Denzel Washington is one of the greatest actors of his generation, but he’s rarely recognized for his contributions to the action genre through some of his best movies. Since he’s such a versatile performer, it’s easy to forget that Washington has been in just as many action-oriented projects as any other genre. While Denzel Washington’s best drama movies are more widely discussed and are the films he’s been awarded for, they’re far from his other projects. However, there have been a few instances when Washington’s work in action films has been too iconic and skillful to ignore.
- Who are Ekin-Su Culculoglu Parents? Meet Zekai Culculoglu And Sezer Ergor
- Tillu Square Movie Release Date and Time 2023, Countdown, Cast, Trailer, and More!
- Go Away Romeo Chapter 34 Release Date, Spoilers, Raw Scans, and Where to Read Go Away Romeo Chapter 34?
- Is the Live Action Cinderella on Disney Plus? Why is Live Action Cinderella Not on Disney Plus? Where to Watch Cinderella Live Action?
- Who are Drea De Matteo’s Parents? Meet Albert de Matteo and Donna de Matteo
Part of the reason Washington’s work within action movies is so notable is that few of his films merely stick to one niche of the genre. Seamlessly blending elements of thrillers, mysteries, and even Westerns, Washington’s action films are unlike anything else onscreen. This is fitting for the actor, as he always takes on unique projects that push him to his limits in the fight sequences and the character-driven moments. Additionally, the characters he takes on, whether they’re traditional heroes or morally ambiguous figures, are always complex individuals full of nuance for Washington to bring to life.
You are watching: Denzel Washington Doesn’t Get Enough Credit For Being A Hollywood Action Hero, & These 10 Movies Prove It
10
Out Of Time (2003)
As Mathias Lee Whitlock
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Out of Time
R
Thriller
Crime
Drama
Release Date
October 3, 2003
Runtime
105 Minutes
Cast
See All
-
Denzel Washington
Matt Lee Whitlock
-
Eva Mendes
Alex Diaz Whitlock
-
Sanaa Lathan
Ann Merai Harrison
-
John Billingsley
Chae
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
After collaborating with Carl Franklin on Devil in a Blue Dress, Washington reunited with the filmmaker for Out of Time, a twisting action-thriller that leaves you guessing until the very end. Washington’s character, Matt, can’t be sure who to trust and where to place his faith throughout Out of Time, as he’s emotionally manipulated and fooled many times over. However, as the audience, we’re just as shocked and vengeful as he is when Matt learns how the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
Matt is a great protagonist, as it’s easy to empathize with him and place yourself in his shoes throughout the story.
As one of Denzel Washington’s best crime movies, Out of Time is easily praised for its slick visual style and compelling central performances. Matt is a great protagonist, as it’s easy to empathize with him and place yourself in his shoes throughout the story. Full of romantic drama as well as chase scenes, lies, and criminal intrigue, Out of Time should be a better-remembered part of Washington’s filmography. His chemistry with Eva Mendes and Sanaa Lathan helps to ground the film.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Out of Time (2003) |
65% |
58% |
9
The Taking Of Pelham 123 (2009)
As Walter Garber
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
The Taking of Pelham 123
r
Action
Thriller
7/10
10/10
Release Date
June 11, 2009
Runtime
106minutes
Cast
See All
-
Denzel Washington
-
John Travolta
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
The Taking of Pelham 123 has been adapted for the screen several times, with Washington’s 2009 project being the most recent. One of the reasons that The Taking of Pelham 123 can be translated to the screen so well in different eras is because it follows the hijacking of a subway car, and the way subways run has been deeply impacted by emerging technologies. The modern iteration of The Taking of Pelham 123 explores how computerization and new tech both help and hurt situations like this.
Related
10 Weird Denzel Washington Movies That Were Unique In His Career
Denzel Washington has had a long and illustrious career, but some additions to his filmography bring something unique & distinctive to the table.
Posts
Washington leads the cast, but he’s far from the only famous actor in the cast. John Travolta plays the central antagonist, Ryder, and both John Turturro and James Gandolfini appear throughout the film. While the star-studded cast isn’t the only reason to watch The Taking of Pelham 123, it elevates the tense and immediate story that draws the viewer in. As Walter, the uncertain protagonist, Washington portrays the character not as a natural hero but as a man who does what he has to and steps up.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) |
51% |
52% |
8
Man On Fire (2004)
As John W. Creasy
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Man on Fire
R
Crime
Action
Thriller
Drama
4/10
Release Date
April 23, 2004
Runtime
146 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Dakota Fanning
-
Marc Anthony
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
There are few things the action genre does better than revenge, and Man on Fire is a great example of this. Washington’s character, John W. Creasy, is still packing plenty of CIA skills when he becomes a bodyguard for a young girl in Mexico City and embarks on a violent tear across the city in search of her. Starring a young Dakota Fanning as Pita, the girl Creasy’s protecting, Man on Fire is an updated take on the 1980 novel by A. J. Quinnell.
Though the book was first brought to life in 1987, the 2004 iteration makes enough changes to successfully differentiate the two projects while staying true to the heart of the narrative. The father-daughter relationship that blossoms between Creasy and Pita is the emotional centerpiece of Man on Fire and is the reason we care so deeply, as Creasy cuts a bloody path throughout the city in the wake of her kidnapping. While Creasy is terrifying and powerful, the viewer is on his side in his search for Pita.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Man on Fire (2004) |
38% |
89% |
7
Unstoppable (2010)
As Frank Barnes
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
See more : Is Black Mirror Not on Netflix? Where to Watch Black Mirror Other Than Netflix?
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Unstoppable
PG-13
Action
Thriller
8/10
9.5/10
Release Date
November 12, 2010
Runtime
98 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Denzel Washington
-
Chris Pine
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Washington and Chris Pine are tasked with stopping a runaway freight train in Unstoppable, a sharp action-thriller that follows in the footsteps of iconic films like Speed. The stakes are already high in Unstoppable when we first learn the train can’t be powered down, but this intensity is increased tenfold when it’s revealed the freight is carrying toxic chemicals and might have to be derailed into a town. Frank (Washington) and Will (Pine) are unlikely heroes in Unstoppable, but they make a compelling pair.
The chemistry between Washington and Pine helps keep the audience invested in the personal and character-driven aspects of Unstoppable, as it’s impossible not to be engaged by the runaway train. Watching Frank and Will work together and race against the clock to save lives is incredible, and Unstoppable revels in every second of its premise. Fun and adrenaline-pumping until the film’s final moments, Unstoppable is an underrated action flick. Unstoppable doesn’t try to complicate itself with anything other than the pure enjoyment of watching two regular people save the day.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Unstoppable (2010) |
87% |
72% |
6
Flight (2012)
As Whip
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Flight
R
Thriller
Drama
Release Date
November 2, 2012
Runtime
138 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Don Cheadle
-
Kelly Reilly
-
Melissa Leo
-
John Goodman
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Robert Zemeckis directed Flight, a complex, character-driven drama that includes most of its action sequences in the first third of the film. Washington plays the pilot, Whip, who has substance abuse issues that follow him throughout the story. Almost all of the high-octane drama occurs early on in Flight, as Whip is forced to safely land a plane after a technical failure while he’s under the influence. It’s a tense sequence, and even though Whip lands the plane, this is far from the end of the story.
Flight does a great job showcasing two prominent sides of Washington as a performer, as Whip is a skilled hero as well as a flawed character who needs to recover.
Flight does a great job showcasing two prominent sides of Washington as a performer, as Whip is a skilled hero as well as a flawed character who needs to recover. Throughout the film, the audience accompanies Whip on his journey to come to terms with his drinking and recognize that his heroism doesn’t erase his mistakes, and vice versa. Few other actors could portray this balance and nuance as skillfully as he, but Washington is more than up to the challenge.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Flight (2012) |
77% |
75% |
5
The Book Of Eli (2010)
As Eli
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
The Book of Eli
pg-13
Action
Adventure
6/10
10/10
Release Date
January 11, 2010
Runtime
118minutes
Cast
See All
-
Denzel Washington
-
Gary Oldman
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
The Book of Eli is one of the more unique additions to Washington’s filmography and is often overlooked within the action genre and the post-apocalyptic sphere. However, at the time of its release, The Book of Eli performed extremely well at the box office, even in the wake of middling reviews from critics. Washington’s central performance as Eli can’t be ignored as a pivotal factor in the movie’s success, as the actor weathers the plot twists with grim defiance throughout the story.
The Book of Eli also features Mila Kunis, Gary Oldman, and Jennifer Beals as members of a group Eli encounters. Oldman’s character becomes the central foil to Eli as the two men seek a sacred book for different reasons. Though it could be argued that the post-apocalyptic genre has become oversaturated today, The Book of Eli differentiates itself from other end-of-the-world blockbusters that pit people against each other as they attempt to survive. In The Book of Eli, Washington is the unquestionable hero, making it easy to root for him.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Book of Eli (2010) |
47% |
64% |
4
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
As Sam Chisholm
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
See more : Who are Luca Vitali Parents? Meet Maurizio Vitali
The Magnificent Seven
PG-13
Western
Action
8/10
7/10
Release Date
September 23, 2016
Runtime
132 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Haley Bennett
-
Chris Pratt2
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
There have been many iterations of The Magnificent Seven since Akira Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai was adapted to the Western genre in 1960. Washington leads the 2016 iteration as Sam Chisholm, the U.S. Marshal who leads the band of seven outlaws and bounty hunters who become the unlikely heroes of The Magnificent Seven. Though The Magnificent Seven isn’t a neo-Western, which was a popular genre niche in the 2010s, it does expand upon many traditional Western tropes.
Westerns incorporate many elements of action films, but put exciting spins on these epic onscreen moments. The Magnificent Seven reminds us that Washington is just as capable of bringing to life an epic car chase scene as he is a good old-fashioned shootout at high noon. There’s little question that Washington’s participation in the project is a large part of why the film succeeded at the box-office and earned a decent reputation in comparison to the other adaptations.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Magnificent Seven (2016) |
64% |
71% |
3
Training Day (2001)
As Alonzo Harris
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Training Day
R
Crime
Thriller
Drama
9/10
9.7/10
Release Date
October 5, 2001
Runtime
122 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Eva Mendes
-
Ethan Hawke
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
The mark of a great action hero is their ability to play a villain, and Washington gave one of the best performances of his career as the morally bankrupt Alonzo Harris in Training Day. Ethan Hawke joins Washington in the crime drama set in Los Angeles. Training Day sees Harris take the young police officer, Jake (Hawke), on a terrifying ride through the city. It’s soon revealed that Harris isn’t training the young Jake but using him as a tool to further his own corruption.
Washington won the Academy Award for Best Actor for Training Day, a well-deserved accolade, especially since action-driven films like Training Day aren’t always recognized during awards season. However, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Washington is giving the performance of a lifetime in Training Day. Harris is deliciously evil, making you want to cringe away from his despicable actions while pulling you deeper into the drama. Though Training Day is also a thriller and crime movie, it blends genres seamlessly, immersing the viewer in the violence.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Training Day (2001) |
74% |
89% |
2
Gladiator II (2024)
As Macrinus
Movie
My Favorite Movies
My Watchlist
Success!
Your Rating
close
10 stars
9 stars
8 stars
7 stars
6 stars
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Rate Now
0/10
Leave a Review
Your comment has not been saved
Gladiator II
R
Action
Drama
Epic
History
Adventure
8/10
251
7.4/10
Release Date
November 22, 2024
Runtime
148 minutes
Cast
See All
-
Paul Mescal
Lucius Verus
-
Pedro Pascal
Marcus Acacius
Powered by
Expand
Collapse
Paul Mescal might be the hero of Gladiator II, but Washington’s role in the historical blockbuster indicates that the actor is capable of evolving and adapting within the genre. He shines just as brightly in his action-oriented scenes as he does in the tense moments packed with layers of subtext and dialogue. Gladiator II exemplifies where the action genre is heading in the 2020s and shows that Washington can fulfill many roles within it, not just the hero.
Related
You’re Guaranteed To Check Out A Movie If It Has 1 Of These 10 Actors In It
These actors aren’t just masters of their craft but also icons who have no trouble drawing us to the box office whenever they’re in a new movie.
Posts
1
Washington understands that projects like Gladiator II and action movies in general need to be well acted in addition to explosively engaging, as this helps the audience care about the characters. The juxtaposition between Macrinus (Washington) and Lucius (Mescal) in Gladiator II builds their animosity and electric dynamic, which ultimately culminates in a showdown between them. Though Washington’s Macrinus is older, his experience and knowledge make him just as formidable as the young Lucius.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Gladiator II (2024) |
71% |
82% |
1
The Equalizer Movies (2014–2023)
As Robert McCall
The Equalizer
Created by
Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim
First Film
The Equalizer
First TV Show
The Equalizer
Cast
Denzel Washington, Edward Woodward, Queen Latifah
There’s little question that The Equalizer movies deserve greater recognition within the action sphere, as the trilogy demonstrates what’s great about action movies in the 21st century. Though the plots can get serious, they’re also unafraid to be fun and dynamic, taking the audience on an unforgettable thrill ride. While The Equalizer doesn’t take itself too seriously, it clearly has a lot of love for action movies, as seen through the great fight scenes.
The Equalizer has become a streaming hit many years after the franchise first started because audiences have realized how much the projects have to offer. With well-choreographed action sequences and exciting espionage, The Equalizer movies would be engaging on their own. However, with Washington anchoring the projects as Robert McCall, they’re made all the stronger. Denzel Washington takes his experience within the action genre and puts everything he’s got into The Equalizer films.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Equalizer (2014) |
61% |
77% |
|
The Equalizer 2 (2018) |
52% |
61% |
|
The Equalizer 3 (2023) |
76% |
94% |
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment