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Malcolm X

Play trailer Poster for Malcolm X PG-13 1992 3h 21m Biography History Drama Crime Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 84 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.
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Malcolm X

Malcolm X

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Critics Consensus

Anchored by a powerful performance from Denzel Washington, Spike Lee's biopic of legendary civil rights leader Malcolm X brings his autobiography to life with an epic sweep and a nuanced message.

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Critics Reviews

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Lynden Barber Sydney Morning Herald 12/14/2023
Unusually rich, absorbing and often brilliant film-making, an epic deserving of the description. But that doesn't stop it from being worryingly ambiguous. Go to Full Review
Neil Jillett The Age (Australia) 12/14/2023
The film has no psychological depth and not much sense of history. It takes a purely surface view of people and events. Go to Full Review
Bob Longino Atlanta Journal-Constitution 10/09/2023
A-
The movie is long -- 202 minutes -- but Lee earns every tick of the clock, illuminating the many developmental moments in Malcolm X’s personality. Go to Full Review
Joe Flockhart Loud and Clear Reviews Mar 2
4.5/5
30 years on, Spike Lee’s ambitious biographical epic Malcolm X still has not lost its educational, entertaining and emotional power. Go to Full Review
Clotilde Chinnici The People's Movies Aug 19
4/5
Ultimately, it is safe to say that Malcolm X is one of Spike Lee’s best films, one that has established him as one of the greatest American directors working today. Go to Full Review
Julian Singleton Cinapse Jul 12
Malcolm X deftly [navigates] that wide gulf between personal identity and public image, providing illumination, criticism, and commemoration in equal measure. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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laura 02/27/2025 every preconception i had about this movie was that it was a masterpiece, and still i ended up walking out of the theater astounded and lost for words. See more Angel M @RT80037659 12h Top tier must see movie See more bob C @RT46426964 4d Very powerful even after thirty odd years See more Kevin P @RT55971421 6d A fantastic biopic and character study about the life of Malcom X. Denzel Washington gives an amazing performance as Malcom X that's so convincing and captivating the whole way through as his character is constantly transforming. The film is excellently directed by Spike Lee. Throughout the film, Malcom X expresses his blunt opinions about white oppression and his involvement in the Civil Rights movement. The movie has great pacing and story about Malcom's life. Malcom X soon converts to Islam and denounced his criminal past. There is some meaningful discussions about misogyny within religious teachings. We get an insightful and poignant explanation of using the name X because the African names and culture were erased by slavery. I loved the sweet intimate relationship between Malcom X and his wife. Malcom X's final speech and assassination is riveting to watch. It's an incredibly powerful film and easily one of the best biopics out there. See more mohammed M. @9mr_0 Feb 1 قبل كل شيء رحم الله مالكوم و اسكنه فسيح جنانه ويغفر له . مالكوم لم يكن للامريكان فقط هو صرخرة بوجة كل ظالم على وجة الارض. الفلم تحفة فتية. في بداية مشاهدتي للفلم و ضعت الفلم على السرعة ١,٥ لان كنت اتوقع ان الفلم انتاج هوليودي رخيص مهمته هو الاسائه لشخص شعاره( ان الحقوق تاخذ ولا تعطى) لكني ‏تفاجأت من خلال مشاهدتي للاحداث فذهبة للبحث عن الفلم وجدت ان الفلم اشرفت علية عائلته الكريمة و انها كانت تشاركني نفس المخاوف و القلق ان هوليود ستسيء إلى سمعته وذكره.لكن الحمد لله وبفضل الله و اشراف العائلة خرجت لنا فلم تحفة فنية بكل المقايس. اداء الممثلين كان رائع . واشنطن كان ادائة قوي و حضورة مسيطر على الاجواء. الاخراج رغم مدة الفلم الطويلة لم يجعلني اشعر بالملل او اتجاوز مشهد . سرد القصة بشكل جميل و ستثمر الحوارات الرائعة في القصة . اعطى الممثلين المساحة لتكيف مع جو القصة و انهم لم يمثلوها بل عاشوها . التصوير كان ممتاز وسلس متناسب مع الحوارات الالوان كانت مختارة بعناية لكي لا تجعل المشاهد يشغل فكره بي شيء غير الاستمتاع بحوارات الفلم و تحولاته . الموسيقى كانت جيدة و تتناسب مع المشاهد و اجواء الفلم . بختصار / هو فلم سيرة ذاتية لواحد من اعظم الشخصيات بالتاريخ قد ابدع الجميع في تقديمها من قصة و اخراج و ممثلين و تصوير وكل شيء .نشكر جهودهم ونشكر العائلة على الاشراف عليهم . بالخاتمه رحم الله المناطل مالكوم اكس. See more R H. @R53213 Jan 18 In my Top 5 movies of all time! See more Read all reviews
Malcolm X

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Movie Info

Synopsis A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he became a Black Muslim and then a leader in the Nation of Islam. His assassination in 1965 left a legacy of self-determination and racial pride.
Director
Spike Lee
Producer
Marvin Worth
Screenwriter
Alex Haley, Malcolm X, Arnold Perl
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
JVC Entertainment, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Largo International N.V.
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Biography, History, Drama, Crime
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 1992, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 25, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA)
$47.1M
Runtime
3h 21m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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