12 Angry Men
Recommended. Age: 13+. A Catholic review of this movie for parents.
Our review
Twelve men on a jury must decide if a boy is guilty of a terrible crime. Eleven say guilty right away. One man asks them to slow down and look at the facts again. It is a serious black-and-white movie for older kids and grown-ups. This is one of the best films ever made about justice and rash judgment. One juror stands alone, stays patient, and asks only that a life be weighed with care. Nothing objectionable is shown. Expect heated arguments, ugly prejudice from some jurors that the film condemns, and constant smoking.
For parents
Best for about twelve and up. Common Sense Media and Dove both say 12+. Nothing is shown on screen, but the whole film is men arguing about a murder, so younger children will be lost. Things to frame: some jurors speak with open contempt for the boy's background. The film shows this as the sin it is. Read CCC 2477 together: rash judgment assumes a neighbor's fault without sufficient foundation. Ask: why did the jurors want to vote fast? What did the one juror risk by standing alone? He never says the boy is innocent, only that he is not sure. Why does that matter? What was the last angry juror really angry about?