12 Angry Men
1957 · Sidney Lumet · 96 min · Drama
12 Angry Men proves that a single room, a dozen actors, and a great script can be more gripping than any blockbuster. Sidney Lumet's debut remains one of the most effective pieces of filmmaking ever assembled, a 96-minute pressure cooker that loses none of its power nearly seven decades later. The lack of diversity among the jurors is a legitimate limitation, and the staginess won't appeal to everyone. But as a study of how bias, laziness, and groupthink can corrupt the pursuit of justice, nothing else comes close.
drama courtroom jury 1950s