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Season 1 – Malcolm in the Middle

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Malcolm in the Middle Jan 2000 Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
The Cleavers they ain't. Mom is a screaming control freak, Dad is a goofy human hairball, oldest son Francis escaped the family at a young age, Reese is just criminal, Dewey is a space cadet and young Jamie is the scapegoat. The middle kid, Malcolm (who delivers the narrative for the capers of this whacked-out clan) is a brainiac who doesn't want to be burdened by his genius.
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Malcolm in the Middle — Season 1

Malcolm in the Middle — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Malcolm in the Middle blasts out of the gate with a startlingly adept child performance from Frankie Muniz, a robust family ensemble, and a distinctive, punchy visual style.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Shales Washington Post 02/03/2020
[Frankie] Muniz has just the right off-center, off-kilter look to play this child for whom super intelligence is both blessing and curse, as it would be in real life. Go to Full Review James Poniewozik TIME Magazine 02/03/2020
Visually antic and full of belly laughs, Malcolm is cartoonish in the best sense of the word, yet it doesn't deny any of its characters humanity, even the parents. Go to Full Review Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel 02/03/2020
The irreverent comedy manages to be affectionate, thanks largely to [Jane] Kaczmarek, who plays the mother with wisdom and sass. Go to Full Review James Croot The Post NZ 03/08/2022
[It] highlights very real struggles faced by normal families, with numerous wet-yourself-laughing gags scattered into each episode. Go to Full Review Scott D. Pierce Deseret News (Salt Lake City) 02/03/2020
The show is a laugh-out-loud funny, skewed look at the American family that rings surprisingly true. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Brian M @RT70074185 Jun 5 I have watched a lot of films but one that stands out to me is this one because of how it is centered on family and how the family behaves since it is just boys. Having grown with as 3 brothers, the fights, the love when one of us is in trouble makes this show feel like I have lived in it. Definitely captured my heart in 2026, despite the film being created 20 years ago See more Andrey T @RT95492063 May 15 Holds up really great in retrospect. There is the occasional dud of an episode and the depth of the main characters doesn't really develop until the later seasons. See more Ed R @JustcallmeER Apr 14 Malcolm in the Middle blasts out of the gate with a startlingly adept child performance from Frankie Muniz, a robust family ensemble, and a distinctive, punchy visual style. See more Neeta J @RT69530955 Apr 12 Best show I have ever seen my childhood my memories my laughs all in this show See more Dyson M. @RT25108796 Apr 11 Love this show it is so great and season on the red dress there was i mistake a camera guy was in view but it happened and I thought it was funny but this is by far one of my favorite shows.I love it. See more Billy P @billy_perkin223 Apr 8 One of the funniest shows I've ever watched. I watched the first three episodes one night after I was suggested it and instantly got addicted! I finished it in three months! It feels weird writing this review in 2026 even though the show came out in the 2000's. Some stand out episodes: S6 E20: Stilt (9.5/10) S4 E10: If Boys Were Girls (9.3/10) S2 E20: Bowling (9.5/10) S4 E20 & 21: Baby (Part 1 & 2) (Part 1: 9.6/10, Part 2: 9.4/10) S1 E16: Waterpark (9.4/10) S2 E1: Traffic Jam (9.6/10) S2 E25: Flashback (9.4/10) S5 E4: Thanksgiving (9.2/10) S5 E21 & 22: Reese Joins the Army (Part 1: 9.5/10, Part 2, 9.6/10) I could keep going but I would definitely pass my word count limit. The reason this show is so amazing is because its just so ridiculous and stupid and funny and, bla bla bla... See more Read all reviews
Malcolm in the Middle — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Frankie Muniz

Malcolm Wilkerson

Craig Lamar Traylor

Stevie Kenarban

Bryan Cranston

Hal Wilkerson

Jane Kaczmarek

Lois Wilkerson

Christopher Masterson

Actor

Justin Berfield

Reese Wilkerson

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 9, 2000 Pilot When his oldest brother is sent to military camp, a boy genius is the middle child between two other brothers. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 16, 2000 Red Dress When Lois finds her new dress burned and left in the toilet, she tries to get a confession from one of the boys. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 23, 2000 Home Alone 4 When Francis is left in charge of his brothers, mayhem ensues, and Malcolm gets hurt, requiring hospitalization. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 6, 2000 Shame Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) is guilt-ridden after beating up a school bully who turns out to be just a 7-year-old brat. With Jane Kaczmarek and Christopher Kennedy Masterson. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 13, 2000 Malcolm Babysits Malcolm enjoys baby-sitting for a normal family until he finds out he has been under camera surveillance. Details Episode 6 Aired Feb 20, 2000 Sleepover When Malcolm and Stevie (Frankie Muniz, guest star Craig Lamar Traylor) sneak out to an arcade at night, Stevie's wheelchair is stolen. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 27, 2000 Francis Escapes After his phone privileges are taken away, a lovesick Francis leaves military school to see his girlfriend Bebe. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 12, 2000 Krelboyne Picnic Lois has a showdown with the other mothers at a Krelboyne picnic, while Reese preys upon Malcolm's gifted classmates. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 19, 2000 Lois vs. Evil Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) loses her job at the pharmacy after Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his brothers blow up the store's steam cleaner. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 2, 2000 Stock Car Races Hal (Bryan Cranston) secretly takes Malcolm, Reese and Dewey (Frankie Muniz, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan) to the stock-car races on a school day. Details Episode 11 Aired Apr 9, 2000 Funeral Exasperated with nonstop complaints, Lois throws in the towel, which leads to the rapid breakdown of family life. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 16, 2000 Cheerleader Following Malcolm's advice, Reese joins the cheerleading squad to impress the object of his affection. Details Episode 13 Aired Apr 30, 2000 Rollerskates In order to get in-line skates, Malcolm must go through Hal's rollerskate training program. Details Episode 14 Aired May 7, 2000 The Bots and the Bees Chaos ensues when Malcolm invites his Krelboyne classmates over to his house to build a robot for a competition. Details Episode 15 Aired May 14, 2000 Smunday On Monday morning, Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) and his brothers convince their ailing mother (Jane Kaczmarek) that it's Sunday. Details Episode 16 Aired May 21, 2000 Water Park The family goes to a water park, leaving Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) at home with a no-nonsense baby sitter (guest star Bea Arthur). With Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek, Bryan Cranston and Justin Berfield. Details

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Malcolm in the Middle — Season 1

Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle Malcolm in the Middle View more photos

Season Info

Director
Todd Holland, Ken Kwapis, Arlene Sanford, Nick Marck, Jeff Melman, Chris Koch
Executive Producer
Linwood Boomer, David Richardson, Alan J. Higgins, Todd Holland
Screenwriter
Maggie Bandur, Michael Glouberman, Alan J. Higgins, David Richardson, Dan Kopelman, Linwood Boomer, Jack Amiel, Pang-Ni Landrum, Andrew Orenstein, Michael Begler
Network
Fox
Rating
TV-PG (L)
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 9, 2000