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Malignant (film)

Malignant is a 2021 American horror film directed by James Wan and written by Akela Cooper from a story by Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Cooper.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Malignant is a 2021 American horror film directed by James Wan and written by Akela Cooper from a story by Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Cooper. It stars Annabelle Wallis as Madison, a woman who experiences visions of murders and discovers that the events are occurring in real time. The film was released by Warner Bros. Pictures and later made available on HBO Max. Distributed internationally, it was reviewed by Canadian and Canadian-accessible outlets, making it part of the wider North American horror-film market familiar to Canadian audiences.

Plot

The story centers on Madison, whose frightening visions of murders gradually reveal a hidden connection to her own past. The film combines supernatural horror, thriller, and mystery elements.

Production

Malignant was directed by James Wan, known for other horror films such as The Conjuring, and written by Akela Cooper, based on a story developed by Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Cooper. It was produced by Atomic Monster and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.

Release

The film was released in 2021, with theatrical and streaming availability reported on the same day in the United States. Reviews from major outlets describe it as an R-rated horror film. The runtime is 111 minutes.

Reception

Critical responses noted its violent imagery, twist ending, and unusual tone, with reviews ranging from dismissive to highly positive. It was widely discussed for its extreme final-act revelations.

Key facts

  • Directed by James Wan, known for other horror films such as The Conjuring.
  • Written by Akela Cooper from a story by Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Cooper.
  • The plot follows Madison, who sees grisly murders in visions and learns they are real events.
  • Annabelle Wallis plays the lead role of Madison.
  • The film has a runtime of 111 minutes.
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Canadian context

The film was distributed internationally and reviewed by Canadian and Canadian-accessible outlets, making it part of the wider North American horror-film market familiar to Canadian audiences.

Frequently asked questions

What is Malignant about?
It follows Madison, a woman who experiences visions of murders and discovers that those killings are happening in reality.
Who directed Malignant?
James Wan directed the film.
Who wrote Malignant?
Akela Cooper wrote the screenplay, based on a story by Wan, Ingrid Bisu, and Cooper.
Who stars in Malignant?
Annabelle Wallis stars as Madison, alongside Maddie Hasson, George Young, Michole Briana White, Jacqueline McKenzie, Jake Abel, and Ingrid Bisu.
When was Malignant released?
It was released in 2021, with U.S. theatrical and streaming release reported for September 10, 2021.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malignant_(2021_film)
    Supports: Basic identification, director, writer, plot premise, cast, and release year
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3811906/
    Supports: Plot synopsis and film identification
  3. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/malignant-movie-review-2021
    Supports: Runtime, release context, and review description
  4. The New York Times — https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/10/movies/malignant-review.html
    Supports: Runtime, rating, and plot context
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/malignant_2021
    Supports: Director, screenwriter, distributor, genre, runtime, release date, and rating
  6. Warner Bros. Entertainment — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGP7AB776CQ
    Supports: Official synopsis, cast, and franchise/marketing description