Denzel Washington has utilized his talents as one of the greatest actors ever to star in countless nail-biting thrillers. As a two-time Academy Award winner, Washington’s fascinating career has been characterized by sheer variety, as he’s excelled in fast-paced action, gutwrenching drama, and heart-racing thrillers over the years. Washington’s greatest thrillers brought together many styles that kept audiences coming back to witness bank heists, biographical crime stories, and thought-provoking sci-fi releases that have left an undeniable mark on modern cinema.
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Some of the best Washington movies were thrillers, as the actor’s unique blend of strong characterization, sinister charisma, and poetic power made him stand out as a defining actor of the 20th and 21st centuries. From Washington’s collaborations with director Tony Scott and other acclaimed works with auteurs like Ridley Scott and Spike Lee, Washington’s filmography was one truly packed with thrills. For viewers looking for some incredible thrillers boasting strong performances, then look no further than toward the work of Washington.
10 Ricochet (1991)
Denzel Washington as Assistant District Attorney Nick Styles
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Ricochet RCrimeThrillerActionDrama
Ricochet is a 1991 action thriller directed by Russell Mulcahy, starring Denzel Washington as Nick Styles, a rookie cop who becomes a hero after taking down a notorious villain.Years later, the villain, Earl Talbot Blake, escapes from prison and seeks revenge against Styles, who must confront his troubled past to stop him.
Director Russell Mulcahy Release Date October 4, 1991 Studio(s) HBO , Cinema Plus , Indigo Productions , Silver Pictures , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Steven E. de Souza Cast Denzel Washington , John Lithgow , Ice-T , Kevin Pollak , Lindsay Wagner Runtime 102 Minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
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In the early 1990s, Denzel Washington had not yet fully shown off his skills as an ideal leading man for tense and exciting action thrillers. All this changed with his role as the former LAPD officer and District Attorney Nick Styles in Russell Mulcahy’s Ricochet. This shocking thriller also acted as a fascinating Die Hard spin-off as it featured Mary Ellen Trainor reprising her role as Gail Wallens from the iconic Bruce Willis movie. Ricochet featured Washington being terrorized by the deranged killer (John Lithgow), whom he had put away while he was still a cop.
This tense story of vengeance laid the groundwork for Washington’s future career in thrillers as he blended action and drama. With strong chemistry between Washington and Lithgow, the duo made excellent enemies, as the suave cop turned lawman must contend with a seething psychopathic megalomaniac determined to ruin his life. While Washington would have better thriller movies in later decades, this was an early career triumph that showcased he had what it took to play a leading man in action-packed thrillers.
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9 Safe House (2012)
Denzel Washington as Tobin Frost
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Safe House (2012) RActionThriller
Safe House is a 2012 action-thriller directed by Daniel Espinosa. The film stars Ryan Reynolds as a rookie CIA agent who must protect a fugitive ex-operative, played by Denzel Washington, when their safe house comes under attack. The story unfolds as the unlikely duo navigates through a series of betrayals and danger to uncover the truth behind the conspiracy targeting them.
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*Availability in US Director Daniel Espinosa Release Date February 7, 2012 Studio(s) Relativity Media Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers David Guggenheim Cast Denzel Washington , Ryan Reynolds , Vera Farmiga , Brendan Gleeson , Sam Shepard , Rubén Blades , Nora Arnezeder , Robert Patrick Runtime 115 Minutes Budget $85 Million Main Genre Action Expand
The action-thriller Safe House brought Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds together for one of the stars’ highest-grossing movies, taking in over $208 million (via Box Office Mojo.) As a tension-filled conspiracy where practically every character has a glaring moral flaw, Washington’s sinister characterization of Tobin Frost showed off his more villainous side. Safe House told the story of a low-level CIA operative (Reynolds) in over his head while contending the fugitive ex-operative turned international criminal Frost.
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While this type of mismatched hero versus villain story has been told countless times before, Washington’s committed performance helped elevate the cliche-ridden aspects of its script. With plenty of fast-paced sequences and some good chemistry between its leads, Safe House would appeal to audiences who like their action movies simple with straightforward, well-resolved plotting. Although Safe House didn’t win any points for originality, it knew what it was and did it well.
8 The Pelican Brief (1993)
Denzel Washington as Gray Grantham
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The Pelican Brief (1993) PG-13CrimeDocumentaryDramaMysteryThriller
After two Supreme Court Justices are murdered, a law student discovers a deadly secret, drawing the interest of an investigative journalist and the deadly attention of others.
Director Alan J. Pakula Release Date September 17, 1993 Writers John Grisham , Alan J. Pakula Cast Julia Roberts , Denzel Washington , Sam Shepard , John Heard , Tony Goldwyn , James Sikking Runtime 141 minutes Main Genre Crime Expand
While many viewers might associate Denzel Washington with intense action thrillers, he’s also excelled in more thoughtful thrillers like the John Grisham adaptation The Pelican Brief. This story of law, order, and brutal assassinations was an intense legal thriller starring Washington and Julia Roberts, outlining criminal corruption and the adrenaline-pumping power of investigative journalism. With a complex narrative that blended intricate overlapping layers with engaging suspense, The Pelican Brief stood alongside Malcolm X and Philadelphia as one of Washington’s best works during the 1990s.
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Washington portrayed Gray Grantham in The Pelican Brief, a Washington Herald reporter who assisted Roberts as law student Darby Shaw, who has been falling further into a deadly conspiracy. As one of the best film adaptations of Grisham’s work, The Pelican Brief was one of writer and director Alan J. Pakula’s second last film before he died in 1998. It was a pulpy thriller with plenty of twists and turns and one of Washington’s most underrated roles.
7 Déjà Vu (2006)
Denzel Washington as ATF Special Agent Douglas Carlin
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6.5/10 Déjà Vu PG-13ActionSci-FiThriller
Déjà Vu, directed by Tony Scott, follows Federal agent Doug Carlin, who investigates a deadly explosion on a New Orleans ferry. Utilized by a secret government lab, a time-altering surveillance device becomes key to preventing the crime, leading Carlin into unforeseen complexities of time and reality.
Director Tony Scott Release Date November 22, 2006 Distributor(s) Buena Vista Distribution Writers Bill Marsilii , Terry Rossio Cast Denzel Washington , Paula Patton , Val Kilmer , James Caviezel , Adam Goldberg , Elden Henson Runtime 126 minutes Budget $75 million Main Genre Action Expand
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The late, great Tony Scott directed Denzel Washington in the heart-racing sci-fi thriller Déjà Vu, an intense movie about an agent traveling back in time to prevent a terrorist attack in New Orleans. With a potent mix of action, romance, and some mind-boggling time travel concepts, Déjà Vu’s complex plot may fall apart if scrutinized too closely, but the action was so engaging that this almost didn’t matter. As Agent Douglas Carlin did everything in his power to stop an attack that had already happened, the tension grew as the life of the woman he loved was also on the line.
It’s easy to criticize Déjà Vu as a preposterous action sci-fi, but its commitment to pure entertainment should be lauded, and Washington was great in the leading role. With epic setpieces and a commendable attempt to base its premise on some real-world science, the film’s pontification on the true nature of the passage of time gave it more depth than its action-packed premise suggested. Filmed on location after the devastating destruction of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Déjà Vu was criticized (via NY Times) for its depiction of decimated communities in the background of shots.
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6 The Equalizer (2014)
Denzel Washington as Robert McCall
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The Equalizer (2014) RThrillerActionCrime
The Equalizer is an action thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua starring Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, a former intelligence operative who lives a quiet life in Boston. When he encounters a young girl named Teri, played by Chloë Grace Moretz, threatened by violent Russian gangsters, McCall comes out of retirement to use his skills to restore justice. The film reimagines the 1980s TV series of the same name.
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*Availability in US Director Antoine Fuqua Release Date September 24, 2014 Studio(s) Lonetree Entertainment , Columbia Pictures , Village Roadshow Pictures , Escape Artists , LStar Capital , Mace Neufeld Productions Writers Richard Wenk , Richard Lindheim , Michael Sloan Cast Denzel Washington , Marton Csokas , Chloe Grace Moretz , David Harbour , Haley Bennett Runtime 132 Minutes Budget 55000000.0 Main Genre Thriller Expand
Although Denzel Washington has generally avoided franchises and sequels throughout his career, he broke this tradition with his role as Robert McCall in The Equalizer. As the first in a trilogy of movies following the ex-Marine and DIA officer reluctantly returning to action, The Equalizer was one of the most iconic roles in the latter part of Washington’s career. Despite promising his late wife that he would retire as a DIA operative, the trafficking of a teenage girl by Russian mobsters spurred McCall to action once again in The Equalizer.
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As a stylishly violent film that proved Washington’s skill as an older action star, à la Liam Neeson in Taken, The Equalizer was a fascinating series for this acclaimed actor to choose to finally embrace franchise films. This origin story showcased a leading man with an unshakable moral compass, and it’s no surprise Washington was keen to continue telling the story of McCall. While Washington asserted he’s finished with the character following the release of The Equalizer 3 in 2023, director Antoine Fuqua has expressed interest (via EW) in making another installment with Washington.
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5 American Gangster (2007)
Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas
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10/10 American Gangster RBiographyCrimeDocumentaryDrama
American Gangster is a 2007 crime film directed by Ridley Scott, featuring Denzel Washington as Frank Lucas, a heroin kingpin in Harlem, and Russell Crowe as Richie Roberts, the detective determined to bring him down. The film explores the rise of Lucas in the drug trade and the eventual intersection of their lives amidst the backdrop of a corrupt and morally complex society.
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*Availability in US Director Ridley Scott Release Date November 2, 2007 Writers Steven Zaillian , Mark Jacobson Cast Carla Gugino , Idris Elba , John Hawkes , Cuba Gooding Jr , Russell Crowe , Denzel Washington , Ted Levine , Josh Brolin , Chiwetel Ejiofor , Joe Morton Runtime 157 minutes Budget $100 million Expand
As one of Denzel Washington’s definitive roles, the real-life drug lord Frank Lucas in American Gangster was a fascinating role that perfectly balanced the actor’s unique skills for strong characterization and cunning intimidation. Washington truly excelled in this epic game of cat and mouse, directed by Ridley Scott, who also starred Russell Crowe as the Newark Detective Richard Roberts, who was determined to bring him down. Washington’s performance echoed the menacing presence of his other roles, like Alonzo Harris, as he brought a steely resoluteness to the character.
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American Gangster was one of the best crime films of the 2000s that felt simultaneously like an epic callback to classics of earlier eras and a modern exploration of social and political criminal behavior. Lucas’ real crime of smuggling heroin in planes containing the bodies of deceased Vietnam soldiers was the perfect metaphor for the sinister criminal behavior this movie’s themes opposed. As one of Washington’s most memorable roles, American Gangster was thrilling from start to finish.
4 Man On Fire (2004)
Denzel Washington as John W. Creasy
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Man on Fire RCrimeActionThrillerDrama
Man on Fire is a drama thriller directed by Tony Scott, featuring Denzel Washington as John Creasy, a burned-out ex-CIA operative turned bodyguard. He is hired to protect a young girl, Pita Ramos, played by Dakota Fanning, in Mexico City. As Creasy develops a bond with Pita, he is driven to exact vengeance when she is abducted, showcasing a relentless pursuit for justice against those responsible.
Director Tony Scott Release Date April 23, 2004 Writers Brian Helgeland Cast Dakota Fanning , Marc Anthony , Denzel Washington , Radha Mitchell , Mickey Rourke , Christopher Walken Runtime 146 minutes Budget $70 million Main Genre Action Expand
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Man on Fire was the second of Denzel Washington’s five feature films with director Tony Scott. With Washington as John W. Creasy, a retired CIA operative on a mission for vengeance after the cartel attacked the family he vowed to protect, this was an action-packed story full of violence that also boasted a touchingly poignant story. Man on Fire featured Washington opposite his nine-year-old co-star Dakota Fanning, whose accomplished performance added to the emotional nature of this film.
As a story of vigilante justice set amid a kidnapping in Mexico City, Man on Fire was one of Washington’s most intense movie performances. While in another actor’s hands, the zealous ruthlessness with which Washington seeks justice could have come across as melodramatic, Washington truly tapped into the emotional heft of this story and made it a truly unforgettable thriller. Man on Fire was an accomplished adaptation of a 1980 novel by A. J. Quinnell that truly worked.
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3 Crimson Tide (1995)
Denzel Washington as Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter
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Crimson Tide (1995) RThrillerActionDrama
Crimson Tide is a submarine thriller directed by Tony Scott, set during a period of political turmoil in Russia. The film follows Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter, played by Denzel Washington, who clashes with Captain Frank Ramsey, played by Gene Hackman, over the interpretation of orders from the US government. As tensions rise, the crew of the USS Alabama must navigate the crisis and prevent a catastrophic outcome.
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*Availability in US Director Tony Scott Release Date May 12, 1995 Studio(s) Hollywood Pictures , Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films Writers Michael Schiffer Cast Denzel Washington , Gene Hackman , Matt Craven , George Dzundza , Viggo Mortensen Runtime 116 Minutes Budget 53000000.0 Main Genre Thriller Expand
Crimson Tide was Denzel Washington’s very first collaboration with Tony Scott and saw him star opposite screen legend Gene Hackman. This epic story told of a conflict between two US marines in a nuclear submarine during a nuclear standoff with Russia and was a nailbiting, edge-of-your-seat type movie made even more extraordinary by strong performances and a sharp script by Michael Schifferm with uncredited contributions from Quentin Tarantino. Washington played the second-in-command to Hackman as tension continued to build as their disagreement could have dire effects on a potential attack on the United States and Japan.
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The story of mutiny and standoffs in Crimson Tide blended Scott’s unique brand of action and suspense with Washington’s unmatching performance skills. Echoing the Cold War nuclear tensions of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Crimson Tide was a thrilling affair that signaled the pinnacle of Scott’s incredible filmography. As a war movie that’s both entertaining and thought-provoking, Crimson Tide featured everyone involved at the top of their game.
2 Inside Man (2006)
Denzel Washington as Detective Keith Frazier
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Inside Man RThrillerDramaCrimeMystery
In a meticulously planned bank heist, masked robbers seize control of a Manhattan bank, strategically maneuvering hostages and covertly blending in among them. As negotiations ensue between the police and the robbers, hidden agendas emerge, including the protection of a mysterious safe deposit box’s contents. Detectives Keith Frazier and Bill Mitchell navigate the complexities of the standoff, uncovering layers of deception that challenge their understanding of the unfolding crisis and its true motivations.
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*Availability in US Director Spike Lee Release Date March 24, 2006 Writers Russell Gewirtz Cast Denzel Washington , Clive Owen , Jodie Foster , Christopher Plummer , Willem Dafoe , Chiwetel Ejiofor Runtime 129 minutes Budget $45 million Main Genre Crime Expand
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The heist thriller Inside Man is the highest-grossing film in director Spike Lee’s entire filmography and featured Denzel Washington in one of his best roles. As the recently disgraced Detective Keith Frazier, Washington’s character was determined to achieve justice as he was tasked with negotiating with the ringleader of a major Manhattan bank heist. With a mastermind criminal (Clive Owen) convinced he’s pulled the perfect robbery, Inside Man was a smart genre film that thrillingly builds toward its epic conclusion.
With an all-star cast that also included Christopher Plummer, Jodie Foster, Willem Dafoe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, Inside Man proved Lee’s talents within mainstream blockbuster crime movies, as many of his earlier works were lower-budgeted independent releases. With the star power of Washington at the helm, the many twists and turns throughout were all the more exciting due to the sheer power of the performances.
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1 Training Day (2001)
Denzel Washington as Det. Alonzo Harris
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Training Day RCrimeThrillerDrama
Denzel Washington and Alonzo Harris star in Training Day, an action thriller that follows the two stars as Los Angeles narcotics officers. Jake Hoyt is prepping on his first major training day for a promotion as he spends spend a tense twenty-four hours across several L.A. crime-ridden neighborhoods as Jake sees the danger and horrors of the job.
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*Availability in US Director Antoine Fuqua Release Date October 5, 2001 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers David Ayer Cast Eva Mendes , Ethan Hawke , Denzel Washington , Scott Glenn , Cliff Curtis Runtime 122 minutes Budget $45 million Expand
Denzel Washington’s Academy Award-winning role as the corrupt LAPD Detective Alonzo Harris showcased the actor at his most menacing and compelling. Training Day told the story of the ambitious rookie LAPD police officer Jake Hoyt’s (Ethan Hawke) first day on the job as he’s quickly embroiled in a world of corruption, deceit, intimidation, and underhanded tactics. As a brutal and thrilling drama, Training Day got to the heart of police corruption and the potential of those who wield their power for wrongdoing.
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Training Day was a dark and gritty look into the complex world of narcotics cops, where those who aren’t careful can find themselves on the wrong side of the law, taking part in the very things they were tasked to stop. With strong direction by Antoine Fuqua, Training Day gave the world perhaps Washington’s greatest character in Alonzo Harris. As a smashing creative success, Fuqua and Denzel Washington would continue to collaborate with one another on the Equalizer series.
Sources: NY Times, EW