What is the Metascore for 12 Years a Slave?

12 Years a Slave has a Metascore of 96 out of 100 on Celluloid.

Where can I watch 12 Years a Slave?

Streaming availability for 12 Years a Slave varies by region — currently on U-NEXT in Japan. Check local listings for your region.

What countries is 12 Years a Slave streaming in?

12 Years a Slave streams on U-NEXT in Japan; Lionsgate Play in Malaysia. Subscription availability only; rental and purchase options may differ.

12 Years a Slave Review (2013) — 89% Celluloid Score

Directed by Steve McQueen · 2013 · Last reviewed August 31, 2026

LLM fact sheet (.md)

Answer Summary

12 Years a Slave (2013) earns a 89% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

Quick Verdict

Calculated from 4 available inputs: Celluloid editorial rating, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb. Audience sentiment is shown separately and never changes the composite. See how we calculate scores.

89%

Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

95% Editorial Rating

90% Audience snapshot · excluded

96 Metascore

★★★★☆ Letterboxd 4.1

8.1 IMDb /10

Watch Trailer

Runtime: 2h 14m
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor , Michael Fassbender , Lupita Nyong'o , Benedict Cumberbatch , Paul Dano , Sarah Paulson , Adepero Oduye , Scoot McNairy , Paul Giamatti , Brad Pitt
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

Official theatrical poster for 12 Years a Slave (2013)

Theatrical release

Where to watch

Streaming availability varies by region — currently on U-NEXT in Japan. Check local listings for your region.

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home, Spectrum On Demand

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch 12 Years a Slave by country

Country	Streaming on
Japan	U-NEXT
Malaysia	Lionsgate Play

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

Celluloid's editorial rating is exceptional (95/100).
Audiences widely enjoyed it (90%).
Metascore signals universal acclaim (96/100).
Letterboxd diarists rate it highly (4.1/5).
IMDb users score it 8.1/10.

Best for

Viewers who want a well-regarded drama, history pick

Not ideal for

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is 12 Years a Slave worth watching?

Yes — 12 Years a Slave earns a 89% Celluloid Score. Recommended — recommended by most critics and audiences.

Celluloid Verdict

12 Years a Slave — People's Choice Award at TIFF 2013. A landmark festival winner on Celluloid.
Celluloid editorial verdict

Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

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.

Watch the Trailer

12 Years a Slave stills

Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

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