Al Freeman Jr., Albert Hall, Angela Bassett

Biographical drama on the life of the late Malcolm X, who was assassinated on February 21, 1965.

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90% liked it

47,886 ratings

Critics

93% liked it

44 critics

PG-13, 3 hrs. 19 min.

Directed by: Spike Lee

Release Date: November 18, 1992

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DVD Release Date: January 18, 2000

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Stats: 2,326 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,326)


  • September 3, 2009
    A fair and balanced biopic of Malcolm X, brilliantly realised by Lee and fantastically portrayed by Washington, in his finest role to date.
  • March 29, 2008
    Director:Spike Lee
    Released: 1992
    Stars: Angela Bassett, Denzel Washington, Albert Hallch and Al Freeman Jr.
    Genre: Drama, Biography
    Country: USA

    ...( read more)="_blank">Photobucket

    Biography of Malcolm X, the famous African American leader. Born Malcolm Little, his father (a minister) was killed by the Ku Klux Klan. He became a gangster, and while in jail discovered the Nation of Islam writings of Elijah Muhammad. He preaches the teachings when let out of jail, but later on goes on a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, there he converts to the original Islamic religion and becomes a Sunni Muslim. He changes his name to El-Hajj Malik Al-Shabazz and stops his anti-white teachings, as he realises the error of his mistakes. He is later on assasinated

    What started out as a very good biographical film that perhaps suffered from the legnthy time sudden;y became more half-way through. For a man I never knew much about the lenghty time told me more about him than lessons at school probably ever would....Brilliant

    More to follow...
  • March 2, 2008
    Get you hand out my pocket.
  • March 1, 2008
    Yes Yes Yes but get your hand out my pocket.
  • December 13, 2007
    I'm not the biggest fan of Denzel, but he is extremely convincing in this sweeping biopic of the black activist and political icon Malcolm X by Spike Lee. The man had a remarkable and fascinating life, born into a world of prejudice and violence and later seduced by a life of cri...( read more)me when he goes to the big city and encounters Delroy Lindo, a black man who commands power, and more importantly, respect. This heralds the most interesting part of the film when Malcolm is imprisoned for 10 years for burglary and encounters his mentor who teaches him his salvation in the form of Islam. This leads to his rebirth as civil rights activist, only to find disenchantment and then betrayal at the hands of those he trusted most. This biopic has everything; crime, gangsters, prison drama, politics (both religious and racial) and a lesson in history. I do not know enough about the man's real life to pass judgement on the film's accuracy, but I can only assume there is a certain amount of rose-tinting in evidence; he could almost be ordained to sainthood by the film's end. But it does hold an important underlying message; sometimes one can be seduced by the man who preaches the message, causing us to lose sight of the message itself. A lesson perhaps even more pertinent today (especially for his fellow Muslims) than it was then.
  • October 5, 2009
    I've read the Autobiography 0f Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley, and well a quote from Spike Lee on the cover and you know it will be interesting, incidentally he directed this as well. I must say it isn't at all times completely accurate but understandably vivid and some change m...( read more)ust occur for the silver screen of course. Denzel impressed me thoroughly though and definitely captured the essence of Malcolm. A non-fiction book is sometimes hard to portray in cinema and Spike Lee did the job.
  • September 18, 2009
    Spike Lee's best achievement in his entire career. The Denzel Washington show. Sweet and patriotic development; very moving and liberalist.

    74/100
  • September 14, 2009
    Er, let's see. Will I watch a biopic (sic) about a guy who advocated violence (sic) as an answer to inequality. Mmm, quite the opposite sort of person as say, M.L.K.. Unity and understanding is needed in this world, not more hatred and intolerance. Cyas.
  • August 15, 2009
    Spike Lee Joint! Soundtrack is the best!
  • August 12, 2009
    denzel is an excellent actor..great movie

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is an extraordinary life, and Spike Lee has told it in an extraordinary film. full review

View more Malcolm X reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • InfamousHugo
    June 9, 2008
    In every bio-pics there are inaccuracies for many diffeent reasons. Sometimes its to make a thstory more cinematographical, but sometimes its because some people refused to be mentionned and sometimes characters need to be created to envelop more than one. No bio-pics is perfect, what matters is the essence of the character and his actions.
  • originalman320
    October 23, 2007
    As well made as this movie was, there are many inaccuracies in the movie. First of all, in the movie, you see Bro. Baines introduce Malcolm to the Nation of Islam. There is no such person as Bro. Baines. It was actually Malcolm's brothers, particularly his brother Reginald that introduced him to the teachings of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. Also you see in the movie that Malcolm had a vision of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad in his cell. Not so. He had a vision of the One who taught the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. That was Allah, in the person of Master Fard Muhammad. I could go on and on, but there isn't enough space here. To make it short, the Hon. Elijah Muhammad certainly did NOT have Malcolm killed.

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Malcolm X Trivia


  • Who plays Malcolm X in d movie Malcolm X?  Answer »
  • who played malcolm x in the film malcolm x ?   Answer »
  • What movie is this line from ??? "GET YOUR HAND OUT OF MY POCKET" !!!!!!!  Answer »
  • I was a famous Afro-American who was murdered in New York City in 1965, by 3 Black Muslims. Denzel Washington played me, based on a James Baldwin biographical novel, and directed by Spike Jones. My name is___   Answer »

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