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Trailer

12 Years a Slave

2013Movie2 h 14 minR

DramaHistory
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.1Letterboxd4.2/5Metacritic968.0Rotten Tomatoes95%90%

A deeply moving, nerve-racking drama movie about history and a real life story, with standout direction and performances.

Good for thought-provoking · adults · public viewing safe

Skip it if you want something to laugh at · you need an uplifting mood · graphic violence bothers you

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

The extraordinary true story of Solomon Northup.

In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.

Feels like

  • Gritty Historical Drama
  • Brutal Slavery Depiction
  • Biographical Tragedy
  • Psychological Survival
  • Unflinching Realism
  • Haunting Atmosphere
  • Moral Indignation
  • Critical Acclaim
  • Visceral Impact

Cast

24 of 67

Crew

Directed by
Steve McQueen
Written by
John Ridley, Solomon Northup
Produced by
Brad Pitt, Steve McQueen, Bill Pohlad
Music by
Hans Zimmer

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

October 18, 2013 · 2 h 14 min · R

Released
October 18, 2013
Runtime
2 h 14 min
Age rating
R
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Drama, History
Original language
English
Made in
United Kingdom, United States
Budget
$20 million
Box office
$187 million
Available in
70 countries
Keywords
based on true story

Tropes

Evil Is Hammy, Deep South, Bait the Dog +9

  • Evil Is Hammy
  • Deep South
  • Bait the Dog
  • Moral Myopia
  • Born into Slavery
  • Facecam
  • Foil
  • I Cannot Self-Terminate
  • Corporal Punishment
  • Anti-Villain
  • Non-Indicative Name
  • Earn Your Happy Ending

12 of 104 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream 12 Years a Slave?"

Questions about 12 Years a Slave

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream 12 Years a Slave?

In the United States, you can rent or buy 12 Years a Slave from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Spectrum On Demand. It streams in 62 other countries, but not in the United States.

Is 12 Years a Slave worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 8.1, Letterboxd 4.2 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 95%, and Metacritic 96). Critics rate it higher (96 out of 100) than audiences (84).

Is 12 Years a Slave plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on pathos (10 of 10) and character depth (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

Will I feel good after watching 12 Years a Slave?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 8 for melancholy, against 4 for hopefulness.

Was 12 Years a Slave a box office hit?

Budget$20 million
Box office$187 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $20 million to make and earned $187 million worldwide, 9.3 times its budget.

What tropes does 12 Years a Slave use?

Evil Is HammyDeep SouthBait the DogMoral MyopiaBorn into SlaveryFacecamFoilI Cannot Self-TerminateCorporal PunishmentAnti-VillainNon-Indicative NameEarn Your Happy Endingand 92 more

TV Tropes lists 104 tropes for it, including Evil Is Hammy, Deep South, and Bait the Dog.