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Malcolm X Play Trailer

Malcolm X (1992)

tomatometer

91

Average Rating: 7.5/10
Reviews Counted: 55
Fresh: 50 | Rotten: 5

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

73

Average Rating: 7/10
Critic Reviews: 11
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 3

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

audience

89

liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 54,308

My Rating

Movie Info

Writer-director Spike Lee's epic portrayal of the life and times of the slain civil rights leader Malcolm X begins with the cross-cut imagery of the police beating of black motorist Rodney King juxtaposed with an American flag burning into the shape of the letter X. When the film's narrative begins moments later, it jumps back to World War II-era Boston, where Malcolm Little (Denzel Washington) is making his living as a hustler. The son of a Baptist preacher who was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan,

PG-13,

Drama

Jan 18, 2000

Warner Bros.

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Malcolm X Trailer & Photos

Critic Reviews for Malcolm X

All Critics (55) | Top Critics (11) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (5) | DVD (27)

Spike Lee has made a disappointingly conventional and sluggish film in Malcolm X.

January 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment (1)
Todd McCarthy
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Benefits from a lively lead performance by the miscast Denzel Washington but doesn't come within light years of the book, one of the greatest American autobiographies.

January 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | Comments (8)
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Lee and company have performed a powerful service: they have brought Malcolm X very much to life again, both as man and myth.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Newsweek
David Ansen
Newsweek
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Lee sketches Malcolm's life colorfully, if by the numbers. But he falls victim to the danger of movie biography: he elevates Malcolm's importance until the vital historical context is obscured.

September 23, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | Comments (2)
Richard Corliss
TIME Magazine
Top Critic IconTop Critic

It plays surprisingly safe as a solidly crafted trawl through the didactic/hagiographic conventions of the mainstream biopic.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic IconTop Critic

An ambitious, tough, seriously considered biographical film that, with honor, eludes easy characterization.

May 20, 2003
Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Spike Lee called 1992's Malcolm X "the picture I was born to make," and star Denzel Washington referred to the titular civil-rights leader as "the role of a lifetime." They're both right...[Blu-ray]

June 4, 2012 Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews

Spike Lee's deeply felt landmark biopic of Malcolm X gets a handsome transfer from Warner Home Video with an excellent smattering of insightful extras.

February 2, 2012 Full Review Source: Slant Magazine
Chris Cabin
Slant Magazine

The perfect combination of epic and personal, intimate and spectacular.

March 4, 2011 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Insightful and well-rounded portrait of Malcolm X.

January 2, 2011 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media
Scott G. Mignola
Common Sense Media

Lee's film suffers from message over substance and is slightly tedious as a result.

January 6, 2010 Full Review Source: Empire Magazine
Tom Hibbert
Empire Magazine

Visually and dramatically, Lee pulls out all the stops, but it's Washington's performance that really energizes the film, and he's an exhilarating presence throughout.

September 23, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4
Jon Fortgang
Film4

Lamoclm X may seem conventional by Spike Lee's standards, but as a biopic of a controversial historical figure, it's superior to the nobility of spirit of a movie like Gandhi, for example, and Attenborough's high-mindedness.

December 25, 2006 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | Comment (1)
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
View all critic reviews (55)

Audience Reviews for Malcolm X

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A powerful, full-fledged look at racism.

Full review at themoviefreakblog.com on 11/29
June 15, 2011
spielberg00
Alexander Diminiano

Super Reviewer

Now that is how you make a biopic. Spike Lee's monument to one of the most controversial figures in American history is bold, comprehensive, & unflinching.
Lee uses X's autobiography, penned by Alex Haley, as the source material. While this renders the film an easy target for critics who want a more objective look at this historical figure, I believe Lee, walking in step with the subject of the film, smartly becomes the provocateur.
Malcolm X was not an easy figure to wrap your head around. With seemingly equal capacity for both love and vitriol, a film that tried to focus on one facet of his personality, while consequently ignoring the many other ones that made this man so enigmatic, would feel dishonest. Lets face it, this film was bound to rustle some feathers, and I think it was a smart move to let the man speak for himself.
And how could you review the film without mentioning the great Denzel? How he manages to pull off such a complex character with such ease is absolutely stunning. That he lost the Oscar to Pacino is still one of the most egregious crimes the academy has ever committed.
While Lee's career may be wading in troubled water as of now, Malcolm X gives me hope that he will soon rebound.
June 4, 2012
axadntpron
Reid Volk

Super Reviewer

Malcolm X Quotes

View All
    1. Malcolm X: You are not an American, you are the victim of America!
    – Submitted by Alex K (6 months ago)
    1. Malcolm X: I will not touch the white man's poison; his drugs, his liquor, his swine, his women.
    – Submitted by Alex K (6 months ago)
    1. Malcolm X: The only thing I like integrated is my coffee.
    – Submitted by Alex K (6 months ago)
    1. DJ at the Harlem "Y" Dance: I'm not fearing any man!
    – Submitted by Jesse K (8 months ago)
    1. Malcolm X: I aims to please, sir, and I'm pleased to aim.
    – Submitted by Nik M (8 months ago)
    1. Malcolm X: We didn't land on Plymouth Rock -- Plymouth Rock landed on us!
    – Submitted by Chris P (2 years ago)

Discussion Forum

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Latest News on Malcolm X

August 13, 2012:
Al Freeman Jr.: 1934-2012
The Emmy-winning actor and professor, whose film work included Spike Lee's "Malcolm X," was 78.

April 5, 2005:
Spike & Denzel to Team Up for a Fourth Flick
Blackfilm.com snagged an interesting quote from controversial filmmaker Spike Lee. The director was...

View all news

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