Content & Trigger Warnings for 12 Years a Slave (2013)
16 content warnings identified for this movie.
Quick Summary
Yes, 12 Years a Slave (2013) contains 16 content warnings : Hate crimes (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Religious persecution, Death of a child, Kidnapping / abduction, Wrongful imprisonment, Blood / medical gore, Drowning / underwater scenes, Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gore / graphic violence, Police brutality, Sexual assault / rape, Slavery / forced labor, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Hate crimes (depicted) (severity 5/5), Racial slurs / racism (depicted) (severity 5/5), Kidnapping / abduction (severity 5/5), Wrongful imprisonment (severity 5/5), Blood / medical gore (severity 4/5), Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations (severity 5/5), Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse (severity 4/5), Gore / graphic violence (severity 4/5), Sexual assault / rape (severity 5/5), Slavery / forced labor (severity 5/5), Torture (severity 5/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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| Warning | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | |||
| Hate crimes (depicted) | 5/5 | Depicted | Racially motivated violence, near-lynching, and dehumanization throughout |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | 5/5 | Depicted | Pervasive and brutal racism central to the entire film depicting American slavery |
| Religious persecution | 2/5 | Depicted | Religion is used to justify the institution of slavery; enslaved people's spiritual practices are controlled |
| Mental Health & Emotional | |||
| Death of a child | 2/5 | Referenced | Separation of parents from children is a recurring traumatic theme |
| Other | |||
| Kidnapping / abduction | 5/5 | Depicted | The protagonist is kidnapped and sold into slavery — central plot |
| Wrongful imprisonment | 5/5 | Depicted | The entire film centers on Solomon Northup being wrongfully kidnapped and held in slavery for twelve years despite being a free man |
| Phobias & Sensory | |||
| Blood / medical gore | 4/5 | Depicted | Graphic scenes of whipping and physical punishment with visible blood and wounds |
| Drowning / underwater scenes | 2/5 | Depicted | Near-drowning/hanging scene where character struggles to breathe |
| Sexual Content | |||
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | 5/5 | Depicted | Systemic sexual exploitation of enslaved people by slave owners |
| Substance Use | |||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | 2/5 | Depicted | A slave owner drinks heavily |
| Violence & Physical Harm | |||
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | 4/5 | Depicted | A slave owner beats and terrorizes an enslaved woman he is obsessed with |
| Gore / graphic violence | 4/5 | Depicted | Graphic depictions of wounds from whipping and physical abuse |
| Police brutality | 3/5 | Depicted | Authority figures and slave patrols use brutal violence to enforce the institution of slavery |
| Sexual assault / rape | 5/5 | Depicted | Rape of enslaved women is depicted on screen |
| Slavery / forced labor | 5/5 | Depicted | Slavery is the central subject of the film, depicting the kidnapping and enslavement of a free Black man over twelve years |
| Torture | 5/5 | Depicted | Extended, graphic whipping and beating scenes |
Identity & Discrimination
Racially motivated violence, near-lynching, and dehumanization throughout
Pervasive and brutal racism central to the entire film depicting American slavery
Religion is used to justify the institution of slavery; enslaved people's spiritual practices are controlled
Mental Health & Emotional
Other
The entire film centers on Solomon Northup being wrongfully kidnapped and held in slavery for twelve years despite being a free man
Phobias & Sensory
Graphic scenes of whipping and physical punishment with visible blood and wounds
Near-drowning/hanging scene where character struggles to breathe
Sexual Content
Systemic sexual exploitation of enslaved people by slave owners
Substance Use
Violence & Physical Harm
A slave owner beats and terrorizes an enslaved woman he is obsessed with
Authority figures and slave patrols use brutal violence to enforce the institution of slavery
Slavery is the central subject of the film, depicting the kidnapping and enslavement of a free Black man over twelve years
