Parents need to know that this is a gripping drama that makes assets out of a simple situation (the ordinary deliberations of a jury) and setting (the room where they have been sequestered). Despite its age, this drama still has a lot to say about the principles on which the American justice system is based, as well as issues of prejudice.
Positive messages:The fact that this jury is made up exclusively of white males should be explained to kids as a sign of the film's time period.
Violence:A young man is accused of stabbing his father to death.
12 Angry Men is a fascinating, great film. Although the whole movie takes place in one room, and is just a bunch of men arguing, it still somehow keeps your full attention.
As far as content goes, there isn't too much parents would object to. Characters discuss a murder, but that's pretty much it. It's appropriate for kids, although I'm not sure if many will like it since the whole thing is dialogue and it's rather slow-paced compared to most of today's films.
I watched this one night on TCM, and, being interested in such movies, watched the whole thing through. I think it was on Halloween last year, so I was only 14-- so it was fine for my age, and is actually good for almost everyone. Some kids will want to see it, albeit they might fall asleep given their tastes in movies, so i suggest that the viewers be interested in such a genre of movies (or at least the novels of John Grisham-- who is an excellent author by the way).
Fantastic movie. I watched it in social studies class. It is amazing, but young kids would get bored since nearly the whole movie takes place in one room.
NicoleReeves parent of 3 , 7 , 9 , 12 , 16 , and 18 year old
13
12 Angry Men!
I saw this for the first time when I was in school, and I thought, 'a movie made in one room with a bunch of old men?' but then when we watched the film I was riveted. I think this movie might bore younger children, because it is mosstly dialogue and filmed in one room, but for teens and aduls this film is simply brilliant!
12 Angry Men is an outstanding court room classic. It features Henry Fonda in a good performance and helped launch the careers of several character actors and first time director Sidney Lumet. A fascinating film in every way. Note to parents: The subject matter is a bit intense for young viewers, but for mature pre-teens and above, a great ride.
This is an amazing movie! I viewed it my senior year of high school and every time the bell would ring I would get angry because that meant we would have to pause the movie haha I was skeptical at first, I mean the whole movie takes place in one room. But any skepticism I has flew out the window with the first scene. This is a powerful movie, and being shot in one room it's carried along by the dialogue which will just blow you away. That one man can make 11 others doubt what they firmly believe to be true, is astounding. Young children might be bored, but anyone over the age of 12 should be able to appreciate it.
A fantastic movie with incredible acting and dialogue that drive the movie. Not much else can drive the movie when the entire thing is shot in a little room.
ok so i saw this movie in school and at first i thought that it would be like so boring. but infact it was like so good!!!! EVERY one (about 50 ppl) was mad at the end of class when we had to stop. Also me and my friends were like talking about it like if the dude was gulty or not personly i thing that he was not gulty but i will not tell you what ends up happing. Anyways it is really good move fao anyone over the age of 10. :)
THIS MOVIE WAS AWESOME!! some kids might find it boring though... i watched it wheni was 10, didnt have a problem with it. ALl they do is sit in a roomm and decide whether the guys guilty or not. THe only things thats scary is that the thing there wondering is whether the guy killed his father or not. But they dont talk about the actual killing, like their are no blood images or "descriptiveness" but once they say but the knife would have stabbe dhim dififferently and then out of nowhewre one of the jury members take a knife and stabs the tabnle because hes angry....it sounds scary but its not like there talking about the knife and then the guy is holdintg it, and when hes done-just to prove a point he stabs the knife into the table
This movie is amazing though I would recommend for teens because younger children might get bored. I absolutely LOVE this movie! It is one of those movies you have to watch before you die!
Personally I thought the start of the film was VERRRRY slow. But the middle and certainly ending sections closed up great, the thing really to congratulate about this film is it's so gripping even though it takes place in a small, heated room. The cinematography is great, pulling out, and the close-ups when the jurors are angry is just awesome.