12 Angry Men

It’s films like this that prove you don’t need a big budget, impressive sets, or CGI explosions every five minutes to create something that will stick with people for generations. 12 Angry Men takes place almost entirely in one room and is driven solely by character and plot. It tells the story of twelve men on jury duty and the tension that arises over a disagreement over whether the young boy on trial is guilty. The film receives praise from critics for its compelling themes and what the final decision reveals.

Production

Directed by Sidney Lumet

Produced by Henry Fonda, Reginald Rose

Screenplay by Reginald Rose

Story by Reginald Rose

Starring Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E. G. Marshall, Jack Warden

Music by Kenyon Hopkins

Cinematography by Boris Kaufman

Edited by Carl Lerner

Production company: Orion-Nova Productions

Distribution & Stats

Distributed by United Artists

Release date: April 10, 1957

Running time: 96 minutes

Country: United States

Language: English

Budget: $337,000

Box office: $2,000,000 (rentals)