Denzel Washington is an American actor, producer, and director who has won the prestigious Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and several other titles under his name and with his films. He is known for his best and probably the most memorable roles in the films Glory’ and ‘Training Day.’ Apart from having a successful career as an actor Denzel Washington also has a very successful career as a director. He has won several awards as a director as well. Not to mention Denzel Washington movies are one of a kind!
This list narrows down the list to the 30 best Denzel Washington movies ranked by the people, even though it was difficult to choose the movies as each of his movies is fun and entertaining to watch.
30. Glory
- Directed by: Edward Zwick
- Written by: Kevin Jarre
- Cast: Matthew Broderick as Colonel Robert Gould Shaw; Denzel Washington as Private Silas Trip; Cary Elwes as Major Cabot Forbes.
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/ 10
- Available On: Epix, Paramount+, FuboTV
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie takes place during the American Civil War when Colonel Robert Gould Shaw is offered to command the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, United States’ first all-African-American regiment. Along with junior officer Cabot Forbes, Robert Shaw leads the battalion of black soldiers to the heat of battle.
Glory is an intense drama film that shows that the human race tends to show supremacy over other human beings, and despite having common interests, and ideas, they fail to overcome their petty differences. Their indifference would make them hate each other. This film adaptation was based on the novel titled ‘Lay This Laurel by Lincoln Kirstein. The performance of the cast was magnificent, and for his performance in the film, Denzel Washington won his first Oscar.
29. American Gangster
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
- Written by: Steven Zaillian
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas; Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts; Josh Brolin as Detective Trupo.
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/ 10
- Available On: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
This best Denzel Washington movie takes place in the 1970s, and it revolves around the Harlem drug dealer Frank Lucas who rose to power after his boss died of a cardiac arrest. Frank took care of his business, expanding it to different areas while he secretly ran a drug cartel that surpassed the worth of notorious mafia families in New York in the 1970s. We see Frank Lucas coming up with new and innovative ideas to smuggle drugs into the city. While we see Frank smuggling drugs in the city, we see Richie Roberts, an honest cop who has vowed to take down the most dangerous walking on the streets of his city.
American Gangster is a masterpiece, and Denzel Washington plays the role of Frank Lucas, and he played it like a God because the amount of detail he showed while playing the role is mind-blowing. Initially, this film by Ridley Scoot was called The Black Godfather by the fans, and this film tells the story of Frank and Richie. The film is rich and smooth, the plot of the film is amazing, and it is something everyone would enjoy watching.
28. Remember The Titans
- Directed by: Boaz Yakin
- Written by: Gregory Allen Howard
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Herman Boone; Will Patton as Bill Yoast; Wood Harris as Julius Campbell.
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Available On: Disney+
Set in Virginia, this best Denzel Washington movie revolves around Herman Boone, an African American who is appointed as the newest coach of a high school football team where football is a way of life. Each game is celebrated as if it were a festival, and each playoff is celebrated like a grand holiday. With such recognition comes powerful emotions. But the people of the high school were furious when the team was forced to combine people of different races in their football team, and the foundation of the school as well as the team, was startled.
Remember, the Titans are one of the best Denzel Washington movies, and it is not because it is a sports movie but because it teaches us to live together as one society. In 1971 Titan Football team came together in a very harsh period where racial tension in America was very apprehensive. Still, the team taught the people that no matter which races you may belong to, we can live together peacefully and with prosperity.
The film is strong, and it is full of emotions. In this film, we can see what a perfect leader should be. The plot of the film is amazing, and the cast is amazing. Overall, it is a great movie with an accurate narration of what things were like in real life in the 70s.
27. Man On Fire
- Directed by: Tony Scott
- Written by: Brian Helgeland
- Cast: Denzel Washington as John W. Creasy; Dakota Fanning as Guadalupe Ramos; Radha Mitchell as Lisa Ramos.
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/ 10
- Available On: Netflix and Amazon Prime Video
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie takes place in a city in Mexico where kidnapping cases have wracked the city. John Creasy, a former CIA operative accepts the job of a bodyguard for Lupita, a 9-year-old daughter of a wealthy businessman Samuel Ramos. He builds a warm bond with the kid, but things go downhill when a bloodthirsty gunman kidnaps Lupita. John vows to get Lupita back, and he needs to pick off several immoral cops and criminals to get a lead on the kidnapper and bestow vengeance upon him.
The film is an emotional action thriller film in which Denzel Washington sets the screen on fire, making everyone his fan with his marvelous acting. Director Tony Scott gave the film a fantastic direction, the film had a new plot, and the action scenes of the movie were surreal, and there were a lot of explosions as compared to the gunfights.
Even though the editing would not be liked by everyone that will not change the fact that it is a simple, straightforward, and old-school entertainer, the film begins slowly, but once it picks up the pace, it will be full of emotions and action scenes.
26. Training Day
- Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
- Written by: David Ayer
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Detective Alonzo Harris; Ethan Hawke as Officer Jake Hoyt; Scott Glenn as Roger.
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/ 10
- Available On: HBO Max
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie is about Detective Alonzo Harris, a Senior Narcotics Officer who must train Jake Hoyt in one day called ‘Training Day.’ However, Jake, our rookie officer soon learned that Alonzo Harris’ methods of investigation were highly unethical, and the veteran detective was trapping him.
Training Day is an underrated film, and it is truly a beauty because the film has told its story magnificently, and the location, scriptwriting, and direction of the film are flawless. The film puts its audience in a surreal situation as it develops a plot that would make its audience feel as if they are living it.
The characters of the film are strong, and they are well-developed by the end of the film. If you are looking forward to watching a police crime thriller, then Training Day is the perfect film, and it beautifully asks the question, ‘What is heroic?’ ‘What crosses the line in fighting crime?’ and ‘ Is it okay to cross the line for safer streets?’
25. Philadelphia
- Directed by: Jonathan Demme
- Written by: Ron Nyswaner
- Cast: Denzel Washington in the role of Joe Miller; Tom Hanks in the role of Andrew Beckett; Jason Robards in the role of Charles Wheeler.
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/ 10
- Available On: Tubi
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie takes place in Philadelphia. It tells us about the story of Andrew Beckett, a lawyer in a powerful law firm situated in Philadelphia, he is homosexual and HIV positive, and he tends to hide this from his firm because it may jeopardize his career. But secrets can’t be kept hidden for long, and one of Andrew’s colleagues exposed him, and as a result, he was sacked by the firm. Andrew is determined to sue his former company for discrimination, and he teams up with Joe Miller, the only lawyer who will be helping Andrew.
Philadelphia is a strong movie, and the film holds up even in 2022 as it talks about topics that are difficult for the world to understand. And it can be seen in the movie as well, where Joe Miller’s character is homophobic. Tom Hanks’ acting was mind-blowing, and it is not shocking that he won an Oscar for his performance in the film. In my opinion, the film is gripping, and fans would love to watch this film again and again.
24. Malcolm X
- Directed by: Spike Lee
- Written by: Arnold Perl
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Malcolm X; Angela Bassett as Betty Shabazz; Albert Hall as Baines.
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Available On: HBO Max
This best Denzel Washington movie is a tribute to the controversial leader Malcolm Little. He played a vital role in the liberation of black people. He was imprisoned in the 1950s, and he converted his religion to Islam, becoming a Black Muslim to become a leader in the nation of Islam. Malcolm was assassinated in the mid-60s, and his death became a symbol of self-determination and racial pride.
Malcolm X is a strong film by Spike Lee. The film accurately tells its audience about Malcolm, and it doesn’t tend to add unnecessary scenes or shots that might make the audience lose interest in the film, even for a split second.
This is a biopic, and it was pretty straightforward, yet intricate details were to be seen in the film, and each decision could be understood. Even though the film was unreasonably long, Spike Lee had to do his research to push the boundaries of the film. Overall it’s a great watch.
23. The Hurricane
- Directed by: Norman Jewison
- Written by: Armyan Bernstein
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Rubin Carter; Vicellous Reon as Lesra Martin; Liev Schreiber as Sam Chaiton.
- IMDB Rating: 7.6/ 10
- Available On: Rent on Vudu, Amazon Instant Video.
In the film, Denzel Washington plays the role of Rubin Carter, popularly known as the Hurricane. Rubin Carter was a boxer who wanted to win the middleweight boxing championship, but his dreams were stomped to the ground when he was falsely accused of the murder of three people in a bar in New Jersey. Rubin and John Artis were sentenced to prison for three lifetimes.
The Hurricane carries a very strong message that shows how people who belong to different races have been discriminated against. Denzel Washington played his role beautifully, and for his performance in this film, he gained a massive fan following. The story is sad yet so beautiful, the drama is heartbreaking, and the dialogue of the film is absolutely beautiful. Overall, this one is a must-watch.
22. Inside Man
- Directed by: Spike Lee
- Written by: Russell Gewirtz
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Detective Keith Frazier; Clive Owen as Dalton Russell; Jodie Foster as Madeleine White
- IMDB Rating: 7.6/ 10
- Available On: HBO Max
The plot of the film is about Detective Keith Frazier, who goes against Dalton Russell, a cunning bank robber, in a series of mind games. Dalton has held hostages in the bank, and he negotiates with Keith, but things tend to change for the worse when the involvement of a broker causes a breaking point, and the lives of several people are put at risk.
If you are looking to watch a negotiation film, then Inside Man is the movie that you should check out. Denzel Washington played his role fantastically. The dialogue in this movie is gripping, and the dialogue delivery in the film is perfect. The negotiation scenes are executed perfectly, and Dalton’s character is created in such a way that the audience would show affection for him.
21. The Great Debaters
- Directed by: Denzel Washington
- Written by: Robert Eisele
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Melvin B. Tolson; Forest Whitaker as James L. Farmer Sr.; Nate Parker as Henry Lowe.
- IMDB Rating: 7.5/ 10
- Available On: Fubo TV
The film tells us the story of Melvin B. Tolson, a poet and a professor who teaches art at Wiley College in 1935 in Texas. He encourages his students to form a debate team. It was a shocker to the students because it was never mentioned in the college. Melvin debates with one of the fathers of the students for the formulation of the team, but they come down to the same page and form a strong team that is full of intelligence and iron-willed. They participated in an intercollegiate debate competition, and they defeated the debaters of the prestigious Harvard University team for the championship.
The Great Debaters is my personal favorite, and Denzel Washington did great work as a professor, and he is probably one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. He was forceful and made a massive impact with his role in the scenes, other young actors did a great role, and their expressions were spot on. The movie is great, and one should check out this movie as soon as possible.
20. Cry Freedom
- Directed by: Richard Attenborough
- Written by: John Briley
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Steve Biko; Kevin Kline as Donald Woods; Penelope Woods as Wendy Woods.
- IMDB Rating: 7.4/ 10
- Available On: Amazon Prime Video
The film narrates the real-life events of Steve Biko, a South African activist, and Donald Woods, the chief editor of Daily Dispatch, initially, Donald found Steve to be extremely destructive and a curse to the country, and he published several articles that would be speaking against the views of Steve Biko. But Donald changed his opinion of Steve Biko after he met him in person, and he even changed the content of his articles as well. As a result, he attracted a lot of unwanted attention from the police. The police arrested Steve, and Donald wrote a book about him, but the only way Donald can get the book published is by escaping his country through illegal means.
The film was released in 1987, and it evokes a lot of emotions. The movie is amazing, and it is put together beautifully. The plot of the film is easy to follow, and it develops at a perfect pace. The actors did a marvelous job in playing the roles of the renowned figures, and they paid attention to the smallest details of the characters, and they perfectly displayed it while playing their roles.
19. Crimson Tide
- Directed by: Tony Scott
- Written by: Michael Schiffer
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Lt. Commander Ron Hunter; Gene Hackman as Captain Frank Ramsey; George Dzundza as Chief of the Boat Walters
- IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
- Available On: Rent on AppleTV, YouTube, VUDU
Crimson Tide is one of the movies by Denzel Washington that you should check immediately, and it tells us about a breakaway Russian republic with nuclear weapons that can be a possible threat to the world. Captain Frank Ramsey signs on Lt. Commander Ron Hunter to stop the possible threat. Ron pushes Frank to take down the Russian threat aggressively immediately. Hunter fears that they will create a potential disaster instead of stopping it.
Crimson Tide is a masterpiece that showcases amazing actors at the top of their game. There are scenes when dialogues are not necessary, and the tension of the characters present in the scene makes the film much more amazing. Tony Scott has done an amazing job in the film, and the direction he gave to the film has made it a masterpiece.
18. Antwone Fisher
- Directed by: Denzel Washington
- Written by: Antwone Fisher
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Dr. Jerome Davenport; Joy Bryant as Cheryl Smolley; Derek Luke as Antwone Fisher.
- IMDB Rating: 7.3/ 10
- Available On: DIRECTV, MAX GO, and Hulu.
It is an emotional story of Antwone Fisher, a naval officer who had a violent outburst with one of his fellow sailors and has been sent to Dr. Jerome, a psychiatrist. At first, Antwone refuses to cooperate with Dr. Jerome, but eventually, they get along, and he reveals that he had a traumatic childhood. Dr. Jerome helps him to confront his painful past, and he came to terms with his past.
This is one of the best Denzel Washington movies, in my opinion, and even though he is an amazing action star, it takes a lot of courage to write about your life story and then share it with a global audience. This film is an inspiration to all those people who have had a terrible childhood and still can not get over it. Apart from the emotional values, the film had great dialogue, and there were not any unnecessary scenes or dialogues that would make the audience lose interest. It is a great watch if you want to watch something dramatic.
17. The Equalizer
- Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
- Written by: Richard Wenk
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Robert McCall; Marton Csokas as Nicolai Itchenko; David Harbour as Masters.
- IMDB Rating: 7.2/ 10
- Available On: Netflix
The plot of the film revolves around Robert McCall, a man with a mysterious past. He believes that he has put the past behind him and dedicates his new life to a new beginning that would not be violent. But Robert’s new life was brief-lived as he met Teri, a teenager who violent Russian mobsters had manhandled. Robert could not ignore the unjust, and with his formidable capabilities, Robert came out of his retirement and became an avenging angel. He brutalizes the criminals who abuse their powers on the helpless.
If you are a fan of John Wick, then this movie is something that you should check out as Denzel Washington will be in the lead role, and with his acting, he has made the film tenfold better. The action in the film was well planned. The story is full of action and full of emotions at the same time, and the music of the film is amazing as well.
16. Fences
- Directed by: Denzel Washington
- Written by: August Wilson
- Cast: Denzel Washington in the role of Troy Maxson; Viola Davis in the role of Rose Lee Maxson; Jovan Adepo in the role of Cory Maxson
- IMDB Rating: 7.2/ 10
- Available On: Peacock
The film takes in the 1950s in Pittsburgh, and it revolves around Troy Maxson, a sanitation worker. Troy once dreamt of becoming a professional baseball player, but he was labeled as ‘too old’ when the major leagues started enrolling black athletes. Being bitter because he could not get a chance to become a professional baseball player, he squashes his son’s chance to meet a college football recruiter.
The film was an adaptation of a play, and this film was beautifully acted, written, and directed by Denzel Washington. The movie was complex, and casual movie watchers may find this movie a tad bit boring because the plot and the characters were way different than the regular movies. We would also see racial tensions, societal oppression, and broken dreams. The film has great shots, and the drama in the film is on another level. It is a great watch that you can see with your family and children.
15. A Soldier’s Story
- Directed by: Norman Jewison
- Written by: Charles Fuller
- Cast: Howard E. Rollins Jr. as Cpt. Richard Davenport; Denzel Washington as Peterson; Adolph Caesar as Sgt. Vernon Waters.
- IMDB Rating: 7.2/ 10
- Available On: Hulu
The plot tells us about Captain Richard Davenport, an army investigator who travels to a remote military base in the heart of the Louisiana woods to investigate the mysterious murder of a black Sergeant at the end of World War II. After his arrival, he discovered that the community and the army regiment do not welcome the integration of different races, and they believe in one-race supremacy. Soon, he learned that he couldn’t trust people and that people had dark secrets.
This movie is brilliant, and the casting of the film is star-studded. The director has given a fine directly to the film, and this film became a strong reason why one would watch it. The subject can be difficult for some people, but the film is great, and it is a rollercoaster of emotions. The theme of the movie is amazing, and the theme is eye-opening.
14. John Q
- Directed by: Nick Cassavetes
- Written by: James Kearns
- Cast: Denzel Washington in the role of John Q; Ethan Suplee in the role of Guard Max Conlin; Kevin Conolly in the role of Steve Maguire.
- IMDB Rating: 7.1/ 10
- Available On: Netflix
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie is about a father who wants to save his son, and they need a last-minute transplant. Upon discussion with the hospital about his medical insurance, he came to know that his medical insurance can not cover the fees of the hospital. In a last-ditch effort, John Q took a hostage to save his dying son.
The film is emotional, and it shows how far a father can go to save his son. And as a father, he was ready to go to jail for the sake of his son. The movie will make its audience see things differently, and they will love it. The plot was marvelous, and the audience would sit on the edge of their seats, and it’d be nice if they sat with a box of tissues to wipe off their tears.
13. Fallen
- Directed by: Gregory Hoblit
- Written by: Nicholas Kazan
- Cast: Denzel Washington as John Hobbes; John Goodman as Detective Jones; Donald Sutherland as Lieutenant Stanton.
- IMDB Rating: 7.0/ 10
- Available On: Starz
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie is about John Hobbes, a homicide detective. After watching the execution of a serial killer, he believed that the case was closed, but things took an absurd turn when murders took place that was similar to the serial killer who was executed. John started investigating, and during his investigation, he ran into Gretta Milano, a Theology professor, who introduced John to the world of the occult and convinced him that the spirit of the serial killer did the murders.
This is one of the best psychological thriller films ever created, and horror movie connoisseurs would agree that films similar to this movie have not taken place. From the plot to the cinematography of the film, everything is marvelous, and the audience sits on the edge of their seats because the film takes unlikely twists that nobody would see coming. I loved the characters of the film because they were relatable, and the eerie vibe of the film is unmatchable.
12. The Magnificent Seven
- Directed by: Antoine Fuqua
- Written by: Nic Pizzlatto
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Sam Chisholm; Chris Pratt as Joshua Faraday; Ethan Hawke as Goodnight Robicheaux.
- IMDB Rating: 6.9/ 10
- Available On: Rented On Amazon Instant Video.
The plot of the film tells us about Bartholomew Bogue, a greedy industrialist who takes over an Old West Town to mine some gold. People of the town go for help from Sam Chisolm, a bounty hunter. Sam Chisolm recruits a group of mercenaries to take down Bartholomew and his thugs, but things get heated, and bullets are exchanged. The seven mercenaries find themselves in a tight spot, and they will fight for money as well as their lives.
The film had both good and bad aspects, but the good aspects of the film overpowered the bad aspects of the film, so it was satisfying. The action scenes of the film were well shot, and the stunt doubles did a great job. The editing was top-notch, and gamers would feel that it is like Red Dead Redemption 2. The movie stars big names, and everyone did justice to their roles.
11. The Book Of Eli
- Directed by: The Hughes Brothers
- Written by: Gary Whitta
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Eli; Gary Oldman as Bill Carnegie; Mila Kunis as Solara.
- IMDB Rating: 6.8/ 10
- Available On: Netflix, HBO Max
The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a vicious war has turned the Earth into a wasteland. Eli, a lone warrior, walks around the ruined world with a book that holds tremendous powers and can redeem humankind and the Earth. Nobody knows about the powers of the book that Eli carries, except Carnegie; he will try to lay his hands on the book for his selfish and evil intentions. It is up to Eli, who prefers peace, to protect the relic and restore the world.
The film is visually stunning and perfectly depicts what a post-apocalyptic world should look like. Gary Oldman’s performance in the film was fantastic, and his performance was the proof. The plot of the film is amazing, and it is built at a perfect pace. It may not be for kids because the film is full of action, and it has some extremely violent action scenes. The film will make an impact on its audience, and they’ll return to watch it again.
10. Unstoppable
- Directed by: Tony Scott
- Written by: Mark Bomback
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Frank Barnes; Chris Pine as Will Colson; Rosario Dawson as Connie Hooper.
- IMDB Rating: 6.8/ 10
- Available On: Hulu
The plot of the film is based on the CSX 8888 incident. In the film, we would see a runaway train carrying a cargo of dangerous chemicals. Puts the engineer and the conductor in a race against time; they are chasing the train in a separate locomotive. They need to stop the train before it reaches the curve and derails, which will cause a catastrophe in the town.
Unstoppable is a thrilling rollercoaster where the antagonist is not another human being but a problem in an engine of a train. The acting is simple, and even though there was no massive character development, Chris Pine did a great job as a supporting actor. It is a great film with a run time of 98 minutes.
9. The Bone Collector
- Directed by: Phillip Noyce
- Written by: Jeremy Iacone
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Lincoln Rhyme; Angelina Jolie as Amelia Donaghy; Michael Rooker as Detective Howard Cheney.
- IMDB Rating: 6.7/ 10
- Available On: FuboTV, AMC+, DIRECTV
The plot of the movie is about Lincoln Rhyme, a forensic expert who had a fatal accident has quadriplegia and he can only move his head and a finger. He does his work through a computer that can manipulate his domain with the help of his caring nurse. Lincoln did not have much to live for, but he found interest back in life when he got a case about a serial killer who abducted people and brutally murdered them. He got help from Amelia Donaghy, a quick-witted cop, who became his eyes and legs in the field. The killer leaves clues for the police. Will the duo find the killer on time?
Despite having negative reviews from some of the critics, this film has been a fan favorite as it has a star-studded cast who knows what they are doing. The plot of the film was original, and mainly it didn’t have any absurd film logic that would cause a hole in the plot. The characters of the film were well thought out, and neither of them was flat. Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie have been amazing in the film, making it an outstanding crime thriller.
8. Safe House
- Directed by: Daniel Espinosa
- Written by: David Guggenheim
- Cast: Denzel as Tobin Frost; Ryan Reynolds as Matt Weston; Vera Farmiga as Catherine Linklater.
- IMDB Rating: 6.7/ 10
- Available On: Netflix
To prove himself, Matt Weston, a rookie CIA agent, has been waiting for the past year to prove his skills. He has been on his heels ever since he has been inactive in South Africa. He got an opportunity to prove himself when Tobin Frost, a double-crosser, was brought into Matt’s safe house for interrogation. But after Tobin was brought to the safe house, things turned downhill as mercenaries attacked him. Matt and Tobin form a duo to find out the person who wants them dead.
The movie is interesting as it is similar to James Bourne movies. The action scenes in the film are interesting enough to keep you entertained. The actors have done a great job with their roles. Washington’s movie means the action scenes would have a high standard. Although it is not much of a thriller, it’s a great action movie.
7. 2 Guns
- Directed by: Baltasar Kormakur
- Written by: Blake Masters
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Robert Trench; Mark Wahlberg as Michael Stigman; Paula Patton as Deb Rees.
- IMDB Rating: 6.7/ 10
- Available On: HBO Max, DIRECTV.
The plot tells us about Bobby Trench, a DEA Agent, and Marcus Stigman, a U.S. Navy intelligence officer, who have been working together for a year, but neither of them knows that their partner works as a secret agent. When they attempt to take down a drug Cartel things, go wrong, and the men are disavowed by their bosses. Marcus and Bobby should step up until they end up in jail or the six-foot bed.
The film is amazing, and it has great chemistry between the two stars; the film is funny, and the action scenes are fun to watch; the film is funnier than it was expected to be, which makes it a great film. At times too many things happen, and because of the twists, you can not expect what might happen. This film is entertaining and memorable that will surely keep you entertained from the beginning to the end.
6. Devil In A Blue Dress
- Directed by: Carl Franklin
- Written by: Carl Franklin
- Cast: Denzel Washington stars as Easy Rawlins; Tom Sizemore as DeWitt Albright; Jennifer Beals as Daphne Monet.
- IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
- Available On: Tubi
The film takes place in the 40s in Los Angeles; Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins is a veteran of World War II. He is unemployed and has very few job prospects. One day, at a bar, he meets DeWitt Albright, a mysterious man who wants to hire Ezekiel to investigate the disappearance of Daphne Monet, and DeWitt believes that she is hiding in one of the jazz clubs in the city. Ezekiel was desperate for money, so he took the job, but soon he found himself in a tight spot.
This film is an evergreen masterpiece, and even after 27 years, the film stays strong and entertaining to watch. An old-noir film watcher would agree that this film is the best. Even though the film is heavily based on race but that doesn’t change the fact that this film’s tangled affairs and strong plot would be ignored. The costume in the film was amazing, and they looked beautiful on the screen. Sadly, many people don’t know about this spectacular film.
5. The Pelican Brief
- Directed by: Alan J. Pakula
- Written by: Alan J. Pakula
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Gray Grantham; Julia Roberts as Darby Shaw; Sam Shepard as Tomas Callahan.
- IMDB Rating: 6.6/ 10
- Available On: HBO Max
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie is about Darby Shaw, a young law student who wrote a legal brief about the murder of two Supreme Court Justices. She learned that her theory has been so accurate that criminals are targeting her. Her lover was also murdered by one of the criminals. She is forced to go to New Orleans, where Gray Grantham aids her. He is a news journalist who helps Darby to disclose the murder of the government officials.
The Pelican Brief is based on the novel of the same name by John Grisham, and it was great to see that the movie was equally amazing as the book. The film is a taut crime thriller, as it has some unexpected twists that nobody could have anticipated. Moreover, the plot development was at a fine pace, and most importantly, the actors played the characters perfectly, and it felt like they were living the role. It is a great watch if you are looking to watch something thriller.
4. The Manchurian Candidate
- Directed by: Jonathan Demme
- Written by: Daniel Pyne, Dean Georgaris
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Major Bennett Marco; Meryl Streep as Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw; Liev Schreiber Raymond Prentiss Shaw.
- IMDB Rating: 6.6/ 10
- Available On: Roku and Amazon Video.
Major Ben Marco, whose squad was ambushed during The Gulf War, continues to be haunted by nightmares about it to this day. Ben starts to grow suspicious of Sgt. Raymond Shaw, his squadmate and now a candidate for vice-president, everyone remembers as a hero. But Ben Marco found out about a mysterious implant in his back; he started remembering the incident.
This film is a classic, and people who have watched it would know that they will keep coming back to it because of its powerful performance and amazing actors. The film is a high-tech masterpiece, and it is full of political interests and flashback sequences. I loved the creepy performance of Angela Landsbury, and it is the best creepiest performance I have ever seen.
3. Out Of Time
- Directed by: Carl Franklin
- Written by: David Collard
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Matt Lee Whitlock; Eva Mendes as Alex Diaz Whitlock; Sanaa Lathan as Ann Merai Harrison.
- IMDB Rating: 6.5/10
- Available On: VUDU.
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie revolves around Matt Lee Whitlock, the sheriff of Banyon Key, where nothing goes wrong. He is married to Detective Alexandra Cole, but their marriage has lost its spark. Hence, they are planning for a divorce. Matt uses this as a reason to cheat on his wife, Ann Harrison. Ann is married to Chris, who is a violent man, and Ann suffers domestic violence from him. Ann reveals to Matt that she is dying of cancer, and she changes the beneficiary of her life policy to Matt.
Matt had stolen half a million dollars from his office, and he thought that he could replace the stolen money. But both Ann and Chris die from a mysterious fire. To make things worse, a witness told that Matt was lurking around their house shortly before it burnt down to ashes. Matt needs to find evidence to prove that he is innocent.
Denzel Washington reunited with Carl Franklin, who was the director of Devil In a Blue Dress. This duo does a great job together, and the characters of the film are well-written. It is fun to watch what the characters would do next. The film was shot in Florida, and photographs of the film were aesthetic. It reminds people how crime thriller movies would take place there. This is a great movie, and one should check it out.
2. The Taking of Pelham 123
- Directed by: Tony Scott
- Written by: Brian Helgeland
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Walter Garber; John Tavolta as Dennis Ford; John Turturro as Vincent Camonetti.
- IMDB Rating: 6.4/ 10
- Available On: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video
The plot of this best Denzel Washington movie is about how heavily armed criminals hijack a metro in New York City. Ryder leads the bandits and threatens to kill everyone on the metro unless his demands are met. Walter Garber, the dispatcher, uses his intricate knowledge of the system to outplay the hijackers and save the passengers.
The audience would have realized that the combination of Tony Scott and Denzel Washington would not disappoint. John Travolta added more flavor to the movie. The film is a thriller, and it would keep its audience on the edge of their seats. The negotiation scenes were fantastic, and the expressions, as well as the dialogues, were incredible.
1. The Mighty Quinn
- Directed by: Carl Schenkel
- Written by: Hampton Fancher
- Cast: Denzel Washington as Chief Xavier Quinn; Robert Townsend as Maybee; James Fox as Thomas Elgin.
- IMDB Rating: 6.0/ 10
- Available On: HBO Max, DIRECTV
Set in the Caribbean islands, Xavier Quinn, the chief of police, has to investigate the murder. The brutal murder is of Donald Peter, one of the wealthiest residents on the Caribbean island. Even though people and the governor insisted that a small thief did the murder, Xavier Quinn believed that things were much more complicated than they seemed to be.
The story of this best Denzel Washington movie is smooth and entertaining from the first moments of the film and complicated as it progresses. The film has an accurate Caribbean theme, and the music of the film goes very well.
