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12 Years a Slave

  • 20132013
  • RR
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
711K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
739
221
Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
Play trailer2:27
38 Videos
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory
In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.In the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.
IMDb RATING
8.1/10
711K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
739
221
  • Director
    • Steve McQueen
  • Writers
    • John Ridley(screenplay by)
    • Solomon Northup(based on "Twelve Years a Slave" by)
  • Stars
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Michael Kenneth Williams
    • Michael Fassbender
  • Director
    • Steve McQueen
  • Writers
    • John Ridley(screenplay by)
    • Solomon Northup(based on "Twelve Years a Slave" by)
  • Stars
    • Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Michael Kenneth Williams
    • Michael Fassbender
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 979User reviews
    • 491Critic reviews
    • 96Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated movie #182
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 242 wins & 337 nominations total

    Videos38

    UK Trailer
    Trailer 2:27
    Watch UK Trailer
    Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:29
    Watch Trailer #1
    12 Years a Slave
    Trailer 2:21
    Watch 12 Years a Slave
    The Rise of Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Clip 4:09
    Watch The Rise of Chiwetel Ejiofor
    12 Years a Slave
    Clip 0:41
    Watch 12 Years a Slave
    12 Years a Slave
    Clip 0:56
    Watch 12 Years a Slave
    12 Years A Slave: I Did As Instructed
    Clip 0:47
    Watch 12 Years A Slave: I Did As Instructed
    12 Years A Slave: A Lusty Visit In The Night
    Clip 0:24
    Watch 12 Years A Slave: A Lusty Visit In The Night
    12 Years A Slave: Welcome To Washington
    Clip 1:09
    Watch 12 Years A Slave: Welcome To Washington
    12 Years A Slave: I Want To Live
    Clip 0:41
    Watch 12 Years A Slave: I Want To Live
    12 Years A Slave: Soap
    Clip 0:41
    Watch 12 Years A Slave: Soap
    12 Years A Slave: What'd You Say To Pats?
    Clip 1:22
    Watch 12 Years A Slave: What'd You Say To Pats?

    Photos198

    Chiwetel Ejiofor and Adepero Oduye in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Paul Dano and Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Sarah Paulson and Michael Fassbender in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Paul Giamatti in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kelsey Scott, Quvenzhané Wallis, and Cameron Zeigler in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, and Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor and Benedict Cumberbatch in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Chiwetel Ejiofor in 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    Sarah Paulson and Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave (2013)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    Chiwetel Ejiofor
    • Solomon Northup
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    Michael Kenneth Williams
    • Robert
    Michael Fassbender
    Michael Fassbender
    • Edwin Epps
    Brad Pitt
    Brad Pitt
    • Bass
    Dwight Henry
    Dwight Henry
    • Uncle Abram
    Dickie Gravois
    • Overseer
    Bryan Batt
    Bryan Batt
    • Judge Turner
    Ashley Dyke
    Ashley Dyke
    • Anna
    Kelsey Scott
    Kelsey Scott
    • Anne Northup
    Quvenzhané Wallis
    Quvenzhané Wallis
    • Margaret Northup
    Cameron Zeigler
    • Alonzo Northup
    Tony Bentley
    Tony Bentley
    • Mr. Moon
    Scoot McNairy
    Scoot McNairy
    • Brown
    Taran Killam
    Taran Killam
    • Hamilton
    Christopher Berry
    Christopher Berry
    • Burch
    Bill Camp
    Bill Camp
    • Radburn
    Mister Mackey Jr.
    • Randall
    Chris Chalk
    Chris Chalk
    • Clemens
    • Director
      • Steve McQueen
    • Writers
      • John Ridley(screenplay by)
      • Solomon Northup(based on "Twelve Years a Slave" by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    A Guide to the Films of Steve McQueen

    A Guide to the Films of Steve McQueen

    Through detailed close-ups, single-take dialogues, and powerhouse performances, Oscar-winning filmmaker Steve McQueen has shown audiences his unflinching perspectives on real-world drama.
    Watch the video
    Image caption not available
    2:08

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The tree where Solomon sees several men being lynched was actually used for lynching, and is surrounded by the graves of murdered slaves.
    • Goofs
      When "Platt" is explaining how to bring the logs down the river, the overseer scornfully asks him where he became an expert in engineering and "terraforming." This a word coined by science fiction author Jack Williamson in 1942, almost exactly 100 years after the scene takes place.
    • Quotes

      Solomon Northup: I don't want to survive. I want to live.

    • Crazy credits
      "Solomon brought the men responsible for his abduction to trial. Unable to testify against whites in the nation's capital, he lost the case against the slave pen owner, James Burch. After lengthy legal proceedings in New York, his kidnappers Hamilton and Brown also avoided prosecution."
    • Connections
      Featured in The Onion Film Standard: 12 Years a Slave (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      My Lord, Sunshine
      Written by Nicholas Britell

      Performed by Roosevelt Credit and David Hughey

    User reviews979

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    And the Oscar goes to...
    chitchens fan • 2 hours ago △ ▽

    −

    Well, to begin, I cannot remember the last time I could not get up at the end of a movie. I literally could not rise up from my seat. My body felt as though it were being weighed down by something considerably larger and heavier than myself... History had it's way with me( I am an African American woman). Thank you Mr. McQueen, Mr. Ejiofor, Ms. Nyong'o, Ms. Paulson and others, and yes, even Mr. Fassbender. I am not a film critic nor a movie hobbyist, although I try to stay current, but what I am is a human being trying to understand the various problems and issues within our country. This movie is a potent reminder of why we are where we are as a society today. How man can be so unflinchingly cruel to his fellow man, especially if he looks, speaks or behaves differently, I will never understand.
    helpful•412
    193
    • thamanidelgardo-822-410218
    • Oct 19, 2013

    FAQ11

    • Is '12 Years a Slave' based on a book?
    • Did Solomon really play the violin?
    • Did Solomon's kidnappers really drug him?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 8, 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Twelve Years a Slave
    • Filming locations
      • Madame John's Legacy, the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA(slave pen)
    • Production companies
      • New Regency Productions
      • River Road Entertainment
      • Plan B Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $56,671,993
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $923,715
      • Oct 20, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $187,733,202
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
      • Dolby Surround 7.1
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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