Malignant (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending
Malignant is a 2021 action thriller directed by James Wan, starring Jacqueline McKenzie as Dr. Florence Weaver, Christian Clemenson and Annabelle Wallis. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $34.9 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. Critics gave it 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 51m (111 min)
- Director
- James Wan
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- New Line Cinema
- Budget
- $40M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Malignant About?
The premise of Malignant without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
A woman haunted by disturbing visions finds her grip on reality loosening as her darkest fears become terrifyingly real. She is plunged into a desperate fight to understand the source of her torment and the gruesome truths behind her visions, before they overwhelm her completely.
Malignant Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- woman in jeopardy
- body horror
- giallo esque
- abandoned mental hospital
- pregnant woman
- psychotic killer
- parasitic twin
- abusive husband
- imaginary friend
- serial killer
- gore
- retro horror
+38 more Show fewer
- evil twin
- conjoined twins
- evil sibling
- evil brother
- home invasion
- domestic violence
- female protagonist
- monster
- dream
- blood
- vision
- serial murder
- death of husband
- year 1985
- blood splatter
- good twin versus evil twin
- twin versus twin
- telephone terror
- seattle underground
- underground tunnel
- one against many
- women in prison
- psychiatric hospital
- hospital
- voice in head
- dark house
- creepy house
- old house
- abusive imaginary friend
- evil imaginary friend
- night terror
- murder spree
- doctor patient relationship
- kidnapping
- abandoned building
- murder investigation
- woken up by noises
- stylized violence
Malignant Cast & Characters
Jacqueline McKenzie leads the cast as Dr. Florence Weaver, with Christian Clemenson as Dr. Victor Fields and Annabelle Wallis as Madison Mitchell. Directed by James Wan; 15 actors are credited in all.
-
Director James Wan
-
Jacqueline McKenzie as Dr. Florence Weaver - Christian Clemenson as Dr. Victor Fields
-
Annabelle Wallis as Madison Mitchell -
Maddie Hasson as Sydney Lake
Also Starring in Malignant
· 11 more- Jake Abel Derek Mitchell
- George Young Kekoa Shaw
- Susanna Thompson Jeanne
- Jean Louisa Kelly Jane Doe, Serena
- Patrick Cox
- Paula Marshall Beverly
- Ingrid Bisu CST Winnie
- Rachel Winfree
- Amir Aboulela
- Jon Lee Brody Officer Lee
- Michole White
More from James Wan
More films directed by James Wan, best-rated first: The Conjuring, The Conjuring 2, Furious 7 and Aquaman.
Malignant Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Malignant 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 51 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 50/100, strongest in art & craft (78) and weakest in character & emotion (25).
Malignant Echo Score Breakdown
Malignant delivers a visually striking experience but is undermined by an uneven narrative and weak performances. Critics acknowledge James Wan’s bold direction and vivid color palette, yet repeatedly note confusing plot structure and dialogue that detracts from tension. User feedback mirrors this split, praising the cinematography while criticizing pacing and character depth. The combination of strong sensory elements with a faltering story results in a film that feels more like a styled showcase than a cohesive horror entry.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
In terms of direction and visual craftsmanship, the film is widely praised. Critics highlight Wan’s confident style, striking red palette, and inventive camera work that create memorable horror moments. Users echo this sentiment, noting polished cinematography and striking set pieces. However, some mention an overreliance on style that does not compensate for narrative shortcomings. Overall, the artistic execution rates highly despite its narrative flaws.
- Character & Emotion 25
Characterization suffers across both critical and audience responses. Reviews consistently point to uneven performances, flat dialogue, and a lack of emotional depth in the protagonists and supporting cast. The villain is described as incomprehensible, and the heroine’s reactions are deemed irritating. While a few note occasional chemistry, the prevailing view is that the weak acting and shallow character development diminish the film’s impact.
- Story & Flow 38
The storyline is frequently characterized as disjointed and sluggish. Critics mention a promising premise that becomes muddled by uneven pacing and forgettable dialogue. Users echo these concerns, describing the plot as boring, slow to develop, and reliant on an underwhelming twist. Although occasional intrigue is noted in the final act, the overall narrative fails to sustain engagement throughout the film.
- Sensory Experience 74
The sensory presentation stands out as a primary strength. Reviewers commend the film’s vivid red hues, effective sound design, and immersive visual style that generate genuine tension in early sequences. Both critics and viewers acknowledge the polished cinematography and atmospheric scoring. Nonetheless, some argue that the sensory focus overshadows narrative cohesion. In sum, the sensory elements elevate the viewing experience despite storytelling weaknesses.
- Rewatch Factor 35
Replay value is limited, as the film’s novelty wanes after an initial burst of visual flair. Critics note that the style-driven approach reduces the desire for multiple viewings, and audience scores reflect low enthusiasm for revisiting. While certain set pieces may intrigue repeat viewers, the overall consensus is that the movie does not reward frequent rewatching.
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IMDb 6.2 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 77% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 53%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 51 Metascore
User score 6.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.1 /5
1.3K ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 3.2 /5
See on Movie Insider
Malignant Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Malignant from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 1993, Dr. Florence Weaver and her colleagues, Victor Fields and John Gregory, worked with a unique psychiatric patient named Gabriel at Simion Research Hospital. Gabriel possessed extraordinary abilities, including controlling electricity and transmitting his thoughts through speakers. However, one fateful night, he unleashed his fury, resulting in the tragic deaths of multiple staff members.
Full summary
The whole story of Malignant, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Malignant Box Office & Budget
Malignant grossed $34.9 million worldwide on a $40 million budget, 87% of what it cost. $13.4 million came from the US and Canada and $21.5 million (62%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$34.9M
87% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $13.4M
- International
- $21.5M
- Budget
- $40M
Malignant Trailers & Videos
12 videos: 2 trailers, 3 teasers, 4 clips, 2 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Trailer Official Trailer 2
- Teaser Malignant | Rain Promo
- Teaser James Wan's Malignant | Do Not Open Promo
- Teaser Malignant - Full Bleed
How Well Do You Know Malignant?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What year did the events at Simion Research Hospital take place?
Malignant Also Known As
29 alternative titles, including “Silvercup” and “肿瘤侠”.
- Also known as
-
- Silvercup
- 肿瘤侠
- 致命感应
- 惡煞
- Maligno
- Злокобен
- Η Ενσάρκωση του Κακού
- Eleven kór
- マリグナント 狂暴な悪夢
- มาลิกแนนท์ ชั่วโคตรร้าย
- Malfaisant
- Ļaundabīgais
+17 more Show fewer
- 말리그넌트
- Malignant Man
- Zhoubné zlo
- Злое
- Втілення зла
- Vtelenie zla
- 疾厄
- Wcielenie
- Habis
- מורעל
- Zloćudno
- Hiện Thân Tà Ác
- Злоћудно
- Pahalane
- Piktybinis
- Malignant: Încarnarea răului
- Zloben, ავთვისებიანი
Seen Malignant?
Movies Like Malignant
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Maligno, Malicious and Malevolent.
Malignant FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Malignant, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Malignant?
Malignant runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).
When was Malignant released?
Malignant was released on September 10, 2021.
Who directed Malignant?
Malignant was directed by James Wan.
More films by James Wan Who is in the cast of Malignant?
Malignant stars Jacqueline McKenzie as Dr. Florence Weaver, Christian Clemenson as Dr. Victor Fields and Annabelle Wallis as Madison Mitchell, among 15 credited actors.
How much did Malignant make at the box office?
Malignant grossed $34.9 million worldwide ($13.4 million domestic, $21.5 million international) on a budget of $40 million.
How is Malignant rated?
Malignant has 6.2/10 on IMDb, 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, 51 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
Does Malignant have a post-credit scene?
No. Malignant has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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