
All Denzel Washington Movies Ranked
Highest 2 Lowest becomes Washington’s the highest-rated film since Glory and The Tragedy of Macbeth.
Over the course of his decades in show business, Denzel Washington has done pretty much everything — he’s played cops (good and bad), lawyers, reporters, educators, doctors, mobsters, and more, earning multiple Academy Awards and more than a billion dollars in box office grosses along the way. Of course, it’s fairly difficult to do all that without piling up a pretty hefty stack of positive reviews, and Mr. Washington’s filmography has definitely drawn its share, from Oscar winners like Glory, Training Day, and Philadelphia to his collaborations with director Spike Lee, like Malcolm X, He Got Game, and Inside Man. With all of that in mind, we’re here to celebrate by taking a comprehensive look at his career, including the best Denzel Washington movies and the worst. Perfection! Let’s go to work.
95%
Critics Consensus: Bolstered by exceptional cinematography, powerful storytelling, and an Oscar-winning performance by Denzel Washington, Glory remains one of the finest Civil War movies ever made.
Synopsis: Following the Battle of Antietam, Col. Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick) is offered command of the United States' first all-African-American regiment, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes
Directed By: Edward Zwick
93%
Critics Consensus: Led by a stellar Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth strips the classic story down to its visual and narrative essentials.
Synopsis: Joel Coen's bold and fierce adaptation of "Macbeth," a tale of murder, madness, ambition and wrathful cunning.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell
Directed By: Joel Coen
83%
Critics Consensus: Spike Lee and Denzel Washington remix a classic with vibrantly contemporary results in Highest 2 Lowest, a swaggering thriller that lovingly showcases New York City.
Synopsis: When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the "best ears in the business", is targeted with a ransom plot, he is... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Jeffrey Wright, Ilfenesh Hadera, A$AP Rocky
Directed By: Spike Lee
92%
Critics Consensus: From its reunited Broadway stars to its screenplay, the solidly crafted Fences finds its Pulitzer-winning source material fundamentally unchanged -- and still just as powerful.
Synopsis: Troy Maxson makes his living as a sanitation worker in the 1950s Pittsburgh. Maxson once dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but was deemed... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Jovan Adepo
Directed By: Denzel Washington
92%
Critics Consensus: Humor, interesting characters, and attention to details make the stylish Devil in a Blue Dress an above average noir.
Synopsis: In late 1940s Los Angeles, Easy Rawlins is an unemployed black World War II veteran with few job prospects. At a bar, Easy meets DeWitt... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle
Directed By: Carl Franklin
92%
Critics Consensus: Sarita Choudhury and Denzel Washington's romantic chemistry lights up the screen in Mississippi Masala, Mira Nair's observant and sexy tale of cultures clashing.
Synopsis: The vibrant cultures of India, Uganda, and the American South are blended and simmered into a rich and fragrant fusion feast in Mira Nair's luminous... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Sarita Choudhury, Roshan Seth, Sharmila Tagore
Directed By: Mira Nair
90%
Critics Consensus: Kenneth Branagh's love for the material is contagious in this exuberant adaptation.
Synopsis: In this Shakespearean farce, Hero (Kate Beckinsale) and her groom-to-be, Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard), team up with Claudio's commanding officer, Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves
Directed By: Kenneth Branagh
89%
Critics Consensus: Boasting taut, high energy thrills and some cracking dialogue courtesy of an uncredited Quentin Tarantino, Crimson Tide finds director Tony Scott near the top of his action game.
Synopsis: After the Cold War, a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear warheads becomes a possible worldwide threat. U.S. submarine Capt. Frank Ramsey (Gene Hackman) signs on... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen
Directed By: Tony Scott
89%
Critics Consensus: Anchored by a powerful performance from Denzel Washington, Spike Lee's biopic of legendary civil rights leader Malcolm X brings his autobiography to life with an epic sweep and a nuanced message.
Synopsis: A tribute to the controversial black activist and leader of the struggle for black liberation. He hit bottom during his imprisonment in the '50s, he... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr.
Directed By: Spike Lee
87%
Critics Consensus: As fast, loud, and relentless as the train at the center of the story, Unstoppable is perfect popcorn entertainment -- and director Tony Scott's best movie in years.
Synopsis: When a massive, unmanned locomotive roars out of control, the threat is more ominous than just a derailment. The train is laden with toxic chemicals,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Kevin Dunn
Directed By: Tony Scott
86%
Critics Consensus: Spike Lee's energetic and clever bank-heist thriller is a smart genre film that is not only rewarding on its own terms, but manages to subvert its pulpy trappings with wit and skill.
Synopsis: A tough detective matches wits with a bank robber, while an enigmatic woman has her own agenda.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe
Directed By: Spike Lee
86%
Critics Consensus: An emotional and intriguing tale of a military officer who must review the merits of a fallen officer while confronting his own war demons. Effectively depicts the terrors of war as well as its heartbreaking aftermath.
Synopsis: During the 1991 Gulf War, Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) accidentally caused a friendly fire incident, a mistake that was hushed up by his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Meg Ryan, Lou Diamond Phillips, Michael Moriarty
Directed By: Edward Zwick
82%
Critics Consensus: Thanks in large part to one of Denzel Washington's most powerful on-screen performances, The Hurricane is a moving, inspirational sports drama, even if it takes few risks in telling its story.
Synopsis: Denzel Washington is Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a man whose dreams of winning the middleweight boxing title were destroyed when he was arrested along with another... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Vicellous Reon Shannon, Deborah Kara Unger, Liev Schreiber
Directed By: Norman Jewison
81%
Critics Consensus: American Gangster is a gritty and entertaining throwback to classic gangster films, with its lead performers firing on all cylinders.
Synopsis: Frank Lucas earns his living as a chauffeur to one of Harlem's leading mobsters. After his boss dies, Frank uses his own ingenuity and strict... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Directed By: Ridley Scott
83%
Critics Consensus: Philadelphia indulges in some unfortunate clichés in its quest to impart a meaningful message, but its stellar cast and sensitive direction are more than enough to compensate.
Synopsis: Fearing it would compromise his career, lawyer Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks) hides his homosexuality and HIV status at a powerful Philadelphia law firm. But his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jason Robards, Antonio Banderas
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
79%
Critics Consensus: While not the classic its predecessor is, this update is well-acted and conjures a chilling resonance.
Synopsis: Years after his squad was ambushed during the Gulf War, Major Ben Marco (Denzel Washington) finds himself having terrible nightmares. He begins to doubt that... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Liev Schreiber, Jon Voight
Directed By: Jonathan Demme
80%
Critics Consensus: A wonderful cast and top-notch script elevate The Great Debaters beyond a familiar formula for a touching, uplifting drama.
Synopsis: Poet and professor Melvin B. Tolson teaches at the predominantly black Wiley College in 1935 Texas. He decides to start a debate team, something nearly... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett
Directed By: Denzel Washington
82%
Critics Consensus: Though not without its flaws, He Got Game finds Spike Lee near the top of his game, combining trenchant commentary with his signature visuals and a strong performance from Denzel Washington.
Synopsis: Jake Shuttleworth (Denzel Washington) has spent the last six years in prison after accidentally killing his wife during a violent domestic dispute, leaving his son,... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ray Allen, Milla Jovovich, Rosario Dawson
Directed By: Spike Lee
77%
Critics Consensus: Washington's directing debut is a solidly crafted, emotionally touching work.
Synopsis: The touching story of a sailor (Derek Luke) who, prone to violent outbursts, is sent to a naval psychiatrist (Denzel Washington) for help. Refusing at... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Derek Luke, Joy Bryant, Denzel Washington, Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Directed By: Denzel Washington
77%
Critics Consensus: Robert Zemeckis makes a triumphant return to live-action cinema with Flight, a thoughtful and provocative character study propelled by a compelling performance from Denzel Washington.
Synopsis: Commercial airline pilot Whip Whitaker (Denzel Washington) has a problem with drugs and alcohol, though so far he's managed to complete his flights safely. His... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman
Directed By: Robert Zemeckis
70%
Critics Consensus: Echoing its predecessor while upping the bloodsport and camp, Gladiator II is an action extravaganza that derives much of its strength and honor from Denzel Washington's scene-stealing performance.
Synopsis: Years after witnessing the death of Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius must enter the Colosseum after the powerful emperors of Rome conquer... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Pedro Pascal
Directed By: Ridley Scott
91%
Critics Consensus: A meticulously-crafted murder mystery with incisive observations about race in America, A Soldier's Story benefits from a roundly excellent ensemble and Charles Fuller's politically urgent screenplay.
Synopsis: A black Army investigator (Howard E. Rollins Jr.) travels to a remote military base in the heart of the Louisiana backwoods to look into the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Howard E. Rollins Jr., Adolph Caesar, Denzel Washington, Dennis Lipscomb
Directed By: Norman Jewison
89%
Critics Consensus: A deft hybrid of laughs, espionage, and music, The Mighty Quinn is a smart, pleasant entertainment that offers an early example of Denzel Washington's onscreen magnetism.
Synopsis: Police chief Xavier Quinn (Denzel Washington) investigates the gruesome murder of Donald Pater, one of the wealthiest residents on a Caribbean island. He was found... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Robert Townsend, James Fox, Mimi Rogers
Directed By: Carl Schenkel
73%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Set in apartheid-torn South Africa. Donald Woods is the editor of the East London Daily Express and Steve Biko is a young black leader struggling... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Kevin Kline, Denzel Washington, Penelope Wilton, Kevin R. McNally
Directed By: Richard Attenborough
75%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: After tracking down and arresting Earl Talbot Blake (John Lithgow), a psychotic hit man, rookie Los Angeles police officer Nick Styles (Denzel Washington) is hailed... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, Ice-T, Kevin Pollak
Directed By: Russell Mulcahy
74%
Critics Consensus: The ending may be less than satisfying, but Denzel Washington reminds us why he's such a great actor in this taut and brutal police drama.
Synopsis: Police drama about a veteran officer who escorts a rookie on his first day with the LAPD's tough inner-city narcotics unit. "Training Day" is a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger
Directed By: Antoine Fuqua
76%
Critics Consensus: Another entertaining outing from Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington, The Equalizer 3 mostly makes up for its formulaic story with generous helpings of cathartic action.
Synopsis: Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he's done in the past... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman, Eugenio Mastrandrea
Directed By: Antoine Fuqua
72%
Critics Consensus: An inspirational crowd-pleaser with a healthy dose of social commentary, Remember the Titans may be predictable, but it's also well-crafted and features terrific performances.
Synopsis: In Virginia, high school football is a way of life, an institution revered, each game celebrated more lavishly than Christmas, each playoff distinguished more grandly... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Donald Faison, Wood Harris
Directed By: Boaz Yakin
64%
Critics Consensus: The Magnificent Seven never really lives up to the superlative in its title -- or the classics from which it draws inspiration -- but remains a moderately diverting action thriller on its own merits.
Synopsis: Looking to mine for gold, greedy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue seizes control of the Old West town of Rose Creek. With their lives in jeopardy, Emma... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio
Directed By: Antoine Fuqua
64%
Critics Consensus: Formulaic and often jarringly violent, 2 Guns rests its old-school appeal on the interplay between its charismatic, well-matched stars.
Synopsis: For the past year, DEA agent Bobby Trench (Denzel Washington) and U.S. Navy intelligence officer Marcus Stigman (Mark Wahlberg) have been working under cover as... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton
Directed By: Baltasar Kormákur
65%
Critics Consensus: A fun and stylish thriller if you can get past the contrivances.
Synopsis: Matt Lee Whitlock (Denzel Washington) is the police chief of a small Florida town, going through a divorce with his detective wife, Alex (Eva Mendes).... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Eva Mendes, Sanaa Lathan, Dean Cain
Directed By: Carl Franklin
61%
Critics Consensus: Solid performances and a steady directorial hand help The Preacher's Wife offer some reliably heartwarming - albeit fairly predictable - holiday cheer.
Synopsis: A cleric begins to doubt himself and is visited by an angel. The heavenly emissary is supposed to help the good reverend over his midlife... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Whitney Houston, Courtney B. Vance, Gregory Hines
Directed By: Penny Marshall
61%
Critics Consensus: The Equalizer is more stylishly violent than meaningful, but with Antoine Fuqua behind the cameras and Denzel Washington dispensing justice, it delivers.
Synopsis: Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put the past behind him, dedicates himself to creating a quiet new... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour
Directed By: Antoine Fuqua
55%
Critics Consensus: Tony Scott tries to combine action, science fiction, romance, and explosions into one movie, but the time travel conceit might be too preposterous and the action falls apart under scrutiny.
Synopsis: The team of top-secret program brings ATF agent Doug Carlin (Denzel Washington) into its midst to capture the terrorist (Jim Caviezel) responsible for a ferry... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer, Jim Caviezel, Paula Patton
Directed By: Tony Scott
55%
Critics Consensus: Intriguing yet heavy-handed, Roman J. Israel, Esq. makes the most of -- but never quite lives up to -- Denzel Washington's magnetic performance in the title role.
Synopsis: Roman J. Israel is an idealistic defense attorney whose life gets upended when his boss and mentor -- the legendary civil rights icon William Henry... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo, Lynda Gravatt
Directed By: Dan Gilroy
56%
Critics Consensus: Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington are a compelling team in the overlong Pelican Brief, a pulpy thriller that doesn't quite justify the intellectual remove of Alan J. Pakula's direction.
Synopsis: Taut thriller about a young law student whose legal brief about the assassination of two Supreme Court justices causes her to be targeted by killers.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, John Heard
Directed By: Alan J. Pakula
52%
Critics Consensus: Safe House stars Washington and Reynolds are let down by a thin script and choppily edited action sequences.
Synopsis: For the past year, rookie CIA agent Matt Weston (Ryan Reynolds) has been eager to prove himself while cooling his heels at an inactive South... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson
Directed By: Daniel Espinosa
52%
Critics Consensus: The Equalizer 2 delivers the visceral charge of a standard vigilante thriller, but this reunion of trusted talents ultimately proves a disappointing case study in diminishing returns.
Synopsis: Robert McCall's mysterious past cuts especially close to home when thugs kill Susan Plummer, his best friend and former colleague. Now out for revenge, McCall... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Bill Pullman
Directed By: Antoine Fuqua
51%
Critics Consensus: Despite a strong cast, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 suffers under the excesses of Tony Scott's frantic direction, and fails to measure up to the 1974 original.
Synopsis: Chaos reigns in the New York City subway system when heavily armed criminals, led by a mastermind named Ryder (John Travolta), hijack a subway train... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, John Turturro, Luis Guzmán
Directed By: Tony Scott
50%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Once-noble media consultant Pete St. John (Richard Gere) is now employed by a number of corrupt politicians. A potential client is Jerome Cade (J.T. Walsh),... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Richard Gere, Julie Christie, Gene Hackman, Kate Capshaw
Directed By: Sidney Lumet
46%
Critics Consensus: It's certainly uneven, and many viewers will find that its reach exceeds its grasp, but The Book of Eli finds the Hughes brothers injecting some fresh stylish fun into the kind of post-apocalyptic wasteland filmgoers have seen more than enough of lately.
Synopsis: Thirty years after war turned the world into a wasteland, a lone warrior named Eli marches across the ruined landscape, carrying hope for humanity's redemption.... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson
Directed By: Allen Hughes, Albert Hughes
45%
Critics Consensus: An exceptionally well-cast throwback thriller, The Little Things will feel deeply familiar to genre fans -- for better and for worse.
Synopsis: Deputy Sheriff Joe "Deke" Deacon joins forces with Sgt. Jim Baxter to search for a serial killer who's terrorizing Los Angeles. As they track the... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Natalie Morales
Directed By: John Lee Hancock
44%
Critics Consensus: An exciting, well-paced action film.
Synopsis: After terrorists attack a bus in Brooklyn, a Broadway theater and FBI headquarters, FBI anti-terrorism expert Anthony Hubbard (Denzel Washington) teams up with CIA agent... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Annette Bening, Bruce Willis, Tony Shalhoub
Directed By: Edward Zwick
43%
Critics Consensus: Has an interesting premise. Unfortunately, it's just a recycling of old materials, and not all that thrilling.
Synopsis: After witnessing the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas), whom he arrested, police detective John Hobbes (Denzel Washington), and his partner, Jonesy (John... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz
Directed By: Gregory Hoblit
39%
Critics Consensus: Man on Fire's solid action and top-shelf cast are undone by a relentlessly grim story that gets harder to take the longer it goes on.
Synopsis: In a Mexico City wracked by a recent wave of kidnappings, ex-CIA operative John Creasy (Denzel Washington) reluctantly accepts a job as a bodyguard for... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini
Directed By: Tony Scott
31%
Critics Consensus: Woefully deficient in thrills or common sense, Virtuosity strands its talented stars in a story whose vision of the future is depressingly short on imagination.
Synopsis: A former cop who has been imprisoned for murdering the psychopath who killed his family, Parker Barnes (Denzel Washington) is recruited to test out a... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Kelly Lynch, Russell Crowe, Stephen Spinella
Directed By: Brett Leonard
29%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: When Reuben James (Denzel Washington), a decorated paratrooper, is discharged from the British military, he returns to his old neighborhood in London's inner city. Despite... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dorian Healey, Amanda Redman, Sean Chapman
Directed By: Martin Stellman
30%
Critics Consensus: A talented cast is wasted on a bland attempt at a suspenseful, serial killer flick.
Synopsis: Policewoman Amelia Donaghy is in hot pursuit of a serial murderer whose calling card is a small shard of bone extracted from each of his... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker
Directed By: Phillip Noyce
26%
Critics Consensus: Washington's performance rises above the material, but John Q pounds the audience over the head with its message.
Synopsis: Story centers on a man whose nine-year-old son is in desperate need of a life-saving transplant. When he discovers that his medical insurance won't cover... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, James Woods, Anne Heche
Directed By: Nick Cassavetes
10%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
Synopsis: Racist police officer Jack Moony (Bob Hoskins) has a vendetta against Napoleon Stone (Denzel Washington), a charismatic black lawyer who is sleeping with Jack's old... View Full Synopsis
Starring: Bob Hoskins, Denzel Washington, Chloe Webb, Roger E. Mosley
Directed By: James D. Parriott



