Malkoviched 

to turn someone into John Malkovich or to pay homage to John Malkovich; to photoshop John Malkovich's face onto someone else's head.

Sandro Miller's photographic collaboration with actor extraordinaire, John Malkovich is simply fantastic but I can't help but wish they would have Malkoviched Yoko Ono as well as John Lennon in the reproduction of Annie Leibovitz's famous photograph.

Malkoviched by DirtyMalkovicher September 21, 2014

John malkovich 

is a brilliant, eclectic, and versatile actor who is a treat to watch , and considered by many including me the greatest actor of all time

Friend : who is your favourite actor?

ME: john malkovich

John malkovich by EL-CHAPO November 25, 2018

malkovich 

A verb used to describe when someone quickly and unexpectedly (and comically) delivers a single jab to someone's face, possibly as an interruption to their conversation; also used as a noun to identify such a jab.

Taken from the movie 'Burn After Reading' when John Malkovich suddenly punches Brad Pitt in the face in the car.

At lunch today, Grace was rambling so much about her boyfriend that I wanted to malkovich her to shut her up.

As the bouncer tried breaking up the melee, one of the guys turned around and gave him a quick malkovich before resuming beating the other guy's ass.

malkovich by Borgus August 16, 2009

Malkovich Effect

The uncanny moment when a performer is caught between their normal self and their on-screen persona, causing the viewer to simultaneously perceive the actor, the character, and the ordinary human being underneath. Often occurs when a scene begins a fraction of a second too early, revealing the performer waiting for a cue before suddenly "switching on." In that brief instant, the observer becomes aware of the machinery of performance itself and sees the transition from person to performer.

Etymology

Named after the themes explored in the film Being John Malkovich, where the distinction between person, persona, and observer becomes blurred. The term describes the fleeting perception of multiple layers of identity becoming visible at once.

"The music video started a few frames too soon, and for a second the singer looked like a mannequin waiting for life to be installed. Total Malkovich Effect."

"Right before the interview began, the politician's smile suddenly appeared and his posture changed. For a split second, I saw the Malkovich Effect."

"The editor should've trimmed two more frames. Instead, I got a full-on Malkovich Effect and couldn't stop thinking about consciousness for the rest of the video."

Malkovich Effect by The real dank October 19, 2026