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.

| May 1, 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.

| Jan 16, 2024

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.

| Aug 24, 2023

On the basis of its personalities, its story and the manner of its telling, The Defiant Ones is superior drama. But beyond this there are depths to be plumbed by individual reaction to an eloquent film.

| Sep 20, 2022

A smart and crafty movie that manages to be reflective and insightful. But it’s also highly entertaining as a straight thriller, and it rarely takes its foot off the pedal.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Aug 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."

| Apr 20, 2022

Its message is absorbingly wrapped however, in elements of acute suspense and blood raw action that should excite even those who deplore the integration of sobering thought and fiction in their movie entertainment.

| Jan 30, 2021

The Defiant Ones is a great one all the way. It's a throbbing photoplay made by a man with a conscience.

| Jan 30, 2021

Both Curtis and Poitier turned in superb performances.

| Jan 30, 2021

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

| Jan 30, 2021

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

| Original Score: 3/5 | Jan 30, 2021

Credit goes to producer, director and writers for a picture which combines a strong social document with about as much excitement and suspense as you could ask for.

| Jan 30, 2021

Stanley Kramer, who has been responsible for some of Hollywood's greater motion pictures, has a little masterpiece in The Defiant Ones.

| Jan 30, 2021

Stanley Kramer, his superb stars, featured players and the rest have put on record a powerful, tender definition of brotherhood.

| Jan 30, 2021

Curtis and Poitier, carrying most of the acting load, both do well, and in addition, there are some very real minor characters. It's a film with something to say, but apart from a few moments which tend to be talky, it says it with absorbing action.

| Jan 30, 2021

It is in the film's final sequence that actors, cameraman (Sam Leavitt) and director have created real power.

| Jan 30, 2021

This is the point made by The Defiant Ones: not an attack on colour prejudice in terms of morality, but of plain necessity.

| Jan 30, 2021

Mr. Kramer has directed his film with considerable dramatic intensity and Mr. Curtis, who has improved out of all knowledge as an actor, holds his own with Mr. Poitier.

| Jan 30, 2021

This, in short, is quite a film.

| Jan 30, 2021

This Stanley Kramer account of a manhunt has all the incisive cinematic skill and compassionate human values remembered from his first distinguished years as a filmmaker.

| Jan 30, 2021