12 Years a Slave poster

Movie Info

Release Date: October 18, 2013
Runtime: 134 minutes
Genres:
Drama History
Budget: $20,000,000
Revenue: $187,000,000
Original Language: English
Status: Released
Production Countries:
🇺🇸 United States of America 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Spoken Languages:
English
Critic Scores
Ratings from trusted sources
🍅
95%
Tomatometer
96
96/100
Metacritic
🎬
7.9/10
TMDB
11,888 votes
8.1/10
IMDb
785,820 votes
Watchlist
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12 Years a Slave

2013

"Freedom is a fight, not a gift."

Also known as: 🇬🇧 EN: Esclave pendant douze ans? 🇪🇸 ES: 12 años de esclavitud? 🇵🇹 PT: 12 Anos de Escravidão? 🇮🇹 IT: 12 anni schiavo? 🇯🇵 JA: それでも夜は明ける?
Drama History 134 min 8.1/10

Awards & Recognition

View all awards
3 Wins
5 Nominations
8 Total
SAG Awards
1 2 nom.
Oscars
2 3 nom.
Year Festival Category Winner Result
2014 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role - Winner
2014 Oscars Best Supporting Actress - Winner
2014 Oscars Best Picture Brad Pitt Winner
2014 Oscars Best Director Steve McQueen Nominated
2014 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Paul Dano Nominated
2014 Oscars Best Supporting Actor Michael Fassbender Nominated
2014 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Benedict Cumberbatch Nominated
2014 Oscars Best Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor Nominated
Year Festival Category Winner
2014 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role -
2014 Oscars Best Supporting Actress -
2014 Oscars Best Picture Brad Pitt
Year Festival Category Winner
2014 Oscars Best Director Steve McQueen
2014 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Paul Dano
2014 Oscars Best Supporting Actor Michael Fassbender
2014 SAG Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Benedict Cumberbatch
2014 Oscars Best Actor Chiwetel Ejiofor

Synopsis

🧒

Parental Guide — Suitable for 13+

13+

Content guidance for parents

Category Level Indicator
Violence 4/5
Sexual Content 2/5
Language 3/5
Drugs / Alcohol 1/5
Frightening Elements 3/5
🔗

Connections with other movies

This movie has thematic and stylistic connections with the following productions:

Box Office

Budget: $20,000,000
Revenue: $187,000,000
Profit $167,000,000
ROI +835% (9.4x)

Reviews & Opinions about 12 Years a Slave

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12 Years a Slave is directed by Steve McQueen .

Cast of 12 Years a Slave

Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup in 12 Years a Slave
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Solomon Northup
Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps in 12 Years a Slave
Michael Fassbender
Edwin Epps
Benedict Cumberbatch as William Ford in 12 Years a Slave
Benedict Cumberbatch
William Ford
Paul Dano as John Tibeats in 12 Years a Slave
Paul Dano
John Tibeats

See the complete cast and other films with these actors.

Directors

Steve McQueen - Director in 12 Years a Slave
Steve McQueen
Director

Keywords

#19th century 86 #shocking 45 #based on memoir or autobiography 29 #harsh 26 #slavery 17 #plantation 9 #usa history 8 #african american history 7 #physical abuse 4 #abuse of power 2 #black slave 2 #sold into slavery 2 #landowner 2 #slave owner 1 #abolitionist 1

Trivia & Fun Facts about 12 Years a Slave

6
  • The film was shot on location in various places including Louisiana, which helped to authentically depict the antebellum South and the conditions of slavery.

    Behind the Scenes ai
  • Lupita Nyong'o's performance as Patsey was so intense that it left her emotionally drained after filming certain scenes, leading her to take time to recover.

    Behind the Scenes ai
  • In one scene, the character played by Michael Fassbender is seen reading the Bible, which is a nod to the historical context of how slave owners would often use scripture to justify slavery.

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  • Steve McQueen's directorial style often involves long takes, and this film features several prolonged scenes that emphasize the emotional weight of Solomon's experiences.

    Behind the Scenes ai
  • The film's score was composed by Hans Zimmer, who incorporated a mix of orchestral and minimalist elements to enhance the emotional gravity of the film.

    Behind the Scenes ai
  • There is a scene in which a character's clothing changes mid-scene, which has been noted as a continuity error during the film's intense moments.

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