12 Angry Men

Name: 12 Angry Men
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: April 1, 1957
Duration: 96 min
Rating: 96
Cast: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb

1957

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Universal acclaim based on 10 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 130 Ratings

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9.4

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9.4	Your Score
9.4	User Score Universal acclaim based on 130 Ratings

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12 Angry Men

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Movie Details & Credits

TV-PG

United Artists | Release Date: April 1, 1957

Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb

Summary: 12 Angry Men, by Sidney Lumet, is a behind-closed-doors look at the American legal system. This iconic adaptation of Reginald Rose’s teleplay stars Henry Fonda as the dissenting member on a jury of white men ready to pass judgment on a Puerto Rican teenager charged with murdering his father. The result is a saga of epic proportions that12 Angry Men, by Sidney Lumet, is a behind-closed-doors look at the American legal system. This iconic adaptation of Reginald Rose’s teleplay stars Henry Fonda as the dissenting member on a jury of white men ready to pass judgment on a Puerto Rican teenager charged with murdering his father. The result is a saga of epic proportions that plays out over a tense afternoon in one sweltering room.… Expand

Director: Sidney Lumet

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 96 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert

The movie plays like a textbook for directors interested in how lens choices affect mood. Read full review

100

Slant Magazine - Glenn Heath Jr.

What's most interesting about the intense deliberations that ensue, specifically when a piece of seemingly indisputable evidence is brought back into question, is how a fresh angle and perspective, usually born from Juror 8's critical thinking, can permanently alter the tone of the discussion. Read full review

100

Empire - William Thomas

Sidney Lumet's dazzling debut, based on Reginald Rose's teleplay, delivers a masterclass in the pure dynamism of acting, as Henry Fonda's reasonable doubt gradually sways the 11 other jurors from their various prejudices. Read full review

100

The New York Times - A.H. Weller

A penetrating, sensitive, and sometimes shocking dissection of the hearts and minds of men who obviously are something less than gods. It makes for taut, absorbing, and compelling drama that reaches far beyond the close confines of its jury room setting. Read full review

Time Out London - Geoff Andrew

What really transforms the piece from a rather talky demonstration that a man is innocent until proven guilty, is the consistently taut, sweltering atmosphere, created largely by Boris Kaufman's excellent camerawork. The result, however devoid of action, is a strangely realistic thriller. Read full review

Variety - Staff (Not Credited)

Perhaps the motivations of each juror are introduced too quickly and are repeated too often before each changes his vote. However, the film leaves a tremendous impact. Read full review

Chicago Reader - Jonathan Rosenbaum

Mechanically written, but within its own middlebrow limitations, it delivers the goods. Read full review

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User Reviews

MattBrady99

Dec 19, 2017

The power of movie dialogue really makes this movie a true classic.

The story to 12 Angry Men is one man on a jury stands alone in a case in which most are initially convinced one way but one by one may be convinced another way. 12 men in one room just talking about one murder case andThe power of movie dialogue really makes this movie a true classic.

The story to 12 Angry Men is one man on a jury stands alone in a case in which most are initially convinced one way but one by one may be convinced another way.

12 men in one room just talking about one murder case and them sharing they opinions if the person that may have committed murder is guilty or not, now many things here could have went wrong, you got to have the best writer, the best director and the best actors to make this movie work and it payed off so well and I think this is cinema's greatest risk of doing something new with the story, giving it a twist and a edge and 12 Angry Men paid off brilliantly.

The acting from every singe actor in this movie all do realistic, believable, funny and serious performance's and they all add a lot of weight and drama to their character's. I wish I can bring up every single actors name in this cast but I'm not since these 12 of them and it's going to take up the all page and I can't talk about every singe actor and go into detail about them one at a time, but I can say that everyone in the movie did a flawless work of acting that's pure Oscar worthy and the kind of drama acting they should show kids in drama school. Nicely done fellas.

Sidney Lumet directed this movie and this has to be some of the best directing I've seen from this guy. He really added a lot to this movie when it came to story and characters and the back and forward they have with each other and it worked by his direction.

The characters in the movie (The Twelve Angry Men) don't really like each that much as in every scene they at each other's throat trying to confidence the other men in the room that the man is guilty for murder while that person and the other's bring up some really solid points that this man is guilty or not guilty for murder. As a viewer myself I got really interested in the case and trying to think if he's guilty or not, so this movie does a fantastic job of giving the viewer a opinion on the case and see if you think he did it or not.

For problems with the movie: I don't have any.

Overall 12 Angry Men is such a classic movie with excellent performances from everyone, the writing outstanding and the directing was some of the best. You haven't seen 12 Angry Men then I say go see it, it's worth your time.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

SilentTactician

Feb 21, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 12 men seated in a room discussing whether or not a man should be judged for is crimes. A movie that completely revolves around the characters and ideas rather than anything else. I adored this movie simply because it is a movie that appears to be so simplistic and yet is able to convey a deeper message than any other. The elaborate discussion of right vs wrong, justice vs. injustice, and the ability of humanity to deliver doubt. A personal favorite simply because it was able to keep me entertained while doing so little.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

thelol

Oct 3, 2017

Intense courtroom drama which has 12 very different people, all males, struggling with a murder case involving a young Puerto Rican boy that seems cut-and-dried. However, juror Henry Fonda does not believe it to be as sure-fire as it appears. He votes not guilty and what follows is a chainIntense courtroom drama which has 12 very different people, all males, struggling with a murder case involving a young Puerto Rican boy that seems cut-and-dried. However, juror Henry Fonda does not believe it to be as sure-fire as it appears. He votes not guilty and what follows is a chain of events that will test the views, beliefs and thoughts of the other 11 members. Fonda is great, but Lee J. Cobb steals every scene (and that is not easy to do in a film like this). Ed Begley, Martin Balsam, Jack Warden, Jack Klugman, Joseph Sweeney, E.G. Marshall and John Fiedler are among the other individuals caught in a situation that is much more difficult than it appears on the surface. An excellent character-study that should be studied and embraced by all present and future film-makers.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

devildarkhead

Feb 21, 2018

This is a timeless classic. Stunning performace by the cast. For a low budget movie this is a suprising piece of entertainment.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Cristofer21

Aug 1, 2018

A very good movie with very few resources, the best directors are those who do more with less and that's why Sidney Lumet was a genius of cinema.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MacsMusic

Dec 29, 2017

Can a movie about 12 angry men in 1 room for more than an hour be any good? Yes. Yes it can. "12 Angry Men" is a really cool movie that has lots of moments that made me say "Ahhhaaa!". The characters are really interesting and entertaining throughout, and some are really likable/hate-able,Can a movie about 12 angry men in 1 room for more than an hour be any good? Yes. Yes it can. "12 Angry Men" is a really cool movie that has lots of moments that made me say "Ahhhaaa!". The characters are really interesting and entertaining throughout, and some are really likable/hate-able, in a good way. I was interested for the whole movie, that alone makes it worthy of a few points.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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