Malcolm X

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Malcolm X

PG-13

Released Nov 18, 1992

3h 21m

Biography

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

82 Reviews

91%

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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

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

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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

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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

Julian Singleton

Cinapse

Malcolm X deftly [navigates] that wide gulf between personal identity and public image, providing illumination, criticism, and commemoration in equal measure.

Jul 12, 2025

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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

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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

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Buck M

Washington’s commanding central performance and the intensity with which the story is told make the film feel both brisk and invigorating, challenging our notions of history and what it means to be black in America, then and now.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/09/25

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Haseeb A

Greatest film ever it is absolute cinema must watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

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Andre S

One of, if not, the greatest biographical films.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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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

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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

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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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