Before 'Gladiator II': Denzel Washington's movies, ranked

Whatever they may think of the film as a whole, Denzel Washington's role in the 'Gladiator' sequel of 2024 gets praise all around from the critics. Some even speak of an Oscar nomination for his performance as the ambitious Roman businessman Macrinus.

Image: Paramount Pictures

A two-time Oscar winner, three-time Golden Globe recipient, and a Screen Actors Guild Award holder, Denzel Washington is hailed by The New York Times as the great actor of the 21st century. Now around 70 years old, he has secured his place in the Hollywood pantheon, thanks to a filmography filled with extraordinary roles.

Like many actors, Denzel Washington's career includes both sublime performances that showcase his vast talent and a few projects that didn’t quite hit the mark. When remembering all his films, we're going from best to worst according to the critic ratings on Rotten Tomatoes. Do you know which ones are at the top and which are at the bottom?

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Directed by Edward Zwick, this war drama featuring Denzel Washington as soldier Trip transports us to the 19th century, to the American Civil War that pitted the Confederate army (South) against the Union troops (North). This role earned him his first Oscar and his first Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

Joel Coen brought to the screen in 2021 an excellent new adaptation of this William Shakespeare work, casting Denzel Washington as his unique Lord Macbeth, driven by a group of witches to aspire to the Scottish throne. The actor received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, though he did not win the award.

His incredible work alongside Viola Davis in this film, which he also directed, earned him the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Male Actor, as well as nominations for both the Oscars and the Golden Globes. It was the film adaptation of a play he had previously performed on Broadway about an African American father trying to support his family amidst the racial prejudices of the 1950s.

Film noir. A movie filled with intrigue, interesting characters, and a dose of humor that resonated with critics and audiences alike. In it, Easy Rawles, played by Denzel Washington, takes a job to find a missing woman known for frequenting jazz nightclubs, something that seems straightforward but becomes complicated when he becomes involved in two murders.

With the theme of racism as a backdrop, Mira Nair brought us this story about love between people of different races, in this case between an African American, Demetrius (Denzel Washington), and an Indian woman (Sarita Choudhury). Pure magnetism...

Two years later, the actor would portray Don Pedro in the acclaimed adaptation of this William Shakespeare work directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh alongside Emma Thompson. Denzel Washington again bringing to life a character from the greatest English writer ever.

Under the direction of Tony Scott, he would star in 1995 alongside Gene Hackman in this action thriller where the impulsive commander of the submarine Alabama, Captain Frank Ramsey, and his reflective lieutenant, Ron Hunter (Washington), must battle a deranged Russian and each other in the midst of a potential Third World War.

In other lists, like the one by Rolling Stone magazine, it ranks at the very top. And indeed, 'Malcolm X' is one of the best and most iconic roles of the actor, where he portrayed the famous activist for the rights of African Americans in the United States. Directed by Spike Lee, thanks to his performance in it, Denzel Washington won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlinale.

Pure action aboard an out-of-control train, drama, and dark humor in a film where Denzel Washington was directed by Tony Scott 15 years after 'Crimson Tide.'

He would also repeat the experience (for the fourth time) working with Spike Lee in this feature film that gave us an epic showdown between a tough cop (Denzel Washington) and a clever bank robber (Clive Owen), alongside a cast with other well-known names such as Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe, and Christopher Plummer.

Ten years earlier, Edward Zwick brought together Denzel Washington and Meg Ryan in this war drama set during the Gulf War in the early 90s, the first Hollywood movie made about this military conflict.

A biographical tale based on the autobiography of the well-known boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter and the novel about him written by Sam Chaiton and Terry Swinton, in which it recounts how Carter, portrayed by Washington, was wrongly convicted of triple murder after a trial riddled with mistakes. For this role, he won his second Silver Bear at the Berlinale for Best Actor.

Another epic duel between the chauffeur of an important mobster, Frank Lucas, who tries to create his own crime empire after his boss's death, and an incorruptible street cop played by Russel Crowe. A Ridley Scott story based on true events, for which Washington was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Drama Actor and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble.

A gripping drama directed by Jonathan Demme about homo se x u a l i t y and AIDS, Denzel Washington starred alongside Tom Hanks and Antonio Banderas as lawyer Joe Miller, who defends Andy Beckett (Hanks) in a trial amid societal prejudice and his own biases.

From one Jonathan Demme film to another. In 2004, Denzel Washington reunited with Demme to play Commander Bennett Marco in another movie, incidentally about the Gulf War. A remake of the 1962 film by John Frankenheimer that starred Frank Sinatra and was set during the Korean War.

Directed and starred by Denzel Washington himself and based on true events, it tells the story (narrated by Jeffrey Porro) of Mel Tolson, a professor of African American History at Wiley College in Texas, who in 1935 inspired his students to form the college's first debate team, eventually facing Harvard University in the national championship final.

Between 'Malcolm X' and 'Inside Man', the paths of Denzel Washington and Spike Lee crossed again with this drama about a prisoner, Jake, who is offered a reduced sentence if he can convince his son Jesus, the country's top high school basketball player (played by NBA player Ray Allen), to play for his team.

Another U.S. military story and another based on real events. Actor Derek Luke plays the protagonist in this plot, a young sailor with a violent temperament who is forced to see navy psychiatrist Jerome Davenport (Denzel Washington) to learn to control his rage. Washington won an Image Award for Best Supporting Actor for this feature film.

Robert Zemeckis directed Denzel Washington as the protagonist in this film where he played Captain Whip Whitaker, a pilot who goes from hero to villain after saving a hundred passengers from a plane crash and the subsequent discovery that he might have been responsible due to alcohol. It was nominated for an Oscar, Golden Globes, and the Critics' Choice and Screen Actors Guild Awards for Best Actor.

Another story about racism, this time during World War II, about the murder of an African American soldier and the investigation into what happened. An adaptation of Charles Fuller's play 'A Soldier's Play,' which won the Pulitzer Prize at the time, with Denzel Washington playing the role of Peterson.

A police genre film with high doses of intrigue in which Xavier Quinn (Denzel Washington), the police chief of a Caribbean island, begins to investigate a murder case in which his childhood best friend is allegedly involved.

Two recurring themes in Denzel Washington's filmography are also present in this British film by Richard Attenborough: racism and a story based on real events. Here, he plays Steve Biko, a black anti-apartheid activist followed by journalist Donald Woods (Kevin Kline). With this role, the actor received his first Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor.

An action and crime thriller directed by Russell Mulcahy, in which Denzel Washington plays Nick Styles, a young and exemplary police officer who conducts a swift operation in the middle of the street against Earl Talbot, a psychopathic murderer, earning him enough fame to become a district attorney, all while waiting for revenge from his enemy.

In the middle of Rotten Tomatoes' list, but for Denzel Washington, this film earned him one of the biggest roles of his career and his second Oscar, this time for Best Actor. In it, he plays the controversial Alonzo Harris, a drug enforcement agent who uses unorthodox and borderline legal methods who is showing a new cop Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) the ropes.

More racism, another story based on real events, but now with sports as a backdrop. Washington is Herman Boone, the coach of the Titans, a high school football team that must deal with the racial integration process that the United States experienced in the 1970s and fight against the intolerance and prejudices of the society they live in.

It was the first movie Denzel Washington did under the direction of Spike Lee, two years before 'Malcolm X'. Starring him and Wesley Snipes, it tells part of the life of jazz trumpeter Bleek Gilliam, who, due to a series of decisions, endangers his personal relationships and musical career.

A Western where he would reunite with Ethan Hawke 15 years after 'Training Day' and where, alongside others such as Chris Pratt or Vincent D'Onofrio, they would play seven outlaws who face off against industrialist Bartholomew Bogue, who keeps the inhabitants of Rose Creek in fear. A remake of a remake that takes us back to Akira Kurosawa's 'Seven Samurai.'

Under the direction of Iceland's Baltasar Kormákur and alongside Mark Wahlberg, we got this film adaptation of the comic of the same name by Steven Grant. It's about a DEA agent, Bobby Trench (Denzel Washington), and a Naval Intelligence officer, Michael Stigman (Wahlberg), who steal $43 million from the mafia, money that, however, belongs to the CIA.

Directed by Carl Franklin, Denzel Washington once again steps into the shoes of a police officer. In this case, he takes us to a small town in Florida, where he is one of the most beloved agents, a status that would be questioned following a double murder that, if he is unable to solve in time, could make him a suspect.

A heartwarming yet fairly predictable Christmas movie directed by Penny Marshall, saved by the incredible duo of Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston. Seeing them together on screen is sure to charm anyone.

ADEMÁS: Ellos son los mellizos y gemelos de los famosos

In 2014, Denzel Washington began portraying the role of Robert McCall under the direction of Antoine Fuqua. McCall is a former International Defense Agency agent who returns to action due to compelling circumstances. The first sequel was released in 2018 and 'The Equalizer 3' hit the theaters in Sept. 2023.

An action and science fiction thriller directed by Tony Scott—another collaboration with the director between 'Tide' and 'Unstoppable'—in which Denzel Washington plays Agent Doug Carlin. Following a terrorist attack on a ship, he is tasked with the investigation and preventing the attack by traveling through time.

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Under the direction of Dan Gilroy and alongside Colin Farrell, he brought life to the lawyer gives the film it's name. Israel is an idealist at a turning point in his professional life, facing events that shake the foundations of his principles. For his performance, Washington received nominations for an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor.

An interesting adaptation of the novel of the same name by John Grisham, where director Alan J. Pakula gave us the opportunity to see Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts together in the same movie. It's about a law student and a journalist against all odds, with the murder of two U.S. Supreme Court justices as the backdrop.

The Swedish director of Chilean origin, Daniel Espinosa, trusted the duo of Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds to star in this action thriller. They portray a cunning and manipulative former CIA agent, Tobin Frost, and the rookie Matt Weston. Together, they must survive mercenaries intent on killing them.

As mentioned earlier, four years after the first installment, Robert McCall returned to our lives, this time seeking justice to recover the nine-year-old daughter of a bookstore owner, Grace Braelick, who was kidnapped by her abusive Turkish father. Though not as acclaimed as its prequel, it was strong at the box office and worthy of a third installment.

Denzel Washington's third film with Tony Scott before 'Unstoppable' was about the hijacking of a subway car by an armed gang. In this film, he shared the screen with John Travolta, James Gandolfini, and John Turturro, among others, and it was actually a remake of Joseph Sargent's 1974 film.

A political drama directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Richard Gere, Julie Christie, Gene Hackman, and Kate Capshaw, joined by Denzel Washington to delve into the intricacies of political power.

It's rare to see Denzel Washington in a science fiction movie, and this is one of those occasions. Directed by Albert and Allen Hughes and alongside Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis, it transports us to a post-apocalyptic future where only a few have survived in a hostile world, and a lone warrior must defend a mysterious book with his life.

Released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max, a detective duo formed by Denzel Washington (Deke Deacon) and Rami Malek (Jim Baxter) investigate a series of murders that lead them directly to the loner Albert Sparma, played by Jared Leto, who garnered almost all the praise and award nominations.

An action film directed by Edward Zwick where the threat of terrorism looms over New York. It focuses on two agents, who join forces to take down the criminal organization behind it: Anthony Hubbard (Denzel Washington) from the FBI, and Elise Kraft (Annette Bening) from the CIA. The military, led by William Devereaux (Bruce Willis), also intervenes.

Also, in 1998, Denzel Washington starred in this movie about possessions and exorcisms directed by Gregory Hoblit, where he shared the cast with John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, and James Gandolfini, among others, playing the role of Detective John Hobbes, who must confront the fallen angel Azazel.

After a couple of television movies and his work alongside Morgan Freeman in ‘Coriolanus,’ came Denzel Washington's first recognized film, a comedy about a successful, wealthy white man (George Segal) who faces a series of problems, one of which is the sudden appearance of a young African American claiming to be his son.

Another collaboration between director Tony Scott and Denzel Washington, their fifth and final work together. Based on the novel by J. Quinnell, the actor plays a U.S. government agent assigned to protect a girl (Dakota Fanning) threatened with kidnapping in Mexico, awakening unknown feelings within him.

Another venture into science fiction for Denzel Washington, this time under the direction of Brett Leonard. In this film, the actor, playing Lieutenant Parker Barnes, must face a virtual killer composed of the personalities of hundreds of serial killers, who manages to enter the real world in the form of Russell Crowe.

A British-American co-production directed by Martin Stellman featuring Denzel Washington as a soldier returning home after serving in the Falklands War against Argentina. Upon his arrival, he finds that things are not as he imagined, compelling him to risk everything in search of justice.

A thriller directed by Philip Noyce and based on the novel of the same name by Jeffery Deaver, with an exceptional cast led by Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie, though it did not win favor with critics. Washington plays a detective named Lincoln Rhyme, who became quadriplegic during an investigation, and must track down a terrible serial killer with the help of young Amelia (Jolie).

A drama based on true events about a man, John Q. Archibald (Denzel Washington), who must fight for the life of his son Michael, who needs a heart transplant in a society like America's, where if you don't have medical insurance (as is his case), you won't get surgery. It only has a 26% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, but just to be clear, the audience score is around 78%.

Bob Hoskins and Denzel Washington team up in a comedy where they play, respectively, Jack Moony, a man who dislikes African Americans because one of them, a wealthy lawyer, stole his girlfriend; and Napoleon Stone, that man, who dies and his heart is transplanted into Moony's body after he suffers a heart attack. Sure, this one may be a stinker, but in nearly 50 films, an actor has to have at least one!

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