Twelve is based on Nick McDonell's 2002 novel of the same name, adapted for the screen by Jordan Melamed and directed by Joel Schumacher.

The film was a significant critical and commercial failure, grossing only $110,238 during its opening weekend and $2.6 million worldwide against a $5 million budget.

Twelve holds a mere 3% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 29 reviews, with the site's consensus stating it is 'closer to zero' than twelve, and a 22/100 score on Metacritic indicating 'generally unfavorable reviews'.

A 2010 Gawker article questioned whether Twelve was 'the worst movie in the history of Sundance.'

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2010, before its wider theatrical release on August 6, 2010, and was pulled from domestic theaters after just two weeks.