Malcolm X

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Malcolm X

PG-13

1992

3h 21m

Biography

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

83 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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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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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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KT Mahe

For Your Reference Podcast

Feb 12

5/5

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.

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Feb 27

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.

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rex w

Dec 18

A top ten movie of the 90s. And possibly the greatest Black American film of all time.

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Tyler S

@tylerking24 Dec 8

Didn't really know anything about Malcolm X, and I thought this was a pretty interesting and solid biopic of the activist.

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Dixie M

@DMDarne123 Nov 23

Impactful, powerful and masterful movie of cinema, art and a true story I love everything about it to me it speaks the truth and meaning.

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Alec S

@TheDudeHere Oct 17

You can tell Spike Lee literally went full on GOD mode to make this epic biographical masterpiece happen.

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Malcolm W

Aug 23

A masterfully executed film that handles controversial subject matter. One of the few biographical pictures that does such a complex human being as Malcolm X justice.

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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)

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