More than a decade on, Django Unchained is back in the conversation. In April 2026 Sony revived plans for a film based on the Django/Zorro comic crossover that Quentin Tarantino co-wrote with Matt Wagner, with Mystic River writer Brian Helgeland hired to write the screenplay.
Here is the story of Tarantino's Oscar-winning western, the cast who brought it to life and why it still matters. Find our tribute designs in the movies collection.
Django Unchained Fact File
| Released | 25 December 2012 (US), 18 January 2013 (UK) |
|---|---|
| Writer and director | Quentin Tarantino |
| Producers | Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin, Pilar Savone |
| Studio | A Band Apart and Columbia Pictures |
| Distributors | The Weinstein Company (US), Sony Pictures Releasing International |
| Runtime | 165 minutes |
| Budget | $100 million |
| Box office | About $450 million worldwide |
| Setting | 1858, Texas, Tennessee and Mississippi |
Key Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jamie Foxx | Django Freeman |
| Christoph Waltz | Dr. King Schultz |
| Leonardo DiCaprio | Calvin J. Candie |
| Kerry Washington | Broomhilda von Shaft |
| Samuel L. Jackson | Stephen |
| Don Johnson | Spencer "Big Daddy" Bennett |
Main cast as credited. Walton Goggins, Dennis Christopher and James Remar also appear, with a cameo from original Django star Franco Nero.
A Spaghetti Western Reimagined
Tarantino set out to make a western rooted in the history of American slavery, borrowing the spirit of the Italian westerns he loved. The title nods to Sergio Corbucci's 1966 film Django, and its star Franco Nero appears in a memorable cameo. Jamie Foxx plays Django, a freed man who teams up with bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz to rescue his wife.
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Filming Across America
Shooting began in California in November 2011 before moving to Wyoming in February 2012 and the Evergreen Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, in March. Principal photography wrapped in July 2012 after 130 shooting days, giving the film its sweeping, snow-to-swamp backdrop.
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Premiere and Box Office
Django Unchained premiered at New York's Ziegfeld Theatre on 11 December 2012 and opened in the US on Christmas Day. It earned about $450 million worldwide, becoming Tarantino's highest-grossing film and overtaking Dances With Wolves as the highest-grossing western ever.
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Awards and Legacy
At the 85th Academy Awards the film received five nominations, including Best Picture, and won two: Best Supporting Actor for Christoph Waltz and Best Original Screenplay for Tarantino. The pair repeated those wins at the Golden Globes and BAFTAs. A Django/Zorro comic followed in 2015, now heading for the big screen.
Awards
Academy Awards
- Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz
- Best Original Screenplay - Quentin Tarantino
- Five nominations, including Best Picture
Golden Globes and BAFTAs
- Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actor (Waltz) and Best Screenplay (Tarantino)
- BAFTA: Best Supporting Actor (Waltz) and Best Original Screenplay (Tarantino)
Records
- Tarantino's highest-grossing film
- Highest-grossing western of all time
Behind the Scenes
Franco Nero, star of the 1966 Django, was at one point linked with the role of Calvin Candie, which went to Leonardo DiCaprio. Editor Fred Raskin earned a BAFTA nomination for his work on the film.
FAQs
When was Django Unchained released?
Django Unchained was released in the US on 25 December 2012 and in the UK on 18 January 2013.
Who directed Django Unchained?
Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed the film.
Where was Django Unchained filmed?
In California, Wyoming and at the Evergreen Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana.
How many Oscars did Django Unchained win?
Two: Best Supporting Actor for Christoph Waltz and Best Original Screenplay for Quentin Tarantino.
Who plays Django?
Jamie Foxx plays Django Freeman.
Is there a Django Unchained sequel?
There is no direct sequel, but in 2026 Sony revived a film based on the Django/Zorro comic, with Brian Helgeland writing.
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Show your love for this modern western with our tribute fan designs, made to order in the UK.
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Pulp Fiction (1994) Film Story and Leonardo DiCaprio Career Story.
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