--- title: "One Night in Miami...: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/one-night-in-miami/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/one-night-in-miami" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 27 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # One Night in Miami... (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 27 reviews: 22 positive, 4 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics find One Night in Miami… an affecting, politically thoughtful drama, with praise centred on the four leads and Regina King’s assured direction. Kingsley Ben-Adir’s Malcolm X draws particular attention for his vulnerability and moral urgency, while Leslie Odom Jr.’s singing and the ensemble’s natural chemistry are recurring strengths. The reviews value the way the conversations reveal friendship, disagreement and private uncertainty beneath the men’s public reputations. Reservations concern the slow opening, occasional sluggishness and how fully the film escapes its stage origins, though these rarely overturn the positive verdicts. The spread is broad, but the sharper objections come from a small minority: Vulture finds the dialogue softened and the portrayals incomplete, despite admiring Odom Jr.’s singing. Little White Lies likewise praises the nuanced acting but argues that the slow pace and stagey presentation prevent the drama from having the force its subject warrants. ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Rating 5/5. 15 January 2021. O’Sullivan enthusiastically praises Regina King’s film as an electrifying, moving achievement, though she wishes it lasted longer. She singles out Kingsley Ben-Adir’s intense portrayal of Malcolm X and the ensemble’s performances, especially Leslie Odom Jr’s singing. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king-a4568636.html) ## IndieWire — Kate Erbland Rating A-. 7 September 2020. Festival review. Erbland calls the film a powerful, emotionally grounded directorial debut. She especially praises the revelatory performances and the film’s vivid portrayal of the men’s friendship and conflicts. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king-1234584340/) ## Empire — Ellen E Jones Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 12 January 2021. Jones gives the film a strongly positive verdict, calling it a fresh insight into historical figures and a promising start for Regina King. She especially praises the cast’s performances, singling out Eli Goree’s lively portrayal of Ali. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/one-night-in-miami/) ## Los Angeles Times — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 January 2021. Chang gives the film a strongly positive verdict, praising its wit, compassion and refusal of easy answers. He singles out the actors’ harmonized performances and King’s disciplined, fluid direction. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-01-07/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king-ali-malcolm-x) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Rating Critics Pick. 7 September 2020. Gleiberman finds the drama compelling and moving, praising Regina King’s confident direction for making the motel-room gathering feel authentic. He especially singles out the performances, which bring out the legends’ contradictions and vulnerabilities. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king-1234761095/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney Fi1m's normalised score 82/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2020. Festival review. Rooney finds the adaptation stirring and skillfully directed, despite its lingering stage-bound quality. He especially praises the charismatic performances, singling out Kingsley Ben-Adir’s quietly impassioned portrayal of Malcolm X. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/one-night-in-miami-film-review-venice-2020-4056061/) ## Radio Times — Hanna Flint Rating 4/5. Flint describes Regina King’s directorial debut as assured, emotionally intelligent and vivid. She singles out its exploration of Black masculinity and the differing perspectives of the four men. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-r49atj/one-night-in-miami/) ## Slant Magazine — Jake Cole Rating 4/5. 12 December 2021. Cole finds the film an intimate, empathetic portrait that grows stronger once it settles into its central gathering. He particularly praises Kingsley Ben-Adir’s soulful, morally urgent portrayal of Malcolm X. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/one-night-in-miami-blu-ray-review-regina-king-criterion/) ## The New Yorker — Richard Brody Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 January 2021. Brody finds the film a compelling, carefully controlled drama that turns a private gathering into a debate about public responsibility. He especially praises the ensemble performances and King’s direction of the actors. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/one-night-in-miami-reviewed-regina-kings-first-dramatic-feature-is-a-feast-of-performance) ## Time Out — Stephen A Russell Rating 4/5. 13 September 2020. The review describes Regina King’s directorial debut as forceful and impactful. It singles out the film’s punch as its key strength. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/one-night-in-miami) ## The Guardian — Jonathan Romney Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2020. Festival review. Romney finds the film immensely watchable and an affecting evocation of a pivotal moment in Black America. He singles out the magnetic performances of Kingsley Ben-Adir and Leslie Odom Jr. and their interplay. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/sep/07/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king) ## The AV Club — Shannon Miller Rating B. 6 January 2021. The review finds Regina King’s adaptation humane, politically thoughtful, and grounded, despite a slow start. It especially praises the four lead performances, singling out Hodge and Ben-Adir for their subtlety and vulnerability. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/one-night-in-miami-pulses-with-the-beating-hearts-of-1845971915) ## The i Paper — Geoffrey Macnab Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 September 2020. Macnab finds the film poignant and emotionally affecting, praising Regina King’s convincing portrayal of four complex personalities. He also singles out the electrifying scene in which Sam Cooke calms a hostile audience with “Chain Gang.” [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king-debut-poignant-character-study-cassius-clay-malcolm-x-sam-cooke-641106) ## Sight and Sound — Andrea Arhagba Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 29 October 2020. Festival review. The critic finds the film powerful and compelling, connecting its conversations to the struggles of Black America and the present day. She especially praises the cast and the production design, costumes and cinematography that recreate the period. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival/reviews/one-night-miami-regina-king-lff-critics) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 66/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2021. The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It also provides no information about what the review praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/movies/one-night-in-miami-review.html) ## Screen Daily — Fionnuala Halligan Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2020. Festival review. The review’s verdict is not visible in the accessible page text. Its specific praise or criticism is likewise unavailable. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/one-night-in-miami-venice-review/5152923.article) ## Vulture — Helen Shaw Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 14 January 2021. Shaw finds the film thoughtful but constrained by softened dialogue and performances that do not fully capture its historical figures. She singles out Leslie Odom Jr.’s singing, especially the concert sequence that becomes the film’s most powerful scene. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king-prime-video-movie.html) ## Little White Lies — Flora Spencer Grant Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds the film timely and its central figures compelling, but says it ultimately fails to pack a punch. She praises the nuanced performances, especially Leslie Odom Jr.’s portrayal of Sam Cooke, while faulting the film’s slow pace and stagey feel. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/festivals/one-night-in-miami-first-look-review) ## Collider — Matt Goldberg Rating A-. 11 September 2020. Festival review. Goldberg finds the film a fascinating, electrifying drama, despite occasional sluggishness. He praises Regina King’s assured direction and the ensemble’s powerful performances, especially Kingsley Ben-Adir’s portrayal of Malcolm X. [Read the review](https://collider.com/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2021. Kermode finds the film powerful and essential viewing. She especially praises Kingsley Ben-Adir’s nuanced performance, while noting the strength of the ensemble. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/one-night-in-miami-2020-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## /Film — Chris Evangelista Rating 9/10. 11 September 2020. Festival review. The critic calls the film engrossing and praises Regina King's assured direction and the natural chemistry among its four leads. Kingsley Ben-Adir's emotionally spent portrayal of Malcolm X particularly stands out. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/576517/one-night-in-miami-review/) ## NME Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). The review finds Regina King’s adaptation powerful and compelling. It especially praises Eli Goree’s standout performance as Cassius Clay. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/one-night-in-miami-review-2781281) ## Paste — Andy Crump Rating 8.9. 14 January 2021. Crump finds the film thoroughly entertaining and its conversations still urgent. He especially praises the cast’s natural chemistry and Kingsley Ben-Adir’s performance as Malcolm X. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/amazon-prime/one-night-in-miami-review) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 4/5. 11 September 2020. Festival review. The review calls the film a rewarding, triumphant directorial debut that finds psychological depth beneath its fictional gathering. It praises Regina King’s direction and the performances, especially Kingsley Ben-Adir’s anxious, inward portrayal of Malcolm X. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/one-night-in-miami-review-regina-king-malcolm-x/) ## The Wrap — Alonso Duralde Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 January 2021. The critic finds Regina King’s feature debut ambitious and successful, turning a stage-bound premise into a vibrant historical drama. The performances of the four leads are singled out for bringing humanity and distinctiveness to the cultural icons. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/one-night-in-miami-film-review-regina-king-muhammad-ali-malcolm-x/) ## Consequence — Joe Lipsett Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 11 January 2021. Festival review. The critic calls the film a quiet, contemplative, timely meditation on race, responsibility, and revolution. They praise Kingsley Ben-Adir and Leslie Odom Jr.’s nuanced performances and single out a scene intercutting Malcolm X’s story with Cooke’s performance. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2021/01/film-review-one-night-in-miami-regina-king/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds the film competent and engaging but ultimately plateauing without a dramatic climax. They praise the actors’ magnetic performances and the charged conversations about racial identity. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/one-night-in-miami-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/one-night-in-miami.md