Denzel Washington Movies
12 Most Popular Denzel Washington Movies
Denzel Washington is an Oscar-winning actor who started his career in the early ‘90s. He is best known for his role in the crime thriller Training Day, which gave him an Oscar award for best actor. He is also revered for his professionalism and dedication to his craft. This article lists down the ten most memorable Denzel Washington movies.
Scroll down to see all of Denzel’s movies.
1. Glory (1989)
This drama war film also stars Matthew Broderick, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman. It is about the first formal unit of the Union Army composed of African-American Women during the American Civil War, as told from the view of point of its white commanding officer. It won Washington the Oscar award for Best Supporting actor for his role as Private Trip. The film was also critically acclaimed, winning awards from the Golden Globe and British Academy.
It wasn’t a big hit though as it took in $26 million at the box-office with a production budget of $18 million.
2. Crimson Tide (1995)
An acclaimed thriller, this movie almost always makes a top 10 list for Denzel. In an effort to fend off an impending nuclear attack from the Russians, The U.S. sends out one of their submarines commanded by trigger-happy Captain Ramsey (Gene Hackman). When the ship is damaged, and the orders to attack are incomplete, Hunter (Washington) stages a mutiny and relieves Ramsey of his duty. Tensions build as the Russian threat looms and Ramsey makes a play to regain control of the submarine.
Grossing about $91 million, this movie solidified Denzel as a box office powerhouse.
3. Remember the Titans (2000)
A sports drama produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Boaz Yakin, the film is based on the true story of African-American coach Herman Boone (Washington) who attempts to introduce a racially diverse squad in a high school in Washington D.C.
The film was critically acclaimed for exploring topics like racism and discrimination. It went on to take in more than $130 million at the box office, which made it a financial success because it only had a $30 million budget.
4. American Gangster (2007)
American Gangster is about the criminal career of a North Carolina native, Frank Lucas, who smuggled heroin into the U.S. after returning from the Vietnam War. Washington is paired with another Oscar-winning actor in Russell Crowe. It also stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Ted Levine, and John Ortiz. This is the first team-up of Crowe and Washington since the 1995 hit, Virtuosity.
This was a big hit at the tills, taking home some $260 million in gate receipts.
5. Man on Fire (2004)
This is a film adaptation of the 1980 novel by A.J. Quinnell, with screenplay written by Brian Helgeland and directed by Tony Scott. Washington plays an alcoholic former CIA operative named John Creasy who goes on a killing spree after the family he was hired to protect is abducted in Mexico. It grossed more than $130 million.
6. Training Day (2001)
Hands down the best performance of Washington’s career was in this movie, where he played a corrupt cop paired with a rookie cop played by Ethan Hawke. It follows the two during a 24-hour period as they go through the gang-ridden neighborhoods of Los Angeles. This movie earned Washington the Oscar award for best actor, while Hawke was also nominated for best supporting actor. It wasn’t really a big hit at the box office, though, taking in around $100 million.
7. Philadelphia (1993)
Washington stars with Oscar winner Tom Hanks in this movie about AIDS. Hanks plays the role of a gay lawyer who is fired by his company because of his condition. He then sues the law firm and hires a homophobic lawyer played by Washington. This is one of the first mainstream movies on AIDS, and won Hanks his first Oscar award for best actor. It was also a huge hit, earning more than $200 million at the box office.
8. Malcolm X (1992)
Directed and co-written by Spike Lee, this is a biographical movie of the controversial and highly influential Black Nationalist leader. It was a financial success with a worldwide gross of $48 million. Washington was nominated for an Oscar award for best actor, but lost to Al Pacino.
9. Inside Man (2006)
Spike Lee again directs Washington in this crime thriller about an elaborate bank heist on Wall Street. Washington is Detective Keith Frazer, the hostage negotiator while Clive Owen is Dalton Russell, who orchestrated the heist. It grossed over $184 million worldwide, aside from receiving praises from critics.
10. The Hurricane (1999)
The Hurricane is based on the story of boxer Rubin Carter, who was wrongly imprisoned for murder. It also depicts his life in prison and how his Canadian foster family changed his life after prison. This was not the biggest of hits of Denzel Washington flicks as it only grossed $75 million with a $50 million budget.
11. Flight (2012)
Another of Denzel’s top 10 box office performers, earning over $93 million, this thriller directed by Robert Zemeckis. Denzel stars as an experienced airline pilot who performs a miraculous landing after a mid-air incident. At first he is hailed as a hero for his quick thinking and impressive landing, but as the investigation digs deeper into the circumstances, the pilot’s past brings up questions on if he could have saved everyone if he had acted differently.
12. The Great Debaters (2007)
This movie was produced by TV personality Oprah Winfrey. The plot revolves around debate coach Melvin Tolson played by Washington at the historically black Wiley College, and his efforts to put his team on equal footing with other whites in the South during the 1930s. The team eventually fares well that they were able to compete with Harvard University. This was not the biggest of Denzel Washington movies in terms of gross as it only raked in $30 million at the box office.
All Denzel Washington Movies
| Movie Title | Year Released |
|---|---|
| The Equalizer 2 | 2018 |
| Roman J. Israel, Esq. | 2017 |
| Fences | 2016 |
| The Magnificent Seven | 2016 |
| The Equalizer | 2014 |
| 2 Guns | 2013 |
| Safe House | 2012 |
| Flight | 2012 |
| The Book of Eli | 2010 |
| Unstoppable | 2010 |
| The Taking of Pelham 123 | 2009 |
| American Gangster | 2007 |
| The Great Debaters | 2007 |
| Deja Vu | 2006 |
| Inside Man | 2006 |
| Man on Fire | 2004 |
| The Manchurian Candidate | 2004 |
| Out of Time | 2003 |
| Antwone Fisher | 2002 |
| John Q | 2002 |
| Training Day | 2001 |
| Remember the Titans | 2000 |
| The Bone Collector | 1999 |
| The Hurricane | 1999 |
| Fallen | 1998 |
| He Got Game | 1998 |
| The Siege | 1998 |
| Courage Under Fire | 1996 |
| The Preacher's Wife | 1996 |
| Crimson Tide | 1995 |
| Devil in a Blue Dress | 1995 |
| Virtuosity | 1995 |
| Much Ado About Nothing | 1993 |
| Philadelphia | 1993 |
| The Pelican Brief | 1993 |
| Malcolm X | 1992 |
| Mississippi Masala | 1991 |
| Ricochet | 1991 |
| Heart Condition | 1990 |
| Mo' Better Blues | 1990 |
| Glory | 1989 |
| The Mighty Quinn | 1989 |
| For Queen & Country | 1988 |
| Cry Freedom | 1987 |
| Power | 1986 |
| A Soldier's Story | 1984 |
| Carbon Copy | 1981 |
