A Puerto Rican youth is on trial for murder, accused of killing his own father. When the jury retire to consider their verdict, only one person, juror number eight (Henry Fonda) refuses to accept this as an open and shut case, and doubts the accused’s guilt.
Set in the New York jury room where the 12 men are deliberating, Lumet’s debut feature is a masterwork of directorial control which creates a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere as each of the jurors reveal their own prejudices and preconceptions of the case.