

12 Years a Slave
“The extraordinary true story of Solomon Northup.”
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.
Where to watch 12 Years a Slave in United States
Click a service to open 12 Years a Slave there. Availability last verified on June 23, 2026.
Where is 12 Years a Slave streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Hulu | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| United Kingdom | — | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Amazon Video |
| Canada | — | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| Australia | Stan | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |
| Germany | ArthouseCNMA, Arthouse CNMA Amazon Channel, Magenta TV+ | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Molotov TV | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Canal VOD |
| Spain | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Movistar Plus+, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total | Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV, Google Play Movies |
| Brazil | Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus, MUBI, Paramount+ Amazon Channel | — |
| Japan | — | Google Play Movies |
About 12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave is a 2013 English-language drama and history film directed by Steve McQueen. The cast is led by Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o. It has a runtime of 2h 14m. Viewers rate it 7.9/10 across 12000 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Hulu.
12 Years a Slave was produced by New Regency Pictures, Plan B Entertainment, and River Road Entertainment and made in United Kingdom and United States of America. It was released on October 18, 2013, and carries a R certification. Made on a budget of about $20 million, it went on to gross $187 million worldwide.
- Director
- Steve McQueen
- Writers
- John Ridley
- Release date
- October 18, 2013
- Original language
- English
- Age rating
- R
- Status
- Released
- Country
- United Kingdom, United States of America
- Budget
- $20 million
- Box office
- $187 million
- Production
- New Regency Pictures, Plan B Entertainment, River Road Entertainment
12 Years a Slave cast & crew
12 Years a Slave was directed by Steve McQueen and written by John Ridley.
The cast features Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup, Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps, Lupita Nyong'o as Patsey, Benedict Cumberbatch as William Ford, Paul Dano as John Tibeats, and Sarah Paulson as Mary Epps.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Hans Zimmer, cinematography is by Sean Bobbitt, and it was produced by Dede Gardner and Bill Pohlad.
Is 12 Years a Slave worth watching?
12 Years a Slave holds an audience score of 7.9/10 from 12,026 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 2h 14m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and history, 12 Years a Slave is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch 12 Years a Slave
In United States, you can stream 12 Years a Slave on Hulu, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
Rate & review
Your rating and review are saved privately in this browser — no account needed.
Cast of 12 Years a Slave

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
12 Years a Slave — FAQs
▸Where can I watch 12 Years a Slave in United States?
12 Years a Slave is streaming on Hulu in United States.
▸Is 12 Years a Slave on Hulu?
Yes — 12 Years a Slave is currently available on Hulu in United States.
▸What language is 12 Years a Slave in?
12 Years a Slave is originally in English. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is 12 Years a Slave?
12 Years a Slave runs 2 hours 14 minutes (134 minutes).
▸What is 12 Years a Slave rated?
12 Years a Slave is rated R. It holds a 7.9/10 audience score from 12,026 ratings.











