Where to watch
Each link opens a search on that service. Checked 13 October 2026.
Streaming data from JustWatch
The Defiant Ones
1958
· Movie
· 96 min
B
MEANRANK
77/100
Every rating
Two convicts—one white, one black—escape while chained to each other.
Details
- Director
- Stanley Kramer
- Writers
- Harold Jacob Smith, Nedrick Young
- Released
- 14 August 1958
- Country
- United States
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rated
- NR
- Awards
- 13 wins, 17 nominations
This title elsewhere
Cast
Full cast (14) →Awards & nominations
See all 30 →5 major awards won · 13 wins from 30 nominations across 12 ceremonies
| Academy Awards 1958 | Best Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen | Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith | Winner |
| Academy Awards 1958 | Best Cinematography – Black-and-White | Sam Leavitt | Winner |
| Berlin International Film Festival 1958 | Silver Bear | Sidney Poitier | Winner |
| Golden Globe Awards 1958 | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Winner | |
| Writers Guild of America Awards 1958 | Best Written American Drama | Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith | Winner |
| Academy Awards 1958 | Best Picture | Stanley Kramer | Nominee |
| Academy Awards 1958 | Best Director | Stanley Kramer | Nominee |
| Academy Awards 1958 | Best Actor | Tony Curtis | Nominee |
More like this
Beyond the numbers
All lists →Just released
See all →Coming soon
Trailer — The Defiant Ones
×Full cast — The Defiant Ones
×30 awards — The Defiant Ones
×
Academy Awards
9 nominations, 2 won
| Best Cinematography – Black-and-White | Sam Leavitt | Winner |
| Best Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen | Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith | Winner |
| Best Actor | Tony Curtis | Nominee |
| Best Actor | Sidney Poitier | Nominee |
| Best Director | Stanley Kramer | Nominee |
| Best Film Editing | Frederic Knudtson | Nominee |
| Best Picture | Stanley Kramer | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actor | Theodore Bikel | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actress | Cara Williams | Nominee |
Golden Globe Awards
5 nominations, 1 won
| Best Motion Picture – Drama | Winner | |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Sidney Poitier | Nominee |
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Tony Curtis | Nominee |
| Best Director – Motion Picture | Stanley Kramer | Nominee |
| Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Cara Williams | Nominee |
Berlin International Film Festival
2 nominations, 1 won
| Silver Bear | Sidney Poitier | Winner |
| Golden Bear | Stanley Kramer | Nominee |
Writers Guild of America Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Written American Drama | Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith | Winner |
Directors Guild of America Awards
1 nomination
| Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | Stanley Kramer | Nominee |
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
3 nominations, 3 won
| Best Director | Stanley Kramer | Winner |
| Best Film | Winner | |
| Best Screenplay | Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith | Winner |
British Academy Film Awards
3 nominations, 1 won
| Best Foreign Actor | Sidney Poitier | Winner |
| Best Film of any Source | Nominee | |
| Best Foreign Actor | Tony Curtis | Nominee |
Laurel Awards
2 nominations, 1 won
| Top Cinematography – Black and White | Sam Leavitt | Winner |
| Top Male Dramatic Performance | Sidney Poitier | Nominee |
Bodil Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best American Film | Stanley Kramer | Winner |
Edgar Allan Poe Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Motion Picture | Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith | Winner |
Golden Reel Awards
1 nomination, 1 won
| Best Sound Editing – Feature Film | Winner |
Bambi Awards
1 nomination
| Best Actor – International | Tony Curtis | Nominee |