12 Years a Slave 2013

As freedom hangs precariously in the balance, Solomon Northup's world is shattered when he's seized and sold into slavery, torn from his family and identity. Amidst unrelenting brutality, he finds glimmers of hope and humanity in unexpected places, as he clings to dignity and a desperate desire for escape.

As freedom hangs precariously in the balance, Solomon Northup's world is shattered when he's seized and sold into slavery, torn from his family and identity. Amidst unrelenting brutality, he finds glimmers of hope and humanity in unexpected places, as he clings to dignity and a desperate desire for escape.

Does 12 Years a Slave have end credit scenes?

No!

12 Years a Slave does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of 12 Years a Slave

Explore the complete cast of 12 Years a Slave, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for 12 Years a Slave

See how 12 Years a Slave is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where 12 Years a Slave stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

96

Metascore

8.0

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

95%

TOMATOMETER

review

90%

User Score

IMDb

8.1 /10

IMDb Rating

TMDB

79

%

User Score

Letterboxd

4.2

From 1.3K fan ratings

Movie Insider

4.14/5

From 76 fan ratings

Take the Ultimate 12 Years a Slave Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of 12 Years a Slave with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


12 Years a Slave Quiz: Test your knowledge on the gripping story of Solomon Northup's struggle for freedom in '12 Years a Slave'.

What year does Solomon Northup's story begin?

Awards & Nominations for 12 Years a Slave

Explore awards

Discover all the awards and nominations received by 12 Years a Slave, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how 12 Years a Slave and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


30th Artios Award 2015

Win

Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Big Budget Feature - Drama

86th Academy Awards 2014

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Nomination

Actor in a Leading Role

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Michael Fassbender
Nomination

Actor in a Supporting Role

Michael Fassbender
Lupita Nyong'o
Win

Actress in a Supporting Role

Lupita Nyong'o
Nomination

Costume Design

Steve McQueen
Nomination

Directing

Steve McQueen
Nomination

Film Editing

Win

Best Picture

Nomination

Production Design

Win

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

67th British Academy Film Awards 2014

Win

Best Film

Steve McQueen
Nomination

Best Direction

Steve McQueen
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Win

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Michael Fassbender
Nomination

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Michael Fassbender
Lupita Nyong'o
Nomination

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Lupita Nyong'o
Nomination

Best Adapted Screenplay

Nomination

Best Cinematography

Nomination

Best Editing

Nomination

Best Original Music

Nomination

Best Production Design

19th Critics' Choice Awards 2014

Win

Best Picture

Steve McQueen
Nomination

Best Director

Steve McQueen
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Nomination

Best Actor

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Michael Fassbender
Nomination

Best Supporting Actor

Michael Fassbender
Lupita Nyong'o
Win

Best Supporting Actress

Lupita Nyong'o
Nomination

Best Acting Ensemble

Win

Best Adapted Screenplay

John Ridley
Nomination

Best Art Direction

Nomination

Best Cinematography

Nomination

Best Costume Design

Nomination

Best Editing

Nomination

Best Score

Hans Zimmer
Nomination

Best Hair and Makeup

20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2014

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Nomination

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Michael Fassbender
Nomination

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Michael Fassbender
Lupita Nyong'o
Win

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Lupita Nyong'o
Nomination

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

66th Directors Guild of America Awards 2014

Steve McQueen
Nomination

Feature Film

Steve McQueen

71st Golden Globe Awards 2014

Win

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Nomination

Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Michael Fassbender
Nomination

Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy

Michael Fassbender
Lupita Nyong'o
Nomination

Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy

Lupita Nyong'o
Steve McQueen
Nomination

Best Director

Steve McQueen
Nomination

Best Screenplay

John Ridley
Nomination

Best Original Score

Hans Zimmer

29th Independent Spirit Awards 2014

Win

Best Feature

Steve McQueen
Win

Best Director

Steve McQueen
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Nomination

Best Male Lead

Chiwetel Ejiofor
Michael Fassbender
Nomination

Best Supporting Male

Michael Fassbender
Lupita Nyong'o
Win

Best Supporting Female

Lupita Nyong'o
Win

Best Screenplay

Win

Best Cinematography

11th Irish Film & Television Academy Awards 2014

Win

International Film sponsored by American Airlines

Nomination

International Actor

2013 Toronto International Film Festival Awards 2013

Steve McQueen
Win

People's Choice Award

Steve McQueen

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for 12 Years a Slave

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Read the complete plot summary of 12 Years a Slave, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


In 1841, Solomon Northup, portrayed by Chiwetel Ejiofor, is a free African American man living in Saratoga Springs, New York. He is a skilled carpenter and talented fiddle player, enjoying life with his beloved wife and two children. However, everything changes when he is deceived by two men, who offer him a seemingly promising two-week job as a musician. After being drugged, Solomon awakens to find himself in chains, on the brink of being sold into slavery.

Transported to New Orleans, Solomon is stripped of his identity and renamed “Platt,” the name of a runaway slave from Georgia. He faces brutal treatment from those who have enslaved him, being beaten regularly. Eventually, he is bought by the plantation owner William Ford, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, a relatively kind master. Solomon uses his skills to create a waterway that allows for the efficient transportation of logs, earning the gratitude of Ford, who gifts him a violin.

However, life on the plantation takes a darker turn as Carpenter John Tibeats, portrayed by Paul Dano, harbors resentment towards Solomon and begins to verbally abuse him. The conflict escalates as Tibeats launches a physical attack, leading to an attempt to lynch Solomon. In desperation, Ford is forced to sell Northup to Edwin Epps, a plantation owner played by Michael Fassbender, whose cruel treatment is justified in his mind by a misinterpretation of the Bible. Epps forces his slaves to pick an unreasonable amount of cotton, or face harsh punishments.

One of the slaves, Patsey, a character performed by Lupita Nyong’o, becomes Epps’ particular obsession, as she is capable of picking an astounding 500 pounds of cotton each day. Epps sexually assaults her, while his wife, played by Sarah Paulson, is consumed by jealousy, further subjecting Patsey to humiliation and violence. In a moment of despair, Patsey pleads with Solomon to end her suffering, but he cannot bring himself to do so.

After a devastating cotton worm blight hits the plantation, Epps wrongly blames the newer slaves for the disaster and sends them away, temporarily leasing them to another plantation. During this time, Solomon gains favor with the neighboring plantation’s owner, who recognizes his musical talent. After returning to Epps, Solomon tries to utilize a coin gifted to him to pay a man, Garret Dillahunt’s character, to communicate with his friends back in New York. Although the man accepts the money, he betrays Solomon. In a heartbreaking moment, Solomon is forced to burn the letter, representing the last shred of hope for his freedom.

As time progresses, Solomon starts to work alongside a Canadian laborer named Bass, played by Brad Pitt. Bass openly criticizes Epps for his treatment of the slaves, which only angers Epps further. Meanwhile, one harrowing day, Epps discovers Patsey is missing and harshly punishes her upon her return. Under duress, he compels Solomon to whip Patsey, an act that deeply traumatizes him.

In a turning point, Solomon bravely confides in Bass about his abduction and pleads for his help to send a letter to Saratoga Springs. Bass, risking his life, agrees to assist him. Eventually, a local sheriff arrives with a man from Solomon’s past, confirming his identity and intent to free him. Despite Epps’ furious protests and Patsey’s devastation, Solomon is liberated after twelve grueling years of bondage.

Reunited with his family, Solomon steps into his home where he is welcomed by a heartwarming sight of his loved ones, including his daughter and grandson. The film closes with an epilogue detailing the challenges Solomon faced in seeking justice for his enslavement, as well as the lingering mysteries surrounding his later life and death.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for 12 Years a Slave

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from 12 Years a Slave. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Official Trailer

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


racismseparation from familywhippingtorturehuman traffickingrapeslavery1840sfemale frontal nudityslavephysical abusemale frontal nudityshackviolindungeonmistresssheriffkingjudgeunclepublic nuditynational film registrymusicianafrican american1850sbased on autobiographyfreedomflogging scarcasual sexmother child separationloss of identitysexual abuseslave laborinterracial marriageinterracial romancehangingforced to stripcotton plantationcanadian expatriatesold into slaveryslave ownerfilm starts with sexwashington d.c.sex scenefiddlerochester new yorklouisianafriendshipsingersinging

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