“Lee has chosen a big subject and, with his quirky talent, has done it superb justice.” - Desson Thomson, Washington Post
“A powerful, poignant epic. Few films justify their length like this—expertly paced, timeless, and sadly, still relevant today.” Oti, For Your Reference Podcast
Saturday, September 6, 7:00 p.m. & Sunday, September 14, 2:15 p.m. | One of the most consequential and crucial voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Malcolm X’s legacy is brought to vivid life in Spike Lee’s sweeping biopic, anchored by an extraordinary, Academy Award–nominated performance by Denzel Washington. Lee draws on the activist and revolutionary’s autobiography to craft a complete portrait of the man—from his childhood marked by white-supremacist violence to his crusade for Black liberation and his leadership in the Nation of Islam. Co-starring Angela Bassett in a powerful performance as Malcolm X’s wife, Betty Shabazz, MALCOLM X is the definitive account of a towering figure that demands to be seen on a screen as big as his legacy.
Awards & Nominations
Nominee - Best Actor (Denzel Washington), Best Costume Design, Academy Awards
Cinema of Resistance | September 1–28, 2025
In Cinema of Resistance, we present eight films that expose the lowest moments of humanity, both real and imagined: war, corruption, cowardice, authoritarianism, and then raise high displays of bravery from movements that changed the course of history and individuals that put themselves on the line for the greater good. Join the fight from your cinema seat.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu