The Classic Courtroom Crime Thriller Everyone Needs To See, Stream Without Netflix

The narrative of 12 Angry Men is very fascinating, boundary-breaking, yet quite straightforward. The film follows a room full of jurors as they deliberate the fate of a young man facing the death sentence on charges of murder. These men are never properly named, and are only identified by their juror number, as they passionately argue the facts of the case before reaching a judgment. Along the way, their personal politics, prejudices, and preconceived notions of their fellow man are tested, as the case exposes the dubious nature of a trial by jury.

An audience of today might look at a film like 12 Angry Men as something of a bottle episode, as 90 percent of the film’s run-time takes place in a single room over the course of one afternoon. While this is partially due to the filming constraints of the 1950s, it also showcases just how strong the writing and performances are in this beloved cinematic classic.

Over the course of just 90 minutes, these men are able to walk through the details of a complex murder case, uncover reasonable doubt in the prosecution’s argument, and deliberate their findings until each juror reaches a sense of empathetic enlightenment.

Upon its release, 12 Angry Men received very little box office attention from general audiences, though critics went wild for the film. The following year, it was nominated for a host of Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Screenplay, and Best Director.

Today, 12 Angry Men touts a staggering 100 percent perfect critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 97 percent general audience score to match. While the cast may not tout names immediately notable to younger viewers, acts like Henry Fonda, John Fiedler, Ed Begley, E.G. Marshall, and On The Waterfront‘s Lee J. Cobb were like the Avengers of their time.

Despite its shoestring budget and simple presentation, 12 Angry Men is largely considered to be one of the most important films of the 20th century, and has been selected for preservation by the Library of Congress. Likewise, the American Film Institute referred to 12 Angry Men as one of the greatest courtroom dramas ever crafted, second only to 1962’s To Kill A Mockingbird. Though it doesn’t pack an MCU level of excitement or special effects, 12 Angry Men still holds up to this day, and offers a deeply engrossing cinematic experience.

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Those interested in watching 12 Angry Men today can stream the film on Amazon Prime Video. While the nearly century-old creation can feel a bit dated as it first kicks into gear, the strong writing and moving performances will quickly enrapture you for an unparalleled experience.