The Defiant Ones
Seen it?1958 | 96 min | Crime, Drama, Adventure, Thriller
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won 2 Oscars. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans, anyone who likes to be kept guessing and adventure fans. If you loved In the Heat of the Night or A Perfect World, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 36 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1958: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Two convicts—one white, one black—escape while chained to each other.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
92% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen, Academy Awards: Best Cinematography – Black-and-White. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama. Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Foreign Actor. Won 1 Berlin award: Berlin International Film Festival: Best American Film. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Written American Drama. Also nominated for 6 more Oscars, 3 more Golden Globes and 1 more BAFTA. Plus 7 other awards.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a modest audience; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 80K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
In the Heat of the Night Friday Night FlickAlso stars Sidney Poitier, in another critically acclaimed crime drama.
A Perfect World
Saturday SpecialAnother crime drama, and a Saturday Special.
The Night of the Hunter Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed crime drama that fewer people know today.
Brute Force
Sunday Safe BetAnother crime drama, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
The Fugitive Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed thriller.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Stanley Kramer
- Tony CurtisJohn 'Joker' Jackson
- Sidney PoitierNoah Cullen
- Theodore BikelSheriff Max Muller
- Charles McGrawCapt. Frank Gibbons
- Lon Chaney Jr.Big Sam
- King DonovanSolly
- Claude AkinsMack
- Lawrence DobkinEditor
- Whit BissellLou Gans
- Carl SwitzerAngus