Malcolm D. Lee Explained

Birth Date:January 11, 1970
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma Mater:Packer Collegiate Institute
Georgetown University
Spouse:[1]
Relatives:Joie Lee (cousin)
Cinqué Lee (cousin)
David Lee (cousin)
Spike Lee (cousin)

Malcolm D. Lee (born January 11, 1970) is an American filmmaker. He is known for directing comedy films including The Best Man (1999), Undercover Brother (2002), Roll Bounce (2005), Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (2008), Soul Men (2008), Scary Movie 5 (2013), The Best Man Holiday (2013), Girls Trip (2017), Night School (2018), and (2021).

Early life

Malcolm D. Lee was born on January 11, 1970, in Queens, New York City.[2] He is a graduate of Packer Collegiate Institute and Georgetown University.

He is the cousin of filmmakers Spike Lee, Joie Lee and Cinqué Lee, and still photographer David Lee.

Career

Lee has directed Undercover Brother, The Best Man, Roll Bounce, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, Soul Men, Girls Trip, and other films. He also directed an episode of the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. He directed an installment in the Scary Movie franchise, Scary Movie 5. In 2013, he directed The Best Man Holiday, a sequel to The Best Man.[3]

In 2017 Girls Trip, starring Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish and Jada Pinkett Smith, received positive reviews from critics and grossed $137 million worldwide, with $100 million of that total being from the domestic market, the first comedy of 2017 to do so.[4] The success led to a first look deal with Universal Pictures.[5]

In 2021, Lee directed a sequel to Space Jam titled , starring LeBron James and Don Cheadle.[6] The film was a critical and commercial failure which released during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee has expressed interest in making a third Space Jam film with Dwayne Johnson as the lead and focusing on wrestling instead of basketball.[7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitlewidth=65Directorwidth=65Producerwidth=65Writer
1999The Best Man
2002Undercover Brother
2005Roll Bounce
2008Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Soul Men
2013Scary Movie 5
The Best Man Holiday
2016
2017Girls Trip
2018Night School
2021

Television

YearTitlewidth=65Directorwidth=65Executive
Producer
Notes
2006Everybody Hates ChrisEpisode "Everybody Hates The Lottery"
2017Shots FiredEpisode "Hour Four: Truth"
2019Episode "Box in Hand"
2021HarlemEpisodes "Pilot" and "Saturn Returns"
2022Also creator

Other credits

YearTitleRole
1992Malcolm XSet production and post-production assistant
1995ClockersAssistant to Spike Lee
1996Girl 6Director trainee
1999The Best ManActor (as Emcee)

Notes and References

  1. News: Lois Smith . Brady . Weddings: Vows; Cami Banks and Malcolm Lee . The New York Times . June 4, 2000 . November 16, 2013.
  2. News: Malcolm D. Lee . https://web.archive.org/web/20140410153635/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/271309/Malcolm-D-Lee/biography . dead . April 10, 2014 . Movies & TV Dept. . . Lucia Bozzola . 2014 . November 16, 2013.
  3. Woodrow, John. (October 1, 2015) 'The Best Man Holiday' movie review: Sequel is both a romp and a shameless tearjerker. The Washington Post. Retrieved on October 20, 2015.
  4. Web site: 'Dunkirk' Seizes $50.5M; 'Girls Trip' Is Malcolm D. Lee's Highest Opening; The Reasons Why 'Valerian' Crashed. Deadline Hollywood. July 23, 2017. July 23, 2017.
  5. Web site: McNary. Dave. July 18, 2017. 'Girls Trip' Director Malcolm D. Lee Signs First-Look Production Deal With Universal. January 17, 2021. Variety. en-US.
  6. Web site: Malcolm D. Lee Takes Over As Director On 'Space Jam 2'. D'Alessandro. Anthony. July 16, 2019. Deadline. en. July 16, 2019.
  7. Web site: Sanchez . Gabrielle . July 21, 2021 . Space Jam: A New Legacy director Malcom D. Lee is down to make a third film starring Dwayne Johnson . live . https://archive.today/20210724025932/https://www.avclub.com/space-jam-a-new-legacy-director-malcom-d-lee-is-down-1847336241 . July 24, 2021 . July 24, 2021 . The A.V. Club.