Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, Lee J Cobb

A dissenting juror in a murder trial slowly manages to convince the others that the case is not as obviously clear as it seemed in court.

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94% liked it

30,737 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

35 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Sidney Lumet

Release Date: April 13, 1957

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DVD Release Date: March 6, 2001

Stats: 5,325 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (5,325)


  • September 23, 2009
    Acting par exsalonce! If only jury service was really this fun! Classic Lumet
  • August 30, 2009
    Review coming soon...
  • August 7, 2009
    For a film with such a seemingly simple plot, 12 Angry Men is very emotionally complex. Every time I watch it, I find something new to be intrigued, excited, and moved by. Like all great movies, 12 Angry Men doesn't bang you over the head with its brilliance - the greatness of ...( read more)the film quietly sneaks up on you, then grabs hold. First time I saw it, I was impressed enough to give it 4 stars, but by the next day, I couldn't wait to watch it again. I just never grew tired of rewatching the flick, and now, maybe 5 months and 8 viewings later, I must concede that this is truly one of the smartest, strongest, and greatest films ever made.

    The key to 12 Angry Men's power is it's universality. I can't imagine how difficult it must've been for the filmmakers and actors to create 12 people with such distinct personalities and yet contain human elements every one of us can identify with. There are no villians in this movie, simply miguided individuals whose opinions and prejudices all can change and evolve over the course of the movie. There's not a single person I can't see a little bit of myself here. There's the man who takes light of everything with inappropriate jokes. The discriminated against, and the discriminators. The man trying to keep everything organized, and the other guy too shy to speak up. The fellow who just wants to wrap everything up so he can see the ball game. The hero. The bully. There's a little bit of all of us here, and that is vital to the movie's appeal.

    The film is as perfectly acted as an ensemble piece can be. Every actor, from the big names like Henry Fonda to the old, nameless man (who keeps getting oddly unsettling close ups in the picture), play their parts with no flaw. On first viewing, you may only be able to barely discern all the men, but after 3 or 4 viewings, you can recognize all of them as well as your own family members. The dialogue is exacting in the way that it shuffles between who the personalities of the men are and going over the actual details of the murder case in question (which is always, by far, the most interesting element of the flick). Often the writers will find a way to mix the trail with those personalities, such as the man only disliking the accused because he's racist (which race the accused was, is never mentioned, because it's not important). But it's in this subtle mix that the flick surpasses how simplistic the one-setting plot could have been, and 12 Angry Men becomes, in a different kind of way, as complex as a political thriller.

    Sidney Lumet directed, who's in his late 80's now and still going strong (his 2007 film Before the Devil Knows Your Dead was one of the best flicks of that year). This, however, was his ultimate masterpiece, where he utilizes lighting, camera angles, long takes and the use of the focal length (grows smaller as the film progresses in order to make it feel more claustrophobic) to create suspense, drama, and tension out of what could have been a very dull scenario. And it's not a film wrapped in a tidy bow - the resolution to the murder case, and how eventually all the men other than Fonda grow to change their opinions, is thought provoking in that they could've been wrong, and maybe the accused actually was the murderer. Ultimately, though, it's the strength of the characters, and how they all become better people over the course of 90 minutes, that makes this film so involving, powerful, and damn near perfect. Sick of Transformers blockbusters raining on your parade and dulling your mind? Go rent 12 Angry Men and see how movies USED to be made.
  • July 26, 2009
    truly one of the great films in history. really the film is overly simple, you stick 12 pissed off guys in a room together for 90 minutes and watch them yell at each other. but the film carries a profundity rarely seen in film. the script was one of the best ever written and t...( read more)he acting was flawless at every turn. the film doesnt truly resolve its problem but i was ok with that. im sure i will rewatch this film many times.
  • February 18, 2009
    Pulling this dialogue-heavy, one-setting murder mystery off was Sidney Lumet's greatest highwire act. Intensely evocative, powerfully acted by all involved parties, and with an ending that could easily have degenerated into tenuous sap but is actually touching. I love how you get...( read more) such a clear mental picture of the murder scene and everything that transpired on it without ever actually getting to see it. How's that for writing?

    12 Angry Men is a little limited to call a classic, but what a great showcase for these twelve thespians and for Sidney Lumet's first film. This got a lot of people where they deserved to be.
  • November 5, 2009
    The battle for a seemingly guilty man is extremely intense. Henry Fonda is a very well-educated and respectable architect who is serving jury duty for a murder case. The whole movie is set in the jury room. 11 of the jurors believe the man is guilty but one man has a reasonable d...( read more)oubt and must convince that the man is innocent. A very intense movie which is also filled with intensity.
  • November 3, 2009
    This original version has more detailed and powerful contents than the remake one.
  • October 27, 2009
    Thanks, I'll try to watch it.
  • October 21, 2009
    This is a superb movie... what's most amazing about it is that it all took place in a jury room...I fell in love with Henry Fonda's character... a must to see!
  • October 14, 2009
    12 jurors decide the fate of one boy. "You're letting him slip through our fingers!"

Critic Reviews


November 19, 2002
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is a film where tension comes from personality conflict, dialogue and body language, not action. full review

View more 12 Angry Men (Twelve Angry Men) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • angelamabar01
    December 4, 2008
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  • greenchic13
    May 16, 2008
    i saw the movie in my college class and i enjoyed it! its really good and crazy to see what can be happening within the jury people :D its a good movie
  • IRONMANBLAST
    March 1, 2008
    AS A SIDE NOTE A MOVIE CALLED 12 ANGRY MEN SHOULD HAVE ALL 12 MEN'S PROFILE THUMBNAILS IN ITS CAST LIST
    I WILL TRY TO GET AROUND TO IT. SOME HELP WOULD BE NICE THOUGH :)

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12 Angry Men (Twelve Angry Men) Trivia


  • A courtroom drama about a man who stands alone in his belief of the innocence of a boy accused of the murder of his father. In order to save the boy he must convince the other jurors to change their hasty decision. (Original)  Answer »
  • Name that Tagline Life is in their hands - Death is on their minds!  Answer »
  • What Movie is this Tagline from? "...it explodes like twelve sticks of dynamite!"   Answer »

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