“Malcolm X” (1992)

Drama

Running Time: 202 minutes

Written by: Arnold Perl and Spike Lee

Directed by: Spike Lee

Featuring: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., Delroy Lindo and Spike Lee

Malcolm X: “You may be shocked by these words, but I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass and prayed to the same God with fellow Muslims whose eyes were blue, whose hair was blond and whose skin was the whitest of whites. And we are brothers, truly; people of all colors and races believing in One God and one humanity. Once before, in prison, the truth came and blinded me. It has happened again… In the past, I have permitted myself to be used to make sweeping indictments of all white people, and these generalizations have caused injuries to some white folks who did not deserve them. Because of the spiritual rebirth which I was blessed to undergo as a result of my pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca, I no longer subscribe to sweeping indictments of one race. I intend to be careful not to sentence anyone who has not been proven guilty. I’m not a racist and do not subscribe to any of the tenets of racism. In all honesty and sincerity it can be stated that I wish nothing but freedom, justice and equality: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people. My first concern, of course, is with the group to which I belong, the Afro-Americans, for we, more than any other, are deprived of these inalienable rights. I believe the true practice of Islam can remove the cancer of racism from the hearts and souls of white Americans.”

Spike Lee’s Malcolm X has always been a monumental film — an ambitious, fiercely intelligent, and deeply human chronicle of one of the most complex and transformative figures in 20th-century American history. Over three decades after its 1992 release, it remains not just one of Lee’s finest achievements but also one of the greatest biographical epics in modern cinema. With Warner Bros.’s new 4K Ultra HD release, Malcolm X finally receives the presentation it has long deserved — one that fully honors its visual grandeur, its spiritual depth, and its cultural power.

Malcolm X charts the evolution of Malcolm Little (Denzel Washington, in one of the most commanding performances ever captured on film) from his early days as a hustler in 1940s Boston and Harlem, through his imprisonment and conversion to Islam, to his emergence as a national leader and, ultimately, his assassination in 1965.

Spike Lee’s direction balances scope and intimacy with astonishing precision. Few biopics manage to cover such vast historical ground without losing emotional focus, but Lee keeps the story rooted in Malcolm’s humanity. We see him as a man of contradictions and growth — proud, angry, brilliant, fallible — and it’s this emotional honesty that makes the film so powerful.

The film’s opening — the American flag burning as Rodney King’s beating plays out on TV — situates the story within the long continuum of racial struggle in America. From there, Lee constructs a film that is both historical document and urgent political statement. His control of tone and rhythm is masterful, aided by Ernest Dickerson’s luminous cinematography and Terence Blanchard’s stirring score. The sequence of Malcolm’s pilgrimage to Mecca remains one of the most breathtaking in Lee’s career — transcendent, intimate, and visually resplendent.

And then there’s Denzel Washington. His portrayal of Malcolm X transcends mimicry or biopic convention. Washington captures every stage of Malcolm’s evolution — the slick con man, the fiery orator, the reflective seeker — with complete emotional and physical authenticity. His energy, cadence, and gaze convey both intellect and vulnerability. It’s a performance of Shakespearean range and moral authority.

The 4K UHD release of Malcolm X represents a significant upgrade over previous Blu-ray editions. Warner Bros. sourced the transfer from the original 35mm camera negative, scanned in 4K, and presented with Dolby Vision HDR. The results are stunning.

The cinematography by Ernest Dickerson, long one of Spike Lee’s closest collaborators, truly shines here. The film’s early sections — all rich reds, deep shadows, and saturated jazz-era color — have newfound vibrancy and texture. The nightclub scenes practically glow with period authenticity. Skin tones, often an issue on older transfers, are now natural and nuanced.

As the film progresses into Malcolm’s prison years and then his rise as a public figure, the color palette cools and the lighting grows more austere. The HDR grading captures this evolution beautifully, enhancing contrast and depth without crushing blacks or exaggerating highlights. Fine details in clothing, sets, and archival footage are far more visible, adding a layer of historical realism that strengthens the film’s immersive quality.

Film grain is intact and finely resolved, maintaining the organic texture of celluloid without digital smoothing. The transfer preserves the cinematic integrity of the original photography while revealing more visual information than ever before.

The 4K disc carries a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, which has also been cleaned and balanced for this release. It’s not an aggressive mix, but it’s deeply atmospheric and emotionally effective. Dialogue is clear and rich, and the dynamic range of Terence Blanchard’s music is beautifully handled. The jazz numbers, gospel interludes, and period soundscapes are enveloping without overpowering the film’s quieter moments.

Speeches and crowd scenes, particularly Malcolm’s addresses at the Nation of Islam rallies, have impressive presence — the echo of auditoriums and the fervor of the crowd are rendered with remarkable fidelity.

The extras largely carry over from the previous Blu-ray, though that’s not necessarily a disappointment given the quality of the archival material. The standout feature remains the making-of documentary By Any Means Necessary: The Making of Malcolm X, which offers an in-depth look at Lee’s creative process and the immense logistical challenges of bringing the film to life. Interviews with Lee, Washington, and producer Marvin Worth provide illuminating context.

Also included are deleted scenes, a featurette on Malcolm X’s legacy, and vintage footage of Spike Lee discussing the film’s production and controversies. While it would have been nice to have new commentary or retrospective interviews, the included content still offers substantial value for those exploring the film’s history.

The packaging itself is elegant and respectful — featuring a striking image of Denzel Washington as Malcolm in his iconic glasses, with reversible artwork and liner notes summarizing the film’s impact.

Malcolm X in 4K is a revelation. It’s not just that the film looks and sounds better — it’s that this restoration restores the weight of its imagery and the dignity of its subject. For a film that’s both a chronicle of injustice and a testament to self-determination, this enhanced presentation carries symbolic power.

Spike Lee’s vision was always epic, and this 4K release finally does justice to that scale — from the shimmering jazz clubs of the 1940s to the blinding light of Mecca. Denzel Washington’s towering performance feels even more immediate, and the film’s emotional crescendos land with renewed intensity.

In short: this is not only one of the essential films of the 1990s but also one of the most significant catalog 4K restorations of recent years. For fans of Spike Lee, Denzel Washington, or American cinema in general, the Malcolm X 4K is a must-own — a landmark work restored to its full, revolutionary glory.