides with the death of McCarthy, which can be the reason why the movie ends so optimistic, underlining the triumph of democracy.

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