Benedict Cumberbatch: 10 greatest movies of all time

9. 12 Years a Slave

Original Release Date: November 8, 2013

Box Office Earnings: $923,715 (USA opening weekend), $56,671,993 (USA gross)

Critical Acclaim: 12 Years a Slave won three Academy Awards and was nominated for six others. It also won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture of the Year and was nominated for six others.

Including those, 12 Years a Slave won 238 awards and was nominated for 326 others.

About the Role: Cumberbatch plays Ford, a plantation owner who is the first to buy Solomon Northup as one of his slaves. Ford is a relatively kind plantation owner, even though his workers aren’t. He’s willing to listen when he realizes Solomon has knowledge that others don’t and that irks Ford’s employees. When Solomon is almost killed by the employees, Ford realizes he has no choice but to sell him on, even when he knows there’s a chance Solomon is a free man.

Simply the Best: I know you’re wondering why this isn’t higher on the list, but there’s one simple reason. Benedict Cumberbatch wasn’t in a lot of the movie. He did have an important role at the start to help to keep Solomon Northup alive.

The movie itself is one of the best made. It tells a dark true story of Solomon and the 12 years he spent as a slave, despite being born a free man. The tale is one of fear, loss, and a fight for freedom, while also showing the steps individuals will take to help but also hinder another they view as lesser than themselves.