12 Angry Men

A twelve-man jury must decide the fate of a teenager accused of murder. Only one man believes in his innocence.

In 1957, legendary director Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon, Network) made his feature debut adapting a teleplay originally written for television. Though not a box-office hit at the time, 12 Angry Men was hailed by critics and is now considered a landmark of American cinema.

1950s New York: a destitute teenager stands trial for the murder of his father. The film unfolds almost entirely inside the room where the jury, twelve randomly selected male citizens, must reach a unanimous verdict. The young defendant's guilt seems open-and-shut, but one juror (Henry Fonda) has his doubts, forcing the other eleven men into a debate with far-reaching consequences.

Led by superstar Henry Fonda, the diverse ensemble of powerhouse actors constantly challenges each other, leaving viewers enraptured. The simplicity of the concept gives the varied characters room to clash and reconcile in a way that hasn't lost any of its power after more than half a century. With 12 Angry Men, the courtroom drama became a genre in its own right, directly influencing classics like Anatomy of a Murder.