Malcolm X

Play trailer

Malcolm X

PG-13

Released Nov 18, 1992

3h 21m

Biography

History

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

81 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Lynden Barber

Sydney Morning Herald

Unusually rich, absorbing and often brilliant film-making, an epic deserving of the description. But that doesn't stop it from being worryingly ambiguous.

Dec 14, 2023

Full Review

Neil Jillett

The Age (Australia)

The film has no psychological depth and not much sense of history. It takes a purely surface view of people and events.

Dec 14, 2023

Full Review

Bob Longino

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The movie is long -- 202 minutes -- but Lee earns every tick of the clock, illuminating the many developmental moments in Malcolm X’s personality.

Rated: A-

Oct 9, 2023

Full Review

KT Mahe

For Your Reference Podcast

Spike Lee's discerning vision & Denzel Washington's boundless performance results in a cinematic multifaceted reflection of a public figure and an open dialogue of the world, how it has been built, who benefits and those that are left with work to do.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 12, 2025

Full Review

Oti

For Your Reference Podcast

Denzel Washington shines as Malcolm X in a powerful, poignant epic. Few films justify their length like this—expertly paced, timeless, and sadly, still relevant today.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 12, 2025

Full Review

Calum Baker

Radio Times

Stately and respectful rather than particularly radical film-making, this is a triumph all around for Lee's creative team, from its million-dollar opening shot to its memorable closing montage.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 18, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

laura

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/25

Full Review

thiago s

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, o elenco é bom, mas ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, os personagens sao fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes para fazer o filme ser bom.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

05/03/25

Full Review

Jon G

A superfluous performance by Denzel Washington. A superb biopic from Spike Lee.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

Full Review

S F

Malcom X directed by Spike Lee is a top tier bio pic. Great film making, style, tone. Three strong and very entertaining acts led by the incredible performance of Denzel Washington, who becomes this character. You can never look away for 3 hours it's so captivating. I am just going by what I see in the movie, not the book it was adapted from. Tomato scores from the pros and audiences at 90 which seems about right. It's a must watch for me, highly recommend.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

06/25/24

Full Review

Jonathan G

One of the best biopics I've seen. Ever. Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" is raw, triumphant, and monumental. Definitely Denzel's best role I've seen by far, and Spike's direction of this is also amazing. The 202-minute runtime never drags, and the writing in this is just phenomenal.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Eugene L

Absolutely riveting performance by Denzel Washington. He IS MALCOM X. Embodying his style his speech and his attitude throughout the entire movie. And what an incredible story is told in the finest and most thrilling, uplifting, hopeful, conflicting, sad ways.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Spike Lee

Director

Denzel Washington

Malcolm X

Angela Bassett

Betty Shabazz

Albert Hall

Baines

Al Freeman Jr.

Elijah Muhammad

Delroy Lindo

West Indian Archie

The Last Emperor

86%

88%

The Last Emperor

Watchlist

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

61%

68%

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Watchlist

Lincoln

89%

80%

Lincoln

Watchlist

The Aviator

86%

79%

The Aviator

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Aviator

Hotel Rwanda

91%

94%

Hotel Rwanda

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Denzel Washington Coolest Lines Mashup

2:00

View more videos

View more photos

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: Spike Lee, Marvin Worth
Screenwriter: Alex Haley, Malcolm X, Arnold Perl, Spike Lee
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: JVC Entertainment, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Largo International N.V.
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Biography, History, Drama
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)

Most Popular at Home Now