← Back to results
12 Rounds
2009 108 min United States of America PG-13 16+
★5.3
Action, Thriller, Crime
Director: Renny Harlin
Trailers
EN
EN
Description
When New Orleans Police Detective Danny Fisher stops a brilliant thief from getting away with a multimillion-dollar heist, the thief's girlfriend is accidentally killed. After escaping from prison, the criminal mastermind enacts his revenge, taunting Danny with 12 rounds of near-impossible puzzles and tasks that he must somehow complete to save the life of the woman he loves.
Budget:
$22M
US Gross:
$12.23M
Worldwide:
$17.28M
Starring
John Cena
Actor
Ashley Scott
Actor
Aidan Gillen
Actor
Key opinion
12 Rounds is widely regarded as a derivative, nostalgic homage to 90s action cinema that delivers reliable, fast-paced thrills despite a thin and predictable plot. While some viewers appreciate its commitment to old-school stunts and spectacle, others criticize its lack of originality and wooden lead performance.
| Screenplay | The screenplay relies on clichéd tropes and derivative plot structures that mirror 90s action classics like Speed. | |
| Pacing | Renny Harlin provides a high-energy, relentless pacing that effectively sustains the film's '12 rounds' challenge format. | |
| Acting | John Cena's performance polarizes viewers, with some finding his restrained, physical approach suitable for the genre, while others view his acting as stiff and lacking emotional depth. | |
| Acting | The villainous performance by Aidan Gillen is inconsistently received, viewed by some as a compelling, intelligent antagonist and by others as an over-acted or unconvincing threat. | |
| Direction | The action sequences, featuring elaborate chases and explosions, are lauded for their visual intensity, though some critics note that they occasionally rely on cheap CGI or defy the laws of physics. |