Malcolm in the Middle is an American television sitcom, it received critical acclaim and won a Peabody Award, seven Emmy Awards and was nominated for seven Golden Globes.

Contains complete volumes 1–4 (all 7 seasons) – 22 disc boxed set, over 55 hours of viewing!

His older brother has been shipped to a military academy. His younger brother is a wound up oddball. With his parents constantly bickering, MALCOLM (Frankie Muniz) may be the only normal one in his family. Using direct camera address, wide angle distortion, and a machine gun delivery, this sitcom derived its popularity from pulling no punches when lampooning the dysfunctional family. Containing the complete Emmy-nominated first series, this witty comedy benefits from a strong supporting cast including Jane Kaczmarek as the matriarch.

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Special Features

• New-for-DVD extended pilot episode
• Running commentary on selected episodes by the show’s creator, stars, directors and writers
• ‘Malcolm in the Middle: A Stroke of Genius’ featurette
• Season One gag reel
• ‘Dewey’s Day Job’ featurette
• Deleted scenes and alternate show openings
• Season One promotional TV spots & more

Awards

• British Comedy Awards 2003 – Won British Comedy Award Best International Comedy TV Show
• Directors Guild of America 2002 – Won Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series'
• Family Television Awards 2001 – Won Family Television Award Comedy
• Golden Globes USA 2001 – Nominated Golden Globe Best TV-Series – Comedy/Musical
• Kids' Choice Awards, USA 2001 – Won Blimp Award Favorite Television Show
• Primetime Emmy Awards 2001 – Won Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series
• Television Critics Association Awards 2001 – Won Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
• Television Critics Association Awards 2000 – Won Outstanding Achievement in Comedy
• Writers Guild of America 2005 – Won Episodic Comedy

Malcolm in the Middle Season 1 Review

"Casting my mind back 11 years (oh my god I am so old) Malcolm in the Middle was shown in that Friday pre-going out BBC 2 slot and I remember it being sold as a type of live action The Simpsons in the era when The Simpsons could still have some claim of being fresh and a little rebellious. Malcolm in the Middle revolved around an American family with four sons, who cause chaos weekly, and their unorthodox parents. The eldest son has been sent to military school, the second eldest was the incredibly dumb bully, the youngest was cute and possibly insane and the episodes are hosted by genius middle child Malcolm.

Having now re-watched the show I am hugely impressed and appreciative of what a great piece of television this was and still is. The show has held up surprisingly well and is potentially more subversive for its genre than it was 12 years ago (teenagers smoking and drinking openly without retribution, parents openly acknowledging their children are shits? Nowadays it’s more about dysfunction through mixed race/same sex/age difference and children are all a little too groomed with minimal bad behaviour, parents are all just struggling to be good parents and cope with their flaws not just stopping the children burning down the house). The show broke away from the studio audience format, a forerunner in this style of casual, steady cam filming with Malcolm addressing the camera directly. The family (yes like The Simpsons) were utterly dysfunctional but so recognisable. The parents Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) and Hal (Bryan Cranston) had deeply questionable parenting skills, Hal being the yes man and Lois seemingly willing to murder and/or torture all of her children. However these are parents you like, who in all their eccentricity are humorously identifiable and actually their freedom of supposed bad parenting makes you a little envious of the we are what we are attitude.

If this show was just about Malcolm it would not work nearly as well. Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) is the super smart know it all who can become irritating a little too quickly but when placed with his brothers is just another idiot. And it is the dynamics of the four brothers and parents that make it entertaining. My favourite character is the same as ten years ago, the little brother Dewy. Just his vacant expression and huge ears are enough to make you love him but throw in that he is quite simply missing a marble or twenty and he is a shining point of the show. The final episode with his scenes are bonkers and watch out for his perception of the world when he wants a new toy. Genius." Filmwerk