Performance & Direction: Malignant Review
Last updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Malignant (2021) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Horror.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Horror is often anchored by its ensemble, and Malignant features a noteworthy lineup led by Annabelle Wallis . Supported by the likes of Maddie Hasson and George Young , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Malignant (2021) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.8/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Malignant
Quick Plot Summary: Malignant is a Horror, Mystery film that crafts an atmosphere of dread and suspense, using psychological terror and visual scares. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The horror unfolds through carefully crafted atmosphere and escalating dread. Madison is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities with a mysterious tie to her past. The film uses both psychological terror and visceral scares, building tension through what's unseen as much as what's shown. The pacing allows for breathing room between scares, making each frightening moment more effective.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: An unsettling prologue sets the ominous tone, hinting at the terror to come while establishing the rules of this world.
- Character Arc: The main character shows growth throughout the story, though some supporting characters could have been more fully realized. The arc is present but occasionally predictable.
- Climax & Resolution: The final act escalates the terror to its peak, forcing characters to confront the source of horror directly.
Ending Explained: Malignant
Ending Breakdown: Malignant concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to horror resolution.
The final reveal recontextualizes earlier scenes, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the horror themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Malignant reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Malignant?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Horror films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a few scares and creepy atmosphere
Box Office Collection: Malignant
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $40.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $34.9M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Malignant Budget
The estimated production budget for Malignant is $40.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Malignant
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Where to Watch Malignant Online?
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YouTubeMalignant Parents Guide & Age Rating
2021 AdvisoryWondering about Malignant age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Malignant is 111 minutes (1h 51m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.8/10, and global collection metrics, Malignant stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2021 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malignant worth watching?
Malignant is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Horror movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Malignant parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Malignant identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Malignant?
The total duration of Malignant is 111 minutes, which is approximately 1h 51m long.
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How Malignant Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for Malignant
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/malignant-spoiler-free-review "Malignant is yet another excellent origin movie for a new franchise created by one of the most successful horror filmmakers of the century, James Wan. The talented director picks up a thematically rich, mysteriously intriguing narrative written by the feature film debutant Akela Cooper, and lets himself get inspired by the giallo genre. Boasting a fascinating protagonist brilliantly interpreted by Annabelle Wallis, the unexpected yet exposition-heavy revelations of the brave third act definitely improve upon a rather generic, unexciting first half. While the impressive action sequences steal the technical spotlight, Joseph Bishara's score holds divisive creative choices that might not please every viewer. For horror fans, I couldn't recommend it more." Rating: B+
This is one of the dumbest films I have seen in a long time, start to finish it is a dumpster fire, the "twist" is projected so hard so early, and so often, then over explained to the point of the death of any subtlety, and it's not original or clever in it's execution. I don't understand how people seem to be liking this film I feel like I'm taking crazy pills I rarely say this, but I hated this dumb film
Classic case of the trailer being the best part. I'll hand it to them though, I was completely fooled about what this movie was going to be. When they showed Gabriel behind the plastic sheet in the beginning ... I knew it was not what I signed on for. As my mom would say: It insults my intelligence.
This movie has started very strong the ending was a little bit silly but it was fun i like this movie it's better than any of the other horror movies that come out in 2020 and 2021 ok the conjuring 3 was the best this movie is on my second place
I'll give it this much, it's a weird movie. Can't say it's a good weird nor a bad one, just plain weird. Now, I do appreciate that James Wan returned to his horror roots in between the wait for Aquaman 2 goes into production. As for this movie, there was parts that felt off, such as the acting which I don't think was all that impressive. Wan's direction wasn't particularly noteworthy either outside of the finale which had impressive moments. As a whole, the least I can say it's not pedestrian or forgettable, but on the other hand I really don't have much desire to revisit. **2.75/5**
Malignant is a ride, one that changes directions in multiple different ways that I did not expect. This film is an ambitious genre bend that takes tropes from slashers (loved the Friday the 13th/Halloween cords used in the beginning of the film), the classic James Wan ghost films, action, and strangely enough some elements from Scream in the comedy side. With some many different themes it was hard to really understand what this movie's identity was. The film had a serious tone throughout but had some awkward lines that felt right out of a Scream film. With those two different tones it felt as if the lines were funny bad writing rather than artistic vision. The kills were bloody as all hell, which is par for the course with the slasher genre and a positive for this film. The reversed humanoid figure visuals for the killer were very incredibly unsettling. I really enjoyed the plot for the most part, even though I felt the beginning and the end were much stronger than the middle lull. The twist was great, and I did not see it coming till it was almost too late. When this happens the movie really finds it grove and kept me locked in for the remaining twenty minutes. Overall, Malignant is decent movie, maybe a little too ambitious for its own good. **Verdict:** _Decent_
70/100 In Malignant, director James Wan crafts a visually-impressive horror experience in which camera work, production design, and aesthetics do most of the heavy lifting. Annabelle Wallis and her Backpack do their best with a garbage script and subpar supporting cast that appears to be there to punch the ticket. If you can get over the slow opening 30 minutes, Malignant's innovative ideas distinguish it from the usual horror movie clichés, giving surprising turns that keep you intrigued until the end.
I really liked this film. It wasn't that scary, but it did gross me out a lot. This is a horror film that feels like it didn't want to be terrifying but wanted to show us what is terrifying. The threat of the film was an interesting concept, and the film did a great job of making me invested in the story that is unfolding as you watch it. The ending felt a little loose, and I feel it should have gone a little longer, so it could have been a better end, but other than that, this was a great film, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.









