Denzel Washington has had a career spanning over four decades that many actors could only dream of having. Known as one of the most versatile and energetic actors of his era, he can command the screen in a way very few can. Washington has many oscar worthy performances in his catalog. Though he is best known for his starring roles in bigger-budget films, Washington has had many films that defined his career and acting ability that have flown under the radar of some of his fans.
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As one of the best actors of all time, Washington plays a key part in every film he appears in, from specialist dramas to high-octane thrillers. Roles like embodying an exasperated father in John Q or portraying a hostage negotiator in Inside Manmay not get the critical acclaim of some of his other roles but are just as entertaining and essential as a step in his storied career. While it’s fun to yell along to his infamous diatribes as Alonzo Harris in Training Day, there are many incredible understated performances that land with just as much impact in some of Washington’s vastly underrated works.
10 2 Guns (2013)
As Robert ‘Bobby’ Trench
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10/10 2 Guns pg-13ThrillerActionComedy
2 Guns follows a DEA agent and an undercover Naval Intelligence officer who unknowingly investigate each other while trying to infiltrate a mob organization. They discover they’ve been set up and must confront the criminals they thought they were stealing from.
Director Baltasar Kormakur Release Date August 2, 2013 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Blake Masters , Steven Grant Cast Denzel Washington , Mark Wahlberg , Paula Patton , Edward James Olmos , Bill Paxton , James Marsden , Fred Ward , Robert John Burke , Greg Sproles , Patrick Fischler , Derek Solorsano , Edgar Arreola , Kyle Clements , Christopher Matthew Cook , Tim Bell , Tait Fletcher , Azure Parsons , John McConnell , Jack Landry , Ritchie Montgomery , Ambyr Childers , Robert Larriviere , Lucy Faust , George Wilson , Yohance Myles , Evie Thompson , Jesus Jr. , Doris Morgado , Samuel Baca-Garcia , Michael Beasley , Christopher Dempsey , Bill Stinchcomb , Mark Adam , David Kency , Gilbert Rosales , Peter Gabb , Jason Kirkpatrick , Tony Sanford Character(s) Robert Bobby Trench , Michael Stig Stigman , Deb Rees , Papi Greco , Earl , Quince , Admiral Tuwey , Jessup , Chief Lucas , Dr. Ken , Ferret Nose Julio , Rudy , Teemo , Thick , Lean , Mini , Waitress Maggie , Officer Dave , Officer Phil , Chief of Police , Ms. Young , Bank Manager , Scared Woman , Bank Guard , Lead Agent , Patsy , Roughneck , Daisie , Javier , Hard Case Border Patrol , Border Guard , Uniformed Border Agent , Navy Firefighter , Lead MP , Skinny Immigrant , Doorman , Tommy Boy , Slim Jay Runtime 109minutes Main Genre Thriller Expand
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In 2 Guns, a film based on a comic book series of the same name, Washington teams up with Mark Wahlberg in a hilarious buddy cop comedy directed by Baltasar Kormákur. They play two undercover police officers from different agencies who are forced to put their differences aside and work together in order to take down a drug lord. The film is a fast-paced, action-heavy thriller that is also packed with a lot of genuine laugh-out-loud moments.
Related All 12 Denzel Washington Movies From The 2000s, Ranked
Denzel Washington had one of the most incredible decades in film in the 2000s, with iconic performances in Training Day and American Gangster.
2 Guns showcases a lighter and more comical side to Washington’s career. Without doubt, the highlight of the film is the chemistry shared between Washington and Wahlberg, with the action and dialogue both flowing freely between him and Wahlberg. Though both men are more famously known for their dramatic action films, they nail the concept of this film and display expert comedic timing and self-aware personas that make it an engaging and enjoyable watch from beginning to end.
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9 Out Of Time (2003)
As Mathias ‘Matt’ Lee Whitlock
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Out of Time is a mystery thriller directed by Carl Frankin and follows the story of Matt Whitlock, a respected chief of police in the local area who gets embroiled in a deadly conspiracy. After his lover, who is married to another man, gets diagnosed with cancer, he steals almost half a million dollars from an evidence locker to help her get treatment. After the lover and her husband are murdered in a mysterious house fire, Whitlock discovers some horrific secrets and is forced to go on the run to collect evidence, question his enemies and prove his innocence.
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While not one of his more well-known movies, Washington delivers a captivating performance as a man in authority who is forced into some difficult moral dilemmas and complex situations. It mirrors his later work as Alonzo Harris in Training Day, as a police officer whose morally ambiguous and complex performance would go down in film history. While not quite at the same level, it is another excellent film that gave Washington a chance to shine in a suspenseful yet grounded role.
8 John Q (2002)
As John Archibald
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10/10 John Q. PG-13DramaThrillerCrime
John Q. is a dramatic film directed by Nick Cassavetes, starring Denzel Washington as John Quincy Archibald, a factory worker whose son collapses during a baseball game due to a heart condition. Faced with the refusal of his insurance company to cover a life-saving transplant, John takes drastic measures to ensure his son’s survival. Featuring Kimberly Elise and Robert Duvall, the film explores themes of healthcare and desperation.
Director Nick Cassavetes Release Date February 15, 2002 Studio(s) Evolution Entertainment , New Line Cinema , Burg/Koules Productions Writers James Kearns Cast Denzel Washington , James Woods , Kimberly Elise , Robert Duvall , Shawn Hatosy Runtime 116 Minutes Main Genre Drama Expand
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James Kearns’ intense drama stars Washington as John Archibald, a father who is forced to go to extremes in order to help his son Michael get on the organ donor list. Michael collapses at a game of basketball, and after extensive tests, his family is told they need to front $250,000 for the operation or else Michael will pass away. After John tries every avenue to raise the funds with little success, he is forced to ‘hold up’ the hospital, taking patients and staff hostage with a gun in a desperate bid to get his son the medical attention he needs.
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In a motif that can surely be attributed to Washington as a trademark, he seems to gravitate to complex, charismatic characters who are caught in increasingly high-stakes moral dilemmas. Though the film’s message about the American healthcare system may be a little on the nose, Washington still brings a grounded performance to an otherwise more fantastical plot. He gives an impassioned monologue about his son and the failures of his care, which really resonates, and its story seems more relevant now than ever.
7 He Got Game (1998)
As Jake Shuttlesworth
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He Got Game RDrama
He Got Game is a sports drama directed by Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth, a convict granted a temporary parole. He must persuade his talented son, Jesus, portrayed by Ray Allen, to enroll in the governor’s alma mater in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.
Release Date May 1, 1998 Writers Spike Lee Cast Denzel Washington , Ray Allen , Rosario Dawson , Milla Jovovich , Hill Harper , Ned Beatty , Jim Brown , Joseph Lyle Taylor , Bill Nunn , Michele Shay , John Turturro , Shaquille O’Neal , Charles Barkley , Michael Jordan , Jill Kelly , Chasey Lain , Robin Roberts , Scottie Pippen , Reggie Miller , Bill Walton , Dick Vitale , Bobby Cremins , Rick Pitino , Jim Boeheim , George Karl Character(s) Jake Shuttlesworth , Jesus Shuttlesworth , Lala Bonilla , Dakota Burns , Coleman “Booger” Sykes , Warden Wyatt , Spivey , Crudup , Uncle Bubba , Aunt Sally , Billy Sunday , Shaquille O’Neal , Charles Barkley , Michael Jordan , Suzie , Buffy , Robin Roberts , Scottie Pippen , Reggie Miller , Bill Walton , Dick Vitale , Bobby Cremins , Rick Pitino , Jim Boeheim , George Karl Runtime 136 minutes Expand
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In one of Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s best movies, Le approaches the peak of his directorial prowess. He Got Game sees Washington star as Jake Shuttlesworth. Shuttlesworth is in prison for accidentally killing his wife and the mother of his son, high-school basketball phenom Jesus Shuttlesworth. Jake is given a chance to leave jail via a work release and potentially get his sentence commuted if he convinces his son to join the Governor’s college ‘Big State.’ A complex and multi-layered moral dilemma that sees a father trying to reconnect with his estranged son through their love of basketball.
|
Denzel Washington & Spike Lee Collaborations |
Year Of Release |
|
‘Mo Better Blues |
1990 |
|
Malcolm X |
1992 |
|
He Got Game |
1998 |
|
Inside Man |
2006 |
|
High and Low (Upcoming) |
TBD |
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Washington is forced to show a strong emotional range in a character who is put in a unique predicament. Washington’s relationship and chemistry with Ray Allen’s Jesus is authentic and genuine, providing the groundwork for the rest of the film. It is an introspective and nuanced portrayal of a father who is forced to reconnect with his son while dealing with his own demons, and the pair have several explosive scenes of anger and resentment. While not reaching the critical acclaim of some of his other works, it is nevertheless a fantastic performance in a brilliant family drama.
6 The Magnificent Seven (2016)
As Sam Chisholm
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The Magnificent Seven PG-13WesternAction
The Magnificent Seven is a new remake of the 1960 western action film that follows a group of seven warriors from different walks of life who join forces to liberate a town from an oppressive gold miner. When Bartholomew Bogue takes control of the town of Rose Creek, the beleaguered residence find themselves at his mercy. One woman seeking revenge and freedom finds U.S. Marshal Sim Chisholm, and convinces him to join their cause, as he recruits several gunmen, outlaws, and assassins willing to risk it all for a good deed.
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*Availability in US Director Antoine Fuqua Release Date September 23, 2016 Studio(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , Columbia Pictures , Village Roadshow Pictures Distributor(s) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Writers John Lee Hancock , Nic Pizzolatto Cast Haley Bennett , Chris Pratt2 , Ethan Hawke , Sean Bridgers , Vinnie Jones , Matt Bomer , Byung-hun Lee , Denzel Washington , Peter Sarsgaard , Vincent D’Onofrio , Cam Gigandet Runtime 132 minutes Expand
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In an action-packed remake of the classic 1960 Western, The Magnificent Seven tells the story of a small gold-mining town that has been taken over and controlled by wealthy industrialist Bartholomew Bogue. With local lives and businesses in the balance, a local woman hires the services of U.S. marshal and bounty hunter Sam Chisholm (Washington) to come in and save the day. Chisolm recruits a group of eclectic bandits and gunslingers save the town by any means necessary.
Even in an ensemble cast that features stars such as Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, and Vincent D’Onofrio, Washington still remains the stand out in a mature and enduring performance.
Washington, as an actor and a character, literally and metaphorically leads the charge in this classic Western with a modern twist. Even in an ensemble cast that features stars such as Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, and Vincent D’Onofrio, Washington still remains the stand out in a mature and enduring performance as the bounty hunter on a mission. He adds a layer of intensity to the film that would be missing without him and he is also credible and believable in all the gunslinging action sequences.
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5 Mo’ Better Blues (1990)
As Minifield “Bleek” Gilliam
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Mo’ Better Blues RDramaRomanceMusicComedy
Mo’ Better Blues: A Spike Lee film featuring Denzel Washington as Bleek Gilliam, a talented but self-centered trumpeter. The 1990 release follows Bleek as he navigates his intense commitment to music and relationships with two women. His world is challenged when he aids his manager, adding unexpected turmoil.
Director Spike Lee Release Date August 3, 1990 Cast Denzel Washington , Spike Lee , Wesley Snipes , Giancarlo Esposito , John Turturro , Charlie Murphy , Nicholas Turturro , Robin Harris , Joie Lee , Cynda Williams , Flavor Flav , Bill Nunn , Dick Anthony Williams , Samuel L. Jackson , Tracy Camilla Johns , Coati Mundi , Scot Anthony Robinson , Abbey Lincoln , Rubén Blades , Diahann Carroll , Leonard L. Thomas Character(s) Bleek Gilliam , Giant , Shadow Henderson (Sax) , Left Hand Lacey (Piano) , Moe Flatbush , Eggy , Josh Flatbush , Butterbean Jones , Indigo , Clarke Bentancourt , Impatient Movie Patron , Bottom Hammer , Big Stop Williams , Madlock , Club Patron , Roberto , Cooley , Lillian Gilliam , Petey , Jazz Club Singer (uncredited) , Rod Runtime 129 minutes Expand
Mo’ Better Blues was Washington’s first impressive collaboration with Spike Lee, who wrote, directed and stars in this musical comedy-drama. The film follows the story of Washington’s Bleek Gilliam, a talented yet haunted jazz trumpeter, as he continues to make a series of bad decisions that cost him his friends and his jazz career. Washington and Lee give two commanding performances in a beautiful tale about friendship, music, and the journey of self-discovery.
Spike Lee wrote the first draft of the film script for
Mo’ Better Blues
in just fifteen days.
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In one of the most captivating and nuanced portrayals in his entire career, Washington embodies the fictional jazz player who feels like he is circling the drain in many ways. His frequent collaborations with Spike Lee allow the two to get the best out of each other, with Lee’s masterful direction pushing Washington to his full potential. In turn, Washington gives Lee a star who can elevate any role or character he is given. The chemistry between the cast, the beautiful jazz soundtrack, and Washington’s elegant yet brutal portrayal all combine to make this an underrated gem.
4 The Pelican Brief (1993)
As Gray Grantham
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The Pelican Brief (1993) PG-13CrimeDocumentaryDramaMysteryThriller Where to Watch
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*Availability in US 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
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Based on John Grisham’s 1992 novel, The Pelican Brief, the film sees Washington join forces with Hollywood superstar Julia Roberts in this gritty legal thriller. Washington portrays Gray Grantham, an investigative journalist who gets drawn into a political plot and a conspiracy that goes to the highest levels of government. It’s a fast-paced, twisting narrative that is a complex plot of corrupt officials and brutal crimes.
Related All 16 Denzel Washington Movies Where His Character Dies
Denzel Washington has many roles where his characters often die. Washington has a total of 16 movies where his character ultimately dies.
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Though rarely mentioned in discussions about Denzel’s best films or even his films in general, it is a big oversight as he gives one of the strongest performances of his career. Washington’s chemistry with co-star Roberts is off the charts, forming a compelling team that, when meshed with the intricate and fast-paced plot, creates a film that is worth revisiting again and again. Washington’s calm and methodical approach to a journalist tasked with the biggest story of his life is truly captivating to watch.
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3 The Book Of Eli (2010)
As Eli
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The Book of Eli pg-13ActionAdventure
Written by Gary Whitta and directed by The Hughes Brothers, The Book of Eli is a neo-Western featuring Denzel Washington in the lead role. The 2010 release sees Washington take on the mantle of Eli, a man who travels a post-apocalyptic version of the United States and ends up attempting to stop a dangerous group of people from controlling the masses via a strange book.
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*Availability in US Director Allen Hughes Release Date January 11, 2010 Studio(s) Sony Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , Sony , Columbia Pictures Writers Allen Hughes Cast Denzel Washington , Gary Oldman , Mila Kunis Runtime 118minutes Expand
In one of Washington’s most unique roles, the actor takes on the titular character of Eli n the post-apocalyptic The Book of Eli, a wandering nomad in a post-apocalyptic world who holds a copy of a mysterious book. He is on a mission to deliver the book to a safe location on the other side of the United States, but on the way, he runs into enemies, thieves, and assailants looking to steal his precious cargo. The film is set on the backdrop of desolate landscapes and combines bone-crunching action with a witty and intriguing narrative.
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Washington once again commands the screen in a performance that is defined by its strength as well as moments of vulnerability. Though The Book of Eli received generally mixed reviews from the audience, that doesn’t mean Washington put in a bad performance. His commitment to the character and to the film in general is never in doubt, and it lays the groundwork for some of his future action roles. The constant tension and devastating action sequences, alongside Washington’s stellar role, are enough to make this one of his most under-the-radar films.
2 The Great Debaters (2007)
As Melvin B. Tolson
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The Great Debaters PG-13Drama
The Great Debaters is a biographical drama film based on the true story of the Wiley College debate team. Set in the 1930s, the film follows the team’s journey to the national championships, led by coach Melvin B. Tolson, played by Denzel Washington, who also directed the film.
Director Denzel Washington Release Date December 25, 2007 Studio(s) Marshall Production , The Weinstein Company , Harpo Films Writers Robert Eisele Cast Denzel Whitaker , Denzel Washington , Nate Parker , Jurnee Smollett , Forest Whitaker Runtime 126 Minutes Main Genre Drama Expand
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The Great Debaters is an exceptional historical drama that follows the issues and victories of the Wiley College debate team from the 1930s. The film goes in-depth about teacher and debate coach Melvin B. Tolson (played by Washington), who works at a historically Black college and trains an all-Black debate team in order to participate in debates all across the country. With Tolson’s tutelage and the team’s incredible intelligence and skills, they go on to shatter the racist worldview of teams in the Deep South by winning and traveling to Harvard to debate at the prestigious college.
The Wiley Debate team, despite defeating the reigning champions in a contest, were not allowed to officially call themselves the champions because they were not technically full members of the debate society. Black people were not recognized formally by the national organization until after World War II.
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Not content with just the leading role, Washington also directed The Great Debaters, and it’s clear he is starting to get more confident behind the camera. Washington is known for taking on projects about race, injustice, and social inequality, and he blends them all together beautifully in this powerful piece that sheds light on some of these key issues. As Tolson, he gives one of the most captivating and provocative portrayals of his career. The impactful message that the film captures is something that needs to be discussed and watched more in this underrated jewel of his filmography.
1 Inside Man (2006)
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 Main Genre Crime Expand
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In another Spike Lee collaboration, Inside Man sees Washington portray Detective Keith Frazier in this witty heist thriller that is criminally underappreciated. Frazier squares off against the mastermind of the bank heist, Clive Owen’s Dalton Russell. Russell quickly turns a straightforward hostage situation into a complex game of cat-and-mouse. The film’s characters and storyline continually evolve throughout the runtime as twists and secrets come to light, which makes figuring out the reasons, demands and perpetrators of the robbery an almost impossible task.
Related All 9 Oscar-Nominated Denzel Washington Roles, Ranked Worst To Best
Denzel Washington has been highly decorated throughout his career, with nine of his greatest performances nominated for Academy Awards
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In potentially Washington’s most intricate portrayal of any character, he provides the driving forces behind the film’s entire plot. His chemistry and lengthy dialogue sequences with Owen are a masterstroke as the two play off each other perfectly. As Washington’s character unravels the mystery, the viewer sees him unravel at the same time as he is continually pressed further into moral decisions and situations that are out of his depth. Though Denzel Washington plays the balance perfectly, he elevates the film to new heights, and it’s definitely his most criminally underrated film.
Denzel Washington Birthdate December 28, 1954 Birthplace Mount Vernon, New York, USA