• 12 Years a Slave (2013)

    In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner (Michael Fassbender), he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity. Then in the 12th year of the...

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12 Years a Slave
96
metacriticBased on 57 Critics
81
Based on 1439 Users

Release Date: October 18th, 2013

DVD Release Date: March 4th, 2014

R |2 hr 14 min

Plot Summary

In the years before the Civil War, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in the South. Subjected to the cruelty of one malevolent owner (Michael Fassbender), he also finds unexpected kindness from another, as he struggles continually to survive and maintain some of his dignity. Then in the 12th year of the disheartening ordeal, a chance meeting with an abolitionist from Canada changes Solomon's life forever.

Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Garret Dillahunt, Paul Giamatti, Scoot McNairy, Lupita Nyong'o

Director: Steve McQueen

Genres: Biography , Historical drama

Production Co: River Road, Plan B Entertainment, New Regency Pictures

Keywords: Escape, Dark, Revenge, Quest

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 90
    Todd McCarthyThe Hollywood Reporter

    Perhaps the nature of the story is such that the film can’t help but be obvious and quite melodramatic at times, but it gets better as it goes along and builds to a moving finish. show more

  • 90
    Dana StevensSlate

    It’s the unhappiest happy ending I’ve ever seen, a moment that makes you weep not just for this one man who found his way back to freedom, but for all those men and women who never knew it in the first place. show more

  • 100
    ScreenCrush

    12 Years a Slave is an emotional workout, but McQueen makes many remarkable choices. show more

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

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Awards

Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Winner Leading Actor
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Winner Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Winner Film
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Nominated Supporting Actor
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Nominated Production Design
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Director
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Winner Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Directing
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Nominated Best Original Score - Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Film Editing
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Actor in a Leading Role
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Winner Best Picture
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Nominated Costume Design
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Nominated Editing
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Nominated Best Director - Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Winner Actress in a Supporting Role
Oscars Academy Awards (2013)
Nominated Best Performance By an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
Golden Globes (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Adapted Screenplay
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Nominated Original Music
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Best Performance By an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Golden Globes (2014)
Nominated Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
Nominated Cinematography
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Winner Best Motion Picture - Drama
Golden Globes (2014)
Nominated Supporting Actress
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)
Nominated Production Design
British Academy of Film & Television Arts (2014)