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IMDbPro

Malcolm X

  • 19921992
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 3h 22m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
94K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,230
384
Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1992)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:46
7 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History
Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam.Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam.Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster, to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
94K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
4,230
384
  • Director
    • Spike Lee
  • Writers
    • Arnold Perl
    • Spike Lee
    • Alex Haley(based on "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" as told to)
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Angela Bassett
    • Delroy Lindo
Top credits
  • Director
    • Spike Lee
  • Writers
    • Arnold Perl
    • Spike Lee
    • Alex Haley(based on "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" as told to)
  • Stars
    • Denzel Washington
    • Angela Bassett
    • Delroy Lindo
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 208User reviews
    • 85Critic reviews
    • 73Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 19 wins & 24 nominations total

    Videos7

    Malcolm X
    Trailer 2:46
    Malcolm X
    Essential Black Films of the 1990s
    Clip 1:14
    Essential Black Films of the 1990s
    A Guide to Spike Lee Joints
    Clip 2:03
    A Guide to Spike Lee Joints
    Spike Lee: Four Decades of 'Wake Up!'
    Clip 3:05
    Spike Lee: Four Decades of 'Wake Up!'
    The Rise of John David Washington
    Clip 3:55
    The Rise of John David Washington
    Denzel Washington on His IMDb Best-Known Movies
    Interview 2:57
    Denzel Washington on His IMDb Best-Known Movies
    Which Roles Did Samuel L. Jackson Turn Down?
    Video 2:31
    Which Roles Did Samuel L. Jackson Turn Down?

    Photos106

    Denzel Washington and Spike Lee in Malcolm X (1992)
    Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1992)
    Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, James McDaniel, Eric Payne, and Keith Randolph Smith in Malcolm X (1992)
    Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1992)
    Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1992)
    Denzel Washington and Delroy Lindo in Malcolm X (1992)
    Denzel Washington and Delroy Lindo in Malcolm X (1992)
    Denzel Washington in Malcolm X (1992)
    Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, James McDaniel, and Ernest Thomas in Malcolm X (1992)
    Ruth E. Carter received an Oscar nomination for her costume designs for "Malcolm X".
    Photo of Spike Lee from "Malcolm X", wearing Zoot Suit designed by Ruth Carter.
    Denzel Washington at an event for Malcolm X (1992)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Denzel Washington
    Denzel Washington
    • Malcolm Xas Malcolm X
    Angela Bassett
    Angela Bassett
    • Betty Shabazzas Betty Shabazz
    Delroy Lindo
    Delroy Lindo
    • West Indian Archieas West Indian Archie
    Spike Lee
    Spike Lee
    • Shortyas Shorty
    Albert Hall
    Albert Hall
    • Bainesas Baines
    Al Freeman Jr.
    Al Freeman Jr.
    • Elijah Muhammadas Elijah Muhammad
    Theresa Randle
    Theresa Randle
    • Lauraas Laura
    Kate Vernon
    Kate Vernon
    • Sophiaas Sophia
    Lonette McKee
    Lonette McKee
    • Louise Littleas Louise Little
    Tommy Hollis
    Tommy Hollis
    • Earl Littleas Earl Little
    James McDaniel
    James McDaniel
    • Brother Earlas Brother Earl
    Ernest Thomas
    Ernest Thomas
    • Sidneyas Sidney
    Jean-Claude La Marre
    • Benjamin 2Xas Benjamin 2X
    • (as Jean LaMarre)
    O.L. Duke
    O.L. Duke
    • Peteas Pete
    Larry McCoy
    • Sammyas Sammy
    Maurice Sneed
    • Cadillacas Cadillac
    Debi Mazar
    Debi Mazar
    • Pegas Peg
    Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
    Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
    • Honeyas Honey
    • Director
      • Spike Lee
    • Writers
      • Arnold Perl
      • Spike Lee
      • Alex Haley(based on "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" as told to)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Director Spike Lee removed all mention of Louis Farrakhan from the film after receiving specific, direct threats from him.
    • Goofs
      Malcolm watches television news footage of race riots, including the March 1965 attack on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama and the 1967 Newark, New Jersey Riots. Both incidents took place after Malcolm was assassinated in February 1965.
    • Quotes

      Malcolm X: We were discussing the disciples. What color were they?

      Chaplain Gill: Well, I don't think we know that for certain.

      Malcolm X: But they were Hebrews, were they not?

      Chaplain Gill: That's right.

      Malcolm X: As was Jesus. Jesus was also a Hebrew.

      Chaplain Gill: Why don't you just ask your question.

      Malcolm X: What color were the original Hebrews?

      Chaplain Gill: I have told you - that we don't know that for certain.

      Malcolm X: Then you can't believe for certain - that Jesus was white.

      Chaplain Gill: Just - just a moment. Just a moment. God is white.

      [pointing to a painting of a white Jesus hanging on the wall]

      Chaplain Gill: Isn't it obvious?

      Malcolm X: Well, that

      [nodding to the painting]

      Malcolm X: is obvious, but we don't know if it's obvious that God is white. The honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us that Jesus did not have blond hair and blue eyes. The honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches us that the images of Jesus that are on prison walls and churches throughout the world are not historically correct; because, history teaches us that Jesus was born in a region where the people had color. There's proof in the very Bible that you've asked us to read in Revelations, first chapter, verses 14 and 15, that Jesus had hair like wool and feet the color of brass.

      Chaplain Gill: Just - just what're you saying?

      Malcolm X: l'm not saying anything. l'm proving to you that Jesus was *not*, and I quote one of my lndian brothers here, he was not a paleface. Amen.

    • Crazy credits
      At the end of the credits the film is dedicated to Alex Haley, author of the book the movie is based on. There is also a picture of the book and a special note that says: "Read 'The Autobiography of Malcolm X'"
    • Connections
      Edited from JFK (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Someday We'll All Be Free
      Written by Donny Hathaway (as Donny E. Hathaway) and Edward U. Howard

      Used by permission of WB Music Corp. and Kuumba Music Publishing Company

      Produced by Arif Mardin

      Performed by Aretha Franklin

      Courtesy of Artista Records, Inc.

    User reviews208

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Great but needed a better editor
    A great movie if overlong and slightly unfocused.

    Washington carried the film with a great performance worthy of an Oscar nomination if not a win which might have been guaranteed had the director managed to focus.

    Spike Lee did a good job as director which is saying a lot, given the historical scope, danger of offense, and controversy of the project. His one weak area in this film was editing. There is no reason this movie couldn't have been half an hour shorter. Right off the bat, there were unnecessarily lingering camera shots and scenes that could have omitted. Off the top of my head, I'm thinking of Spike himself sliding under a woman's skirt and mugging the camera. That scene not only failed to further the story but instead made the audience stand up and say, "Hey, that's Spike looking at us!" Lee's biggest editing mistake was based on his desire to tell the story of Malcolm X AND tell the story of the African-American experience. That's more than enough for several movies so why cram it all under one title? After a clear scene illustrating X's life, Lee would move to a large dance hall to illustrate the richness of the African-American experience. A quick shot of the dance hall would have been sufficient. Instead the far away shots were maintained for too long and when the focus moved back to specific characters it moved to the character played by Lee himself. Why? I don't know. It certainly didn't help us to understand X any better. The ending with children saying "I am Malcolm X" also went on too long and should have been part of a separate feature. The cameos were distracting. The movie could have been tighter, shorter, and better except that Spike Lee wanted to put everything, including the kitchen sink, into it.

    That being said, it is a great movie and I'm glad I invested the three and a half hours to watch it.
    helpful•66
    35
    • bbraat
    • Feb 21, 2006

    FAQ2

    • Was Malcolm really killed by members of the Nation of Islam?
    • Can Malcolm's conversion & rebirth to Islam be attributed to one person alone, namely Baines?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 18, 1992 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arabic
    • Also known as
      • X
    • Filming locations
      • Egypt
    • Production companies
      • Largo International N.V.
      • JVC Entertainment Networks
      • 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $33,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $48,169,910
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $9,871,125
      • Nov 22, 1992
    • Gross worldwide
      • $48,169,910
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 22 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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