Malcolm is carefully surviving life in a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles while juggling college applications, academic interviews, and the SAT. A chance invitation to an underground party leads him into an adventure that could allow him to go from being a geek, to being dope, to ultimately being himself.
Writing
Whip-smart dialogue that weaponizes SAT vocab
Direction
Famuyiwa's split-screens and throwback visual flex
Score
Pharrell's original tracks + classic hip-hop deep cuts
Director
Rick Famuyiwa
Shameik Moore
Malcolm
Zoë Kravitz
Nakia
A$AP Rocky
Dom
Kiersey Clemons
Diggy
Tony Revolori
Jib
Blake Anderson
Will Sherwood
Chanel Iman
Lily
Roger Guenveur Smith
Austin Jacoby
LaKeith Stanfield
Bug
Tyga
De'Andre
De'Aundre Bonds
Stacey
Bruce Beatty
Mr. Bailey
Quincy Brown
Jaleel
Forest Whitaker
The Narrator (voice)
Kimberly Elise
Lisa Hayes
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released the same year as 'Straight Outta Compton,' this was part of a wave re-examining 90s Black LA culture—except through the eyes of kids who'd rather debate 'The Wire' than live it.
The Bitcoin subplot was written before crypto exploded; Famuyiwa added it thinking it was nerdy and obscure. By release, Malcolm's $100K in BTC would've been worth millions.
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