12 Angry Men

1957 • 96 minutes

About this movie

A hot, muggy New York City... Twelve white-male jurors try to reach a verdict in a murder trial -- a case involving a Puerto Rican teenager from the slums who is accused of knifing his father to death. Eleven jurors agree that the defendant is guilty...but one man, believing the boy is innocent, sets out to convince the other jurors he’s right by building a case for acquittal. Based on a television play by Reginald Rose.

Ratings and reviews

12 Angry Men was a delightfully and surprisingly insightful movie. As a member of the audience watching the film, it was exhilarating to see the protagonist make progress through his arguments and I found myself rooting for him, waiting to see what he would do next. On hindsight, the methods the protagonist used to achieve his goal may not have been as mysterious as I initially thought and could be replicated in different contexts. The other characters used methods that are commonly seen in disputes, but they may not have been the best ways to convince others. For instance, many concepts could have been adapted from Getting to Yes (Fisher & Ury, 1981). I admired the protagonists' ability to stay firm in his stance while being flexible in the face of others' arguments. I think that his ability to avoid pitfalls and taunts of others was entertaining but also set a positive example for younger audiences. Furthermore, the entire process underscored the importance of clear communication, ability to separate personal relationships from the substance at hand, and acknowledging privilege. Would highly recommend young adults looking to learn more about effective ways to interact with peers in a working environment.

I was recently on jury duty and this movie came up in conversation. I had never seen it so decided to watch it. Most times for me really old movies like this lack the acting skills that I enjoy. They usually seem silly and stiff. But this movie was really good and kept my attention throughout. Interesting how a movie with only one location and no costume changes could be so engrossing. I had never seen anything like it but it was definitely worth seeing. The camera angles were a bit dated & overly dramatic for my taste but the acting was well played.

Outstanding performance by Henry Fonda. The movie puts you in the jury room during deliberations. 12 "Angry Men" brings social mores that were being used to judge the accused. Well worth watching.