The Defiant Ones

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The Defiant Ones

1958

1h 37m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

58 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In the 1950s America, members of a chain gang are being transported through the South when their truck crashes. Two of the convicts, John Joker Jackson and Noah Cullen, who are chained together, find an opportunity to escape. Jackson is white, Cullen is black and, at first, the men appear to be opposites in every way. But as they flee across the country, the two form a deep bond. A female landowner leads Jackson to make a difficult decision about his own freedom.

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Critics Consensus

An advocacy drama that makes its points without belaboring them, The Defiant Ones relies on its clever concept and brilliant performances to repudiate racial prejudice.

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Jonas Mekas

Village Voice

Apr 20, 2022

One can feel that Kramer, instead of letting the idea grow from an inner necessity, started with a cliche: "Now I am going to make a social film."

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Mildred Martin

Philadelphia Inquirer

Jan 30, 2021

The Defiant Ones is a film no one with mind or heart is likely to forget in a long, long time.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Jan 30, 2021

3/5

This Stanley Kramer messageathon plays better as a high-concept thriller than a statement about race relations or the human condition.

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James Baldwin

The Devil Finds Work

May 1, 2024

No one, clearly, was able to foresee what Poitier would do with his role -- nor was anyone, thereafter, able to undo it -- and his performance, which lends the film its only real distinction, also, paradoxically, smashes it to pieces.

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Jet Staff

Jet Magazine

Jan 16, 2024

In his attempt to keep from making the movie a maudlin mess, Kramer has indeed made The Defiant Ones Hollywood’s best message film ever.

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Moira Walsh

The Catholic World

Aug 24, 2023

Kramer has given the story the kind of stark production it needed and especially has obtained heightened realistic effects through the calculated omission of background music.

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Joaquin U

@Joaquin1 Jun 5, 2026

Entertaining. A very Hollywood‑esque take on friendship, racial prejudice, and moral decency. Strong cast, with two accomplished leads. The script could be sharper—it jumps in tone, and some parts are predictable, but that’s old Hollywood morals. Direction is competent, except in the scenes with doubles, as if nobody would notice. Still, a solid entry in the prison‑escape subgenre and a light watch.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 May 15, 2026

The story of two fugitives, forced to put their differences aside and work together to gain their freedom, works well as a social commentary in a society marked by racial prejudice. And when you consider the cast, the film is even better.

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Rachan S

@Peaches104 Feb 19, 2026

A movie about humanity. Honest, and Sad take of on the state of Race.

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jacob c

@RT09118617 Mar 13, 2025

A very smart, socially conscious film.

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David S

@RT68837966 Jan 6, 2025

What a great movie and quite an excellent idea at such a critical time in our countries history to put this film into circulation! Two great performances highlight this classic!

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Feb 27, 2024

Picks up in the second half with a decent ending. Shame the first half was awash with so much forced moralising. Some of the characters were cartoonish but there's enough in the plot to keep it just on tracks. Watched on Amazon Prime

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Stanley Kramer

Director

Tony Curtis

John "Joker" Jackson

Sidney Poitier

Noah Cullen

Theodore Bikel

Sheriff Max Muller

Charles McGraw

Capt. Frank Gibbons

Cara Williams

Billy's Mother

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The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - I Been Mad All My Natural Life

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The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - I'm Lettin Ya Loose

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The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - North vs. South

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The Defiant Ones: Official Clip - Words That Stick Like Needles

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Synopsis

In the 1950s America, members of a chain gang are being transported through the South when their truck crashes. Two of the convicts, John Joker Jackson and Noah Cullen, who are chained together, find an opportunity to escape. Jackson is white, Cullen is black and, at first, the men appear to be opposites in every way. But as they flee across the country, the two form a deep bond. A female landowner leads Jackson to make a difficult decision about his own freedom.

Director: Stanley Kramer
Producer: Stanley Kramer
Screenwriter: Harold Jacob Smith
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: Stanley Kramer Company
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 27, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 37m

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