Anthony Mackie Leads Apple TV’s Best Action Thriller Yet In 12 12 12 | Review

Apple TV Apple TV has found its best action thriller series yet in 12 12 12, an impressively paced heist drama that makes the most of its 8-episode length. Published Nov 12, 2026, 3:12 AM EST Greg is a Lead TV Writer & Critic at Screen Rant with expertise in new streaming releases. He's published over 3000 articles at SR, including weekly recommendation guides and dozens of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. He previously worked in Development at ABC Television & Lawrence Bender Productions. Greg majored in Film Production at Chapman University's Dodge College. Greg also has years of broadcast TV production experience at major networks such as NBC, TNT, and ESPN. He currently lives in Greater Boston. Apple TV has found its best action thriller series in 12 12 12, an impressively paced heist drama that makes the most of its 8-episode length. With its sophisticated non-linear plot, sharp cinematography, and top-notch performances led by Anthony Mackie and Jamie Dornan, 12 12 12 is not only one of Apple TV's best new shows, but it also reinvents the heist thriller genre with outstanding technique. Mackie stars as Jack Strickland, a deeply motivated FBI agent looking to pick up the pieces after leading a failed mission months before the series begins. His prime target is Paul Slavin (Dornan), an intelligent and elusive master thief who plans the largest bank robbery in European history at a luxury bank in Switzerland, spending 12 months planning a 12-hour heist operation. As Strickland repeatedly reminds viewers, a robber who is not caught within 12 days is not caught at all. These FBI guidelines inspire the series' title, 12 12 12. One of 12 12 12's greatest achievements is how it avoids using its premise as a gimmick. Instead, the non-linear storytelling cleverly shifts between the three beginning, middle, and end stages of the heist, alternating between every tense moment of these timeframes to make each feel urgent and present. The overlapping narrative provides a formidable engine for the series that hardly ever makes a scene feel dull or redundant, which is a testament to the remarkable structure of the 8-part script that truly elevates the story had it been told linearly. Anthony Mackie & Jamie Dornan Are Perfectly Cast In Apple TV's Thriller 12 12 12 Apple TV Mackie and Dornan are the faces of the two opposing forces in 12 12 12 and put in some of their career-best work in their respective roles. Mackie is incredibly easy to root for as Jack, who Paul and his brother Bobby (Jack Kesy) refer to as the holy ghost, tapping into the thin but present religious undertones of guilt and justice while also playing into the date of the heist, Christmas Day. Mackie is the definition of an unstoppable force, seeking more than just upholding U.S. federal law in his pursuit to finally capture Paul, a charismatic career criminal. Dornan's Paul is much more than your typical money-hungry thief, humanized by his care for his crew and devotion to his family, which is heavily contrasted by his provocative older brother, Bobby, who is self-interested to a fault. Both Jack and Paul are flawed in their own ways, but one commonality is their ambition, which makes them ideal foes in a cat-and-mouse chase such as this. There's an underlying degree of respect between the two players, although neither of them will admit it, which adds a deep, fascinating dynamic to their rivalry. With 12 12 12's alternating narrative structure, we also learn about what drives each character beyond the obvious $800 million score, discovering the true nature of their epic chess match. Apart from its stars, 12 12 12 employs a talented ensemble cast, many of whom are international actors who add great authenticity to the globe-trotting plot. Several standouts include Julius Feldmeier, the German actor seen crawling out of a security deposit box in the trailer, Hildegard Schroedter, who plays an employee at the luxurious Swiss bank named Gunda, and Sallie Harmsen, a Dutch actress who plays Jack's law enforcement associate. 12 12 12 also features a handful of familiar faces, including Patrick Fabian (Better Call Saul) and Kali Reis (True Detective), who both deliver their A-games in key supporting roles. Overall, the cast in 12 12 12 is effective across the board. That said, it's Mackie and Dornan who anchor the show, in both emotional and action-oriented ways. Much like Mark Ruffalo's Tom Brandis and Tom Pelphrey's Robbie Pendergrast in HBO's Task, these two sides of the law are set on an inevitable collision course throughout, but that trajectory only fuels greater anticipation and momentum with each passing episode. With 12 12 12's alternating narrative structure, we also learn about what drives each character beyond the obvious $800 million score, discovering the true nature of their epic chess match. 12 12 12 Delivers Relentless Action & Suspense With Genuinely Surprising Twists Apple TV 12 12 12 delivers relentless action and palpable suspense from start to finish, aided by its smartly positioned twists that keep viewers entertained and make each episode fly by. Just when you suspect the story is heading one way, it explodes in a different direction, making sure to constantly switch the upper hand between Mackie and Dornan without forcing any contrived or underdeveloped power shifts. Additionally, both Mackie and Dornan face threats separate from each other, compelling them to deal with internal issues of trust, morality, and plans that go completely sideways. These ongoing elements lift 12 12 12 far above your standard run-of-the-mill heist thriller series. Next to its phenomenal story and performances is 12 12 12's exceptional cinematography, establishing a signature visual style that is at once dazzling and beautifully composed. The series truly achieves the geographical scale of a James Bond movie, set in various locations around Europe and the United States, which infuses it with gravitas and exhilaration, so much so that it deserves a much larger screen. Viewers may be reminded of classic heist movies such as Michael Mann's Thief and Heat while watching 12 12 12, and as far as modern streaming series go, it is truly worthy of comparison. In some ways, especially its plot structure, 12 12 12 even exceeds its predecessors. Ultimately, 12 12 12 is an absolute joy of an action thriller that sets a new gold standard for heist dramas in the modern streaming age. 12 12 12 does not pull any punches when it comes to its action sequences, featuring everything from car chases to gunfights and many more jaw-dropping moments that are best enjoyed with the sound all the way up. Its musical score also perfectly fits the bill, driving the tension with an energetic pulse that seamlessly ties scenes together, even across timelines. The direction also demonstrates expertise, often contrasting extreme close-ups on characters during pulse-pounding moments with sweeping wide shots of landscapes as we are taken on a trip to some of the world's most sought-after destinations. Much like the heist itself, the planning behind 12 12 12 is masterful. Ultimately, 12 12 12 is an absolute joy of an action thriller that sets a new gold standard for heist dramas in the modern streaming age. Between Mackie and Dornan's performances, an airtight script that doesn't waste a minute, and just about every technical filmmaking category, 12 12 12 is one of Apple TV's best new series of the year and one of the streamer's greatest all-time efforts in the thriller genre. The first two episodes of 12 12 12 premiere this Friday, November 13, on Apple TV, followed by weekly episode drops every Friday until its December 25 finale. 12 12 12 - Season 1 9/10 Release Date November 12, 2026 Network Apple TV Series 12 12 12 Episodes 8 Pros & Cons Mackie & Dornan are perfectly cast as opposing forces 12 12 12's innovative plot structure is expertly executed Top-notch action & suspense create thrilling twists Cinematography & score establish a signature style 12 12 12 starts off slow before hitting its series highs Certain plot elements may be seen as somewhat improbable