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Let’s get into Denzel Washington’s best movies ranked!
Truthfully, the 69-year-old is noted as one of the greatest male actors of all time. With a (nearly) five-decade-long career, Washington hasn’t failed to deliver iconic characters that live past the big screen. Whether he was a soldier seeking revenge or a revolutionary activist on a mission to change the world, the New York native earnestly breathed the life of many experiences into every portrayal, making them relatable in some way.
Washington’s raw talent went beyond the script, as his effortless depiction of the fictional individuals passionately fueled some of the most legendary scenes to date. Undoubtedly, the exalted trouper’s dedication to each role has catapulted him to the pinnacle of Hollywood.
Even today, Washington continues to bring in award-winning credits, breaking records and setting blueprints… production after production.
Here’s a look at our favorite projects from the Academy holder throughout the years.
7 of Denzel Washington’s Best Movies Ranked
#7 – Denzel Washington in John Q made us cry real tears.
Written by James Kearns (Dynasty) and directed by Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook), in 2002, Washington played a man named John Quincy Archibald whose young son needed a heart transplant. Unable to cover the surgery costs or receive governmental assistance for the medical emergency, Archibald decided to take a hospital hostage to save his child. The film also featured Kimberly Elise, Ray Liotta, Anne Heche, Robert Duvall, and James Woods.
#6 – The Equalizer movies must go down in history.
In 2014, The Equalizer hit theaters with Washington in the lead role of Robert McCall, a retired special service commando who makes it his assignment to save a teenage victim (Chloë Grace Moretz) of sex trafficking from a Russian mob. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, two sequels have since followed since the initial debut, which were released in 2018 and 2023. The Equalizer stems from a 1980s TV series of the same title.
#5 – Denzel Washington had us thinking he was Malcolm X reincarnated.
Washington’s reimaging of African-American leader Malcolm X through his 1992 self-titled biopic was unmatched. Co-written and directed by illustrious filmmaker Spike Lee, Malcolm X unleashed the untold behind-the-scenes of the prominent freedom fighter and his rise to national fame during the civil rights movement. Actress Angela Bassett played alongside Washington as X’s wife, Betty Shabazz.
#4 – His acting skills were flaming hot in Man on Fire.
Long before The Equalizer 3, Washington and actress Dakota Fanning co-starred in 2004’s Man on Fire. Directed by Tony Scott (Enemy of the State) from a screenplay by Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential), the action thriller is based on author A.J. Quinnell’s 1980 novel of the same name. Washington took on the character of John Creasy, an ex-CIA operative who’s out for blood when the little girl he’s been hired (Dakota Fanning) to protect gets kidnapped.
#3 – Denzel Washington played one helluva detective in Training Day.
Washington introduced himself as LAPD Detective Alonzo Harris in the 2001 phenomenon Training Day, alongside co-star Ethan Hawke, who portrayed Officer Jake Hoyt. Written by David Ayer (The Fast and the Furious) and directed by Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer), Training Day followed rookie cop Hoyt who joined forces with narcotics veteran Harris for a day through the drug-infested neighborhoods of South Los Angeles.
#2 – Remember the Titans is a sports film we’ll always remember because of him.
Remember the Titans premiered in 2000. The sports drama–directed by Boaz Yakin (Safe) from a screenplay by Gregory Allen Howard (Harriet)–chronicled the true story of Herman Boone, a coach at the former T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. In the movie, we saw Washington’s character, Boone, celebrated for his victorious battle against racism upon the integration of two segregated football teams in 1971. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Bad Boys) led the production, along with Walt Disney Pictures.
#1 – How Denzel Washington turned into Frank Lucas in American Gangster needs to be studied.
In 2007, Washington starred in American Gangster, a loose telling of notorious drug lord Frank Lucas’ life story. Written by Steven Zaillian (Awakenings) and directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator), the uber-successful film depicted Lucas’ controversial criminal career as a lead figure in the international heroin trade. Almost twenty years later, Washington, who played Lucas, is still praised for the role. Russell Crowe, T.I., Idris Elba, Cuba Gooding Jr., Ruby Dee, and Common, among others, also appeared in American Gangster.
What do you think are some of Denzel Washington’s best movies ranked? Comment below!
