12 Angry Men Ending Explained, Plot, Cast, and More
by A Maria
Updated May 02, 2023
12 Angry Men
12 Angry Men is a film directed by Sidney Lumet and released in 1957. The movie is based on a 1954 teleplay of the same name by Reginald Rose. It depicts the story of 12 jurors who deliberate the conviction or acquittal of a teenager accused of murder. The film delves into the jurors' personalities, experiences, and actions, forcing the audience to evaluate their own self-image. Henry Fonda, who also produced the movie, stars alongside Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E. G. Marshall, and Jack Warden.
The movie explores various techniques of consensus-building and the difficulties that arise in the process. The jurors are only identified by number, and no names are revealed until the very end of the film. 12 Angry Men was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay at the 30th Academy Awards and received critical acclaim despite its lukewarm box office performance.
The movie is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2007. The American Film Institute also selected it as the second-best courtroom drama ever after 1962's To Kill a Mockingbird.
12 Angry Men Ending Explained
After successfully persuading the jury to reach a "not guilty" verdict, Juror #8 approaches his adversary, Juror #3, and helps him put on his coat. This small act of kindness signifies that despite their intense debates and disagreements in the jury room, there will be no grudges held once they leave. Later, Juror #8 meets Juror #9 outside the courthouse, and they introduce themselves, reminding the audience that the film has intentionally withheld the jurors' names, as well as the names of other characters such as the defendant and witnesses.
This lack of individual identity emphasizes the importance of group decision-making and the democratic process. However, the film also acknowledges that it is one person, Juror #8, who ultimately saves the day by leading the group toward a just verdict. He understands the importance of his duty as a juror and guides others to serve justice.
In the final scene, Juror #8 is seen walking away from the courthouse with a smile, reminding the viewers that although the process may have been difficult and uncertain, justice can prevail if people take their responsibilities seriously and put aside their biases and self-interests.
12 Angry Men Cast
Martin Balsam
Juror 1
John Fiedler
Juror 2
Lee J. Cobb
Juror 3
E. G. Marshall
Juror 4
Jack Klugman
Juror 5
Edward Binns
Juror 6
Jack Warden
Juror 7
Henry Fonda
Davis Juror 8
Joseph Sweeney
McCardle, Juror 9
Ed Begley
Juror 10
George Voskovec
Juror 11
Robert Webber
Juror 12
Rudy Bond
Judge
Tom Gorman
Stenographer
James Kelly
Bailiff
Billy Nelson
Court Clerk
John Savoca
Defendant
Walter Stocker
Man waiting for elevator
CAST
CHARACTER
12 Angry Men Plot
The jury room of the New York County Courthouse is hot as the jurors begin to deliberate the case of a poor teenager who is accused of murdering his abusive father with a knife. The judge instructs the jury that a guilty verdict will result in a mandatory death sentence by the electric chair, and a not guilty verdict requires unanimous agreement from the jury.
At first, the case seems straightforward with one witness testifying that she saw the defendant stab his father from her window, and another neighbor testifying to hearing the defendant threaten to kill his father and then saw him running down the stairs after the murder. The defendant also had a violent past and had recently bought a switchblade like the one found at the crime scene, though he claimed to have lost it.
In the first vote, all jurors vote guilty except for Juror 8, who believes they should discuss the case further before making a verdict. However, his initial arguments fail to convince anyone, so he suggests a secret ballot where he will abstain, and if all the other jurors still vote guilty, he will go along with it. The ballot reveals one "not guilty" vote, and Juror 9 reveals that he changed his vote because he agrees with Juror 8's motives.
Juror 8 then argues that the second witness's story is questionable because the noise from the passing train would have obscured everything he claimed to have overheard. With Juror 5 and 11 changing their votes, the jury is now evenly split. During further discussions, Juror 8 questions the validity of the second witness's story, and Jurors 2, 5, and 6 join in the questioning, eventually determining that it was impossible for the disabled witness to make it to the door in time.
This angers Juror 3, who tries to attack Juror 8. After a few more discussions and a test of Juror 4's memory, more jurors change their votes, except for Juror 10, who begins to express bigoted views. Juror 4 maintains a guilty vote, arguing that the woman who saw the killing from across the street provides solid evidence.
But Juror 9 realizes that the witness was constantly rubbing similar impressions on her nose, indicating that she also wore glasses and did not have time to put them on before witnessing the murder. More jurors change their votes, except for Juror 3, who loudly expresses his strained relationship with his own son and his wish for the defendant to be found guilty.
However, he eventually breaks down in tears and changes his vote to not guilty. Jurors 8 and 9 learn each other's names before parting, and the defendant is acquitted off-screen. The movie ends with the jurors leaving the courthouse, and Juror 8 graciously helping Juror 3 with his coat.
About 12 Angry Men
Directed by
Sidney Lumet
Screenplay by
Reginald Rose
Based on
Twelve Angry Men
1954 teleplay on Studio One
by Reginald Rose
Release date
Country
United States
Language
English
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
12 Angry Men Ending Explained - FAQs
"12 Angry Men" is a movie about 12 jurors who are tasked with deliberating the conviction or acquittal of a teenager accused of murder. As they discuss the case, the jurors' personalities, experiences, and actions are revealed, and the movie explores various techniques of consensus-building and the difficulties that arise in the process.
"12 Angry Men" was directed by Sidney Lumet.
"12 Angry Men" was released in 1957.
No, "12 Angry Men" is not based on a book, but rather a 1954 teleplay of the same name by Reginald Rose.
Henry Fonda, who also produced the movie, stars alongside Lee J. Cobb, Ed Begley, E. G. Marshall, and Jack Warden.