12 Years a Slave
“The extraordinary true story of Solomon Northup.”
Synopsis
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2013-07-19
Top Cast
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Chiwetel Ejiofor
Solomon Northup
Michael Fassbender
Edwin Epps
Lupita Nyong'o
Patsey
Benedict Cumberbatch
William Ford
Paul Dano
John Tibeats
Sarah Paulson
Mary Epps
Adepero Oduye
Eliza
Scoot McNairy
Brown
Paul Giamatti
Theophilus Freeman
Brad Pitt
Samuel Bass
Michael Kenneth Williams
Robert
Alfre Woodard
Mistress Shaw
Chris Chalk
Clemens
Taran Killam
Hamilton
Bill Camp
Radburn
Kelsey Scott
Anne Northup
Bryan Batt
Judge Turner
Quvenzhané Wallis
Margaret Northup
Release History & Theatrical Window
Dubai International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
October 18, 2013
Wide Cinema Exhibition
March 4, 2014
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$20M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$187M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
9.35x
+$167M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Steve McQueen
- Screenplay & Story
- John Ridley
- Original Score
- Hans Zimmer
- Original Title
- 12 Years a Slave
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 2h 14m
- Production Budget
- $20M
- Worldwide Gross
- $187M
- Production Studios
- New Regency Pictures, Plan B Entertainment, River Road Entertainment, Regency Enterprises, Film4 Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Steve McQueen
John Ridley, Solomon Northup
Hans Zimmer
Sean Bobbitt
Joe Walker
Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Brad Pitt, Anthony Katagas, Arnon Milchan
Department Leadership Roster
Steve McQueen
Director
John Ridley
Screenplay
Dede Gardner
Producer
Jeremy Kleiner
Producer
Hans Zimmer
Original Music Composer
Brad Pitt
Producer
Patricia Norris
Costume Design
Sean Bobbitt
Director of Photography
Anthony Katagas
Producer
Arnon Milchan
Producer
Bill Pohlad
Producer
Steve McQueen
Producer
Joe Walker
Editor
Adam Stockhausen
Production Design
Tim LeDoux
Visual Effects Supervisor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Interdit aux moins de 16 ans — 16+ only.
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for 12 Years a Slave.
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Frequently Asked Questions About 12 Years a Slave
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is 12 Years a Slave about?
In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup, a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty as well as unexpected kindnesses Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. In the twelfth year of his unforgettable odyssey, Solomon’s chance meeting with a Canadian abolitionist will forever alter his life.
Who directed 12 Years a Slave?
12 Years a Slave was directed by Steve McQueen.
Who stars in 12 Years a Slave?
The principal cast of 12 Years a Slave includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano.
When was 12 Years a Slave released and how long is it?
12 Years a Slave was released in 2013 with a total runtime of 2h 14m.
What was the box office and production budget of 12 Years a Slave?
12 Years a Slave had a reported production budget of $20M and grossed $187M at the worldwide box office (9.35 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for 12 Years a Slave?
The original motion picture soundtrack for 12 Years a Slave was composed by Hans Zimmer.
Is 12 Years a Slave based on a book or true story?
12 Years a Slave is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Solomon Northup".
What is the age rating and content advisory for 12 Years a Slave?
12 Years a Slave holds official age classifications: AU: MA 15+; CA: 14A; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: 16 (Interdit aux moins de 16 ans — 16+ only.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).