The 1957 Sidney Lumet film centered on a jury’s deliberation in a murder case is 12 Angry Men.
The legal drama follows 12 jurors deciding whether a teenager charged with murder should be convicted. At first, nearly every juror favors a guilty verdict, but Juror 8, played by Henry Fonda, insists that they examine the evidence and consider reasonable doubt before reaching a decision.
The film was Sidney Lumet’s feature directorial debut. Reginald Rose adapted his screenplay from his 1954 live television play, which was influenced by his own experience serving on a jury. The confined jury room becomes the film’s main setting, allowing tension to build through argument, testimony, prejudice, and changing interpretations of evidence.
12 Angry Men was nominated for three Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. Although its initial box-office performance was modest, it became highly regarded over time and was added to the U.S. National Film Registry in 2007. The title refers to the all-male jury, not to twelve defendants or twelve courtroom lawyers.