Short Term 12 (2013)
95%RT Audience Score: 92%
Awards & Nominations: 37 wins & 72 nominations
Short Term 12 is an emphatic, revealing drama that pulls audiences into the perspective of neglected youths.
Short Term 12 is like a rollercoaster ride of emotions, but instead of screaming in terror, you’ll be crying tears of both sadness and joy. Brie Larson shines as the supervisor of a foster-care facility, and the young actors bring a raw and authentic energy to their roles. The film never feels preachy or melodramatic, but instead offers a sincere and heartfelt exploration of empathy and vocation. It’s a must-see for anyone who wants to feel all the feels.
Production Company(ies)
Animal Kingdom, Traction Media,
Distributor
Cinedigm
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and brief sexuality
Year of Release
2013
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 36m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 23, 2013 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 4, 2014
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Brie Larson, John Gallagher Jr., Kaitlyn Dever, Stephanie Beatriz, Rami Malek, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, written by Destin Daniel Cretton, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Geoffrey Macnab, Ben Sachs, Liam Lacey, Peter Howell, Jonathan Robbins, Donald Clarke, Rita Cannon, Charlotte Harrison, Allen Almachar, Karl Delossantos, Erick Estrada, produced by Asher Goldstein, Maren Olson, Joshua Astrachan, Ron Najor, MPAA rating R, group home, at-risk teens, personal crisis, foster-care facility, San Francisco, social work, neglected youths, empathy, vocation, raw emotion, cinematography, timeless essence, troubled teens, damaged, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates
Worldwide gross: $1,645,164
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,089,931
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,400
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 227,910
US/Canada gross: $1,013,100
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,286,990
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,126
US/Canada opening weekend: $56,206
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $71,401
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,069
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
John Gallagher Jr. – Mason
Kaitlyn Dever – Jayden
Stephanie Beatriz – Jessica
Rami Malek – Nate
Alex Calloway – Sammy
Director(s)
Destin Daniel Cretton
Writer(s)
Destin Daniel Cretton
Producer(s)
Asher Goldstein, Maren Olson, Joshua Astrachan, Ron Najor
Film Festivals
Sundance, South by Southwest
Awards & Nominations
37 wins & 72 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (174) | Top Critics (61) | Fresh (171) | Rotten (3)
Brie Larson is very impressive as the caring, funny supervisor whose own demons threaten to engulf her.
December 10, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Geoffrey Macnab
Independent (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Set in a foster-care facility outside of San Francisco, this independent drama is vivid and heartfelt in its depiction of social work, at times recalling some of Frederick Wiseman’s great documentary portraits.
December 10, 2013
Ben Sachs
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The film’s climax feels a little rushed and overwrought, but the movie’s real resonance is its exploration of empathy and vocation.
November 15, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
At times Short Term 12 seems uncertain where it’s going, but this matches the circumstances of both staff and residents.
November 14, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Despite the heavy subject matter, the film never bogs down into the daily grief it depicts, but maintains a jaunty current of humor that counterbalances its melodramatic content.
November 4, 2013
Jonathan Robbins
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Short Term 12 thrives on the dangerous chemistry between its young, talented actors.
November 1, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
Donald Clarke
Irish Times
TOP CRITIC
It’s a perfect example of the raw emotion and attention to detail that make Short Term 12 such a moving, unforgettable experience.
February 24, 2021
Rita Cannon
Battleship Pretension
It’s a quietly moving drama, so brilliantly written and performed.
October 8, 2020
Charlotte Harrison
Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies
The film always searches for truth in its sincerest form – it never drifts towards melodrama.
July 23, 2020 | Rating: A-
Allen Almachar
The MacGuffin
There’s a tendency for movies like Short Term 12 to be overwrought or contrived in their handling of such a sensitive story. However, Cretton avoids the pitfalls of the genre by balancing out the story with an intense and masterfully deployed empathy.
June 5, 2020 | Rating: 4.5/5
Karl Delossantos
Smash Cut Reviews
The questions arise in an impeccable narration, with certain addictions of indie cinema, but with agility and freshness. [Full Review in Spanish]
March 24, 2020
Erick Estrada
Cinegarage
One of my “Must See” LAFF films, Short Term 12 is moving, motivational, hopeful, inspiring.
November 27, 2019
Debbie Lynn Elias
Behind The Lens…
Plot
At a foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers, Grace is a young counselor trying to do her best for kids who often have been pulled from the worst kinds of home situations. Even then, life is not easy as Grace and her colleagues care for kids who are too often profoundly scarred, even as they try to have lives of their own. Now, things are coming to a head as Grace readies for marriage even as some her charges are coming to major turning points in their lives. To cope, Grace will have to make difficult perceptions and decisions that could put her career, and more importantly her charges, at dire risk.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Brie Larson delivers a “very impressive” performance as the caring and funny supervisor in Short Term 12, according to Fresh Kernels.
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