The 12th Man (2018): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
The 12th Man is a 2018 drama thriller directed by Harald Zwart, starring Thomas Gullestad as Jan Baalsrud, Håkon T. Nielsen and Mads Sjøgård Pettersen. It runs 2 hours 15 minutes and earned $9.6 million worldwide on a $7.8 million budget. Critics gave it 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 15m (135 min)
- Director
- Harald Zwart
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- IFC Midnight
- Budget
- $7.8M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The 12th Man About?
The premise of The 12th Man without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
In 1943 Norway, resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud finds himself isolated after a failed sabotage operation, relentlessly pursued by the Gestapo. His escape through the harsh, frozen wilderness becomes a desperate struggle for survival. Facing extreme conditions and constant danger, he must resort to increasingly risky actions to evade capture and endure the unforgiving Arctic winter landscape of Scandinavia.
The 12th Man Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- nazi occupied norway
- world war two
- based on true story
- norway
- german occupation
- nazi
- nazi occupation
- year 1943
- on the run
- saboteur
- sole survivor
- ss officer
+38 more Show fewer
- escape
- fugitive
- swastika lapel pin
- german abroad
- norwegian resistance
- hypothermia
- german soldier
- nazi occupied country
- tromso norway
- torture
- firing squad
- skiing
- avalanche
- gangrene
- nightmare
- cutting off a toe
- sledge
- fighter plane
- aurora borealis
- cave
- flashback
- gestapo
- reindeer
- border crossing
- sami
- british actor plays a german character
- norwegian
- sweden
- survival
- resistance fighter
- chase
- pursuit
- refuge
- bravery
- courage
- blizzard
- snow
- cold the temperature
The 12th Man Cast & Characters
Thomas Gullestad leads the cast as Jan Baalsrud, with Håkon T. Nielsen as Erik Reichelt and Mads Sjøgård Pettersen as Marius Grønvoll. Directed by Harald Zwart; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Harald Zwart
- Thomas Gullestad as Jan Baalsrud
- Håkon T. Nielsen as Erik Reichelt
- Mads Sjøgård Pettersen as Marius Grønvoll
-
Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Kurt Stage
Also Starring in The 12th Man
· 6 more- Alexander Zwart Sjur Ludvigsen Trovåg
- Daniel Frikstad Gabriel Salvesen
- Eirik Risholm Velle Per Blindheim
- Eric Dirnes Bjørn Norman Bolstad
- Marie Blokhus Gudrun Grønvoll
- Vegar Hoel
The 12th Man Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The 12th Man 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 86/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (75).
The 12th Man Echo Score Breakdown
The 12th Man excels as a gripping wartime survival epic with well-crafted visuals and strong narrative momentum. Critics highlight its tense chase sequences and immersive cinematography, while users note the film’s stark atmosphere and taut pacing amid minimal dialogue. Though a few viewers found the pacing sluggish in parts, most praised the emotional depth and authenticity of the true story. Overall, the film delivers a compelling blend of suspense and character resilience that leaves a lasting impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 90
The film’s art and craft stand out with striking camera work and immersive production design. Critics and users praise the snowy landscapes and severe visual impact conveyed through measured framing and an understated color palette. The editing maintains clarity in nocturnal scenes despite sparse lighting, while some viewers found the darkness hindered detail. Overall, the film demonstrates a strong visual identity that supports its bleak wartime narrative.
- Character & Emotion 88
The film’s character portrayal offers nuanced emotional resonance through its lead’s stoic endurance. Critics note the protagonist’s resourcefulness and self-sacrifice conveyed with a subdued yet expressive performance, while users underscore the authenticity of his ordeal. Supporting characters provide understated depth, though limited dialogue reduces direct emotional exposition. In sum, the film achieves a resonant character study that anchors its survival narrative with believability and inward strength.
- Story & Flow 82
The story unfolds as a taut survival narrative with gripping chase sequences and moments of measured pacing. Observers commend its engagement through suspenseful set pieces and the originality of the real-life saga, though a few found early segments slow and dramatically diffuse. The adaptation of familiar wartime tropes is balanced by authentic stakes and clear narrative drive. Overall, the film maintains strong coherence and engagement, despite occasional sluggish stretches.
- Sensory Experience 88
The film’s sensory experience delivers an immersive atmosphere through stark sound design and a restrained yet evocative score. Snow-laden vistas are captured in crisp cinematography, while severe soundscapes reinforce the character’s discomfort during injuries and pursuit. Sparse dialogue heightens ambient noise, amplifying tension, though dim lighting at times obscures detail. Overall, the sensory elements coalesce into an effective and haunting environment that intensifies the survival drama.
- Rewatch Factor 75
The film’s rewatch factor is moderate, driven by its compelling tension and authentic setting. Audience feedback suggests that the vivid chase scenes and the protagonist’s endurance retain appeal on subsequent viewings. However, the bleak tone and deliberate pacing may deter repeat watches for some. The narrative’s historical basis provides context but limits variability in discovery upon replay. Overall, the film offers lasting moments of suspense, though its heavy atmosphere may temper frequent replays.
-
IMDb 7.3 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 86% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 82%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
TMDB 72% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.6 /5
39 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.2 /5
See on Movie Insider
The 12th Man Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in The 12th Man from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The 12th Man chronicles the harrowing true story of Jan Baalsrud, Thomas Gullestad’s daring escape from Nazi-occupied Norway, a survival odyssey that tests breath, willpower, and resolve against a brutal winter landscape.
From Shetland, twelve Norwegian resistance fighters set out on Operation Martin aboard a fishing boat loaded with eight tons of TNT, aiming to sabotage German military facilities. The mission is compromised when their local contact is dead and a German sympathiser betrays their presence, drawing the attention of a pursuing warship.
Full summary
The whole story of The 12th Man, scene by scene, with the ending explained
The 12th Man Box Office & Budget
The 12th Man grossed $9.6 million worldwide on a $7.8 million budget, 1.2 times what it cost.
Worldwide gross
$9.6M
1.2× its budget
- International
- $9.6M
- Budget
- $7.8M
The 12th Man Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The 12th Man.
How Well Do You Know The 12th Man?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the sole surviving fighter featured in the film?
The 12th Man Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Caccia al 12esimo Uomo” and “Caccia al Dodicesimo Uomo”.
- Also known as
-
- Caccia al 12esimo Uomo
- Caccia al Dodicesimo Uomo
- 12-й чоловік
- Dvanáctý muž
- El duodécimo hombre
- Den 12. Mann
- Den 12. mand
- Le 12ème Homme
- 12-й человек
- Ten dvanáctý
- Den 12:e mannen
- 12번째 솔저
+14 more Show fewer
- The 12th Man - Kampf ums Überleben
- 12-ят човек
- Dwunasty człowiek
- O 12º Homem
- 第十二个人
- A tizenkettedik férfi
- 不可能的逃亡
- Caccia al 12° uomo
- האדם השנים עשר
- Дванадцятий
- Ten dvanásty
- El dotzè home
- 12-asis vyras
- 12. čovjek
Seen The 12th Man?
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The 12th Man FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The 12th Man, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The 12th Man?
The 12th Man runs 2 hours 15 minutes (135 minutes).
When was The 12th Man released?
The 12th Man was released on May 4, 2018.
Who directed The 12th Man?
The 12th Man was directed by Harald Zwart.
More films by Harald Zwart Who is in the cast of The 12th Man?
The 12th Man stars Thomas Gullestad as Jan Baalsrud, Håkon T. Nielsen as Erik Reichelt and Mads Sjøgård Pettersen as Marius Grønvoll, among 10 credited actors.
How much did The 12th Man make at the box office?
The 12th Man grossed $9.6 million worldwide on a budget of $7.8 million.
How is The 12th Man rated?
The 12th Man has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 86% on Rotten Tomatoes, 72% on TMDB and 3.6/5 on Letterboxd.
Does The 12th Man have a post-credit scene?
No. The 12th Man has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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