Malcolm in the Middle

A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.

Malcolm in the Middle (2000-2006) is a American single camera family sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for FOX. Frankie Muniz plays Malcolm, a gifted young teen who tries to survive daily life in a middle class household, while Jane Kaczmarek plays his exasperated mother Lois and Bryan Cranston plays his dimwitted father Hal. Malcolm's brothers Reese (Justin Berfield), Dewey (Erik Per Sullivan) and Francis (Christopher Masterson) fill the house with schemes, fights and mischief. The engine of the show is the constant friction between a brilliant kid who sees through every adult and a family that refuses to behave sensibly, so each episode builds around a fresh domestic crisis, a schoolyard humiliation or a family outing gone wrong. The series runs seven seasons and 151 episodes, with a brisk pace and a 22-minute runtime. Malcolm often speaks directly to the audience, giving the show a knowing, sardonic edge that softens its chaos with warmth. Its tone is breezy and irreverent, with an undercurrent of affection. Fans of Roseanne, Arrested Development and The Wonder Years will find resonance in its portrait of a working class family held together by exasperation and love.

Audiences broadly regard Malcolm in the Middle as a sharp, fun family sitcom whose chaotic family dynamics and gifted lead remain consistently entertaining across its run.

• The Wonder Yearsshared chaotic family sitcom comedy, breaking the fourth wall, gifted kid protagonist
• Roseanneshared chaotic working class family comedy with dysfunctional parents and siblings
• The Royal Familyshared single camera family sitcom with direct address and absurd family conflict
• Arrested Developmentshared gifted outsider teen protagonist in a dysfunctional household comedy

Created by

Linwood Boomer

Release Date

2000-01-09

Episode runtime

22 min

Rating

8.2 / 10 (5016)

What is Malcolm in the Middle about?

A gifted teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.

What is Malcolm in the Middle like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Malcolm in the Middle as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Malcolm in the Middle violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Malcolm in the Middle.

What did critics think of Malcolm in the Middle?

Audiences broadly regard Malcolm in the Middle as a sharp, fun family sitcom whose chaotic family dynamics and gifted lead remain consistently entertaining across its run.

Which shows are like Malcolm in the Middle?

Shows with a similar feel include The Wonder Years, Roseanne, The Royal Family, and Arrested Development.

How long is Malcolm in the Middle?

Malcolm in the Middle: 7 seasons, 151 episodes.

Is Malcolm in the Middle still running?

No, Malcolm in the Middle has ended.