12 Years a Slave
2013 · Movie · R · 134 min · ★ 7.9 · 96% critics
In the pre-Civil War United States, a free man is abducted and sold into slavery. During a brutal and uncertain journey, he struggles to survive while protecting his dignity, until a chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist shifts his future.
Based on Twelve Years a Slave
Also known as Esclave pendant douze ans
Where to watch
Streaming on YouTube TV — or rent from $3.99.
2 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 2013
- Release date
- 2013-10-18
- Language
- English
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Critic score
- 96/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.9/10 (12,013 votes)
- Box office
- $187,733,202
- Budget
- $20,000,000
About
You’ll likely feel a heavy, emotionally intense viewing experience with a realistic, dignity-focused survival story; Not for you if you want lighter tone or if explicit cruelty feels too much, and you may prefer Django Unchained or The Killing Fields instead.
Pros: powerful performances; true-to-life tone; unforgettable impact | Cons: hard to watch brutality; uneven emotional payoff; limited context
Themes
- slavery
- louisiana
- based on true story
- racism
- based on memoir or autobiography
- period drama
- slave owner
- shocking
- 19th century
- sold into slavery
- abolitionist
- african american history
- +4 more
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2014
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 2014
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2014
- Broadcast Film Critics Association Award — Best Film · 2014
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Screenplay · 2014
Show all 23 awards →
- Independent Spirit Award — Best Cinematography · 2014
- AACTA International Award — Best Actor · 2013
- BAFTA Award — Best Film · 2013
- Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award — Best Film · 2013
- Dorian Award — Film of the Year · 2013
- Golden Globe Award — Best Motion Picture – Drama · 2013
- Satellite Award — Best Film · 2013
- Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award · 2013
- National Board of Review: Top Ten Films
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actress · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Production Design · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Costume Design · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 2014 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2014 · nominated
Cast & crew
Chiwetel Ejiofor
as Solomon Northup
Michael Fassbender
as Edwin Epps
Lupita Nyong'o
as Patsey
Benedict Cumberbatch
as William Ford
Paul Dano
as John Tibeats
Sarah Paulson
as Mary Epps
Adepero Oduye
as Eliza
Scoot McNairy
as Brown
Paul Giamatti
as Theophilus Freeman
Brad Pitt
as Samuel Bass
Directed by Steve McQueen