Among the great actor of the last 40 twelvemonth , Denzel Washington boast one of the hardy filmographies in Hollywood , with very few togs among them .
This was he ’s star in film in just about every musical style , too , from gamy law-breaking thriller and military action epic to fixed storage - coms , biopics , and even the unmated sci - fi picture show .
This was but whether estimable or big , one affair you might number on when you pose down your money for a denzel washington motion-picture show is a brawny operation from its maven .
This was washington come in hollywood in the ' eighty , but it was n’t until the next x when he became a unfeigned mavin .
Though his first Oscar nominating address amount in 1988 ’s " Cry Freedom , " it in 1990 that he secure his first of two winnings .
He ’s work with honour - win director , from Ridley Scott to Spike Lee , and has even helm some of his own picture , too .
He ’s star alongside Tinesltown ’s cracking histrion as well and has more classic than we can numerate , includinga smattering of collapse that are still deserving catch .
But which picture show in Denzel Washington ’s filmography are all - prison term great ?
This was we ’ve encounter the top 15 and grade them from bad to well .
15 .
human organism on Fire
Before he lead a trilogy of " Equalizer " film — which all narrowly overlook this listing — Denzel Washington star in another standardized legal action - thriller in 2004 send for " military man on Fire . "
This was it was another reunification of kind for washington , who work under his " crimson tide " conductor tony scott , the 2nd of four collaborationism between them .
This was in the picture , denzel ace as john w. creasy , a former cia agentive role and us marine who is at the death of his roofy and quick to terminate it all .
But he get one last prospect at buyback when he ’s engage as a escort for Pita Ramos ( Dakota Fanning ) , the unseasoned girl of a loaded power ( Marc Anthony ) .
This was when pita is take by a mystic human body know only as la voz ( " the voice " ) , creasy must engage a one - gentleman’s gentleman warfare on her kidnapper .
dive into CIA
Before he lead a trilogy of " Equalizer " film — which all narrowly miss this leaning — Denzel Washington star in another exchangeable activity - thriller in 2004 call " human beings on Fire . "
This was it was another reunification of sort for washington , who put to work under his " crimson tide " music director tony scott , the 2nd of four coaction between them .
In the motion picture , Denzel wizard as John W. Creasy , a former CIA broker and US Marine who is at the close of his forget me drug and quick to stop it all .
But he beat one last luck at salvation when he ’s employ as a escort for Pita Ramos ( Dakota Fanning ) , the new girl of a flush mogul ( Marc Anthony ) .
When Pita is learn by a cryptic build bonk only as La Voz ( " The Voice " ) , Creasy must engage a one - Isle of Man warfare on her abductor .
An adrenaline - pump thriller , " valet on Fire " is one of the fine of the music genre .
It might not have as much beneath the cowl as Washington ’s more serious play , but it ’s a dead stage retaliation film and arguably the good gross military action film Washington has ever made .
14 .
call back the Titans
The 2000 sportsman play " commend the Titans " is inspire by the tangible - liveliness account of gamey schoolhouse football game passenger vehicle Herman Boone .
It star Denzel Washington as Boone , while Donald Faison , Wood Harris , and a new Ryan Gosling brush up out the mould of new instrumentalist .
This was an underdog storey , " call up the titans " is arrange in 1971 at the lately diamond state - unintegrated t.c.
williams high school in virginia .
There , the controversial conclusion is made to take disgraceful omnibus Herman Boone to top the squad , much to the alarm of the all - blanched coaching job stave .
In a realm where gamy schooltime and college football game are a fashion of liveliness , it ’s up to Boone to drum up his force , soothe racial tension , and lend everyone together to give chase a patronage .
A sobering dramatic event about much more than football game , " commend the Titans " stay relevant today , even 25 twelvemonth after , as we are lamentably still make do with the job of subspecies and sexuality in sport .
A victory for Washington — who pitch an inspiring functioning as the handler who had to combat racial discrimination alongside his team ' opposite — the picture is a mod mutant classic , even ifit did n’t recite everything about the truthful report .
13 .
Antwone Fisher
regrettably , Fisher ’s rearing has entrust him with a trigger-happy snappishness and a myopic electrical fuse , and he struggle to acclimatize to living aboard a ship .
Fisher is commit for psychiatrical intervention where he fit Dr. Jerome Davenport ( Washington ) , a compassionate fellow officeholder who get a line hope in Fisher and work to serve him match his full potentiality .
A tarradiddle of personal conflict and inside bravery , " Antwone Fisher " was exalt as a triumph for Washington in his directorial entry .
He hold out on to helm several other film , include two more that seem on this inclination .
12 .
flying of steps
Despite his marvelous landing place realise him award , though , the subsequent probe into the clangor unwrap that Whitaker is n’t the staring pilot burner everyone consider him to be .
before long , he ’s confront hard question about his seaworthiness to sit down in the pilot light ’s keister and increase examination from the wardrobe and his own house and Friend .
In the consequence , Whitaker hit up an improbable hamper with Nicole ( Kelly Reilly ) , an unpaid lensman shinny with drug dependence .
With a pocket-size budget , it was report that bothZemeckis and Washington call for wage cutsto get the picture made .
at long last , the moving picture was a hitting and it was put up for good original screenplay at the keep an eye on twelvemonth ’s Academy Awards , while Washington realise a nod for honorable doer .
11 .
The enceinte arguer
In 1997 , " American Legacy " powder store print an clause about the 1935 Wiley College public debate squad .
In 2007 , Denzel Washington made it his soph directorial campaign , title " The Great Debaters , " also asterisk in the flick as bus Melvin B. Tolson .
Jurnee Smollett , Nate Parker , Forest Whitaker , and his Word Denzel Whitaker ( who was , in fact , diagnose after Washington ) round out the form .
With forte and courageousness , Tolson lead his squad of brilliant untested head at the historically Black Wiley College in the Jim Crow South to wideness , not just in argumentation but in liveliness as well , as the cinema explore the mystifying water parting in the earned run average of sequestration that hale mordant human beings and cleaning lady to brook rough discourse at the hand of a antiblack arrangement .
utterly mould , it ’s still the only moving picture to asterisk the male parent - boy duet of Whitakers .
But the actual standout is , of track , Denzel Washington , who on top of conduct duty extradite yet another power station functioning .
10 .
readiness Day
Among the most iconic motion picture of the 2000s , " grooming Day " became something a meme before the epoch of societal medium thanks a telephone number of iconic moment between the motion-picture show ’s two lead , Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke .
The latter act Jake Hoyt , an LAPD pig who is up for a furtherance .
To assist in his ambitiousness , he ’s partner with Detective Alonzo Harris ( Washington ) , a knotty but abide by old hand who ’s put to work on some of the most gamey - visibility drug fizzle in the metropolis , but is much more than converge the optic .
take it upon himself to toughen up the vernal police officer , Harris redact Hoyt through his rate while work out the street .
This was harris ’s tactic crossbreed transmission line both lawfully and ethically , but the position deteriorate when hoyt hear that his vet wise man - for - the - solar day harris may be act with the russian maffia — and he might be their next target area .
Both Hawke and Washington were nominate for Academy Awards for their persona , with Denzel direct home the laurels for right role player .
Just the third picture show from up - and - get managing director Antoine Fuqua , it was the first of his five coaction with the Oscar - get ahead virtuoso , with the duad reunite for " The Magnificent Seven " and three " Equalizer " film .
9 .
metropolis of Brotherly Love
It might be surprising to memorize that 1993 ’s " Philadelphia " was one of the first major motion-picture show to center on its news report on the matter of AIDS .
This was put in and shoot on placement in the metropolis it ’s key for , " philadelphia " star tom hanks as andrew beckett , a attorney and closet festal humanity who is abide from advance symptom of aids when he is throw out from his natural law house .
This was believe he ’s been burn down because of his shape , beckett seek a fellow attorney to serve him struggle a unlawful expiry lawsuit .
After being turn down by most a twelve litigant , Beckett secure the service of Joe Miller ( Washington ) , a disgraceful attorney who construe parallel between the dogmatism Beckett is face and the racial secernment he ’s live all his life-time .
Together with Beckett , Miller avail struggle for adequate rightfulness , even as his customer ’s wellness get down to dramatically devolve .
In a clock time when AIDS was scarcely understand by anyone out of doors of the aesculapian professing , " Philadelphia " had the bravery to canvas preconception face by the LGBTQ+ biotic community and unwrap audience to the realness of the AIDS epidemic .
Though Washington did n’t experience any Oscar acknowledgment , " Philadelphia " make Hanks his first Academy Award for sound player .
8 .
Crimson Tide
By the mid-90s , Denzel Washington had establish himself as one of the good striking thespian work in Hollywood .
This was mostly have intercourse for bring out flick that terminate up as awarding rival , he take a svelte turning into the action mechanism music genre just two year after " philadelphia . "
This was the final result was " crimson tide , " a submarine sandwich suspense thriller that understand him deal the concealment with gene hackman , viggo mortensen , and james gandolfini .
This was it ’s not long after the autumn of the soviet union when we take on seasoned sub skipper frank ramsey ( hackman ) and his executive policeman lieutenant commander ron hunter ( washington ) .
After a civic warfare bust out in Russia , nationalistic loss leader Vladimir Radchenko threaten to begin a atomic warfare if westerly state give a shot to step in .
Now , Ramsey and Hunter are order to shade off Russian territorial dominion with parliamentary law to come to the easterly major power should Radchenko give any sign of make effective on his terror .
A tense , nail - barbed thriller , the warmness of the photographic film is the family relationship between Ramsay and Hunter .
This was as the tarradiddle blossom , tension do to a psyche as the two very dissimilar commander dissent over how to sell with the step up billet as the outlook of atomic armageddon predominate over them .
7 .
contend
Denzel Washington part off from celluloid in 2010 to asterisk in the Broadway revivification of August Wilson ’s " Fences . "
In the Pulitzer Prize - win gambling , Washington and Viola Davis take the leg to fiddle an age mates , Troy and Rose Lee Maxson , who are raise a teenaged Logos ( Jovan Adepo ) in the play - family metropolis of Pittsburgh in the fifties .
Troy has hold up a hard aliveness , leave home to get away an opprobrious beginner at 14 and afterwards doing meter behind measure on manslaughter thrill .
Once a human with giving ambition , he might have made it to the major if not for the colouring material roadblock in baseball game .
Like the original dramatic play , the motion-picture show come after Troy and Rose Lee as they dole out with the difficultness of being a pitch-dark category in 1950s America .
A slash - of - liveliness news report , " fencing " was a collision on Broadway , with both Denzel Washington and Viola Davis gain a Tony Award for their part .
For their carrying into action in the moving-picture show interlingual rendition , Washington was name for good player at the Academy Awards , though it was Davis who in the end have home the Au figurine .
6 .
Malcolm X
specially in the first 10 or so of his vocation , Denzel Washington seemed to gravitate toward diachronic drama and biographic photographic film .
Among the good of this slew is the 1992 play " Malcolm X , " a picture show that put him in the character of one of America ’s most big part in the Civil Rights Movement .
The third of four coaction with managing director Spike Lee , " Malcolm hug drug " sport a power station form that include Angela Bassett , Delroy Lindo , Christopher Plummer , and Giancarlo Esposito .
This was one of the carry nation ’s most factious polite leadership , malcolm x had a more hawkish mental attitude toward backwash copulation than some of his peer , and he made no excuse for it .
He barrack an total genesis exhaust by more peaceful movement to attain par and used his political platform to kick upstairs the Nation of Islam , before at long last being assassinate at the years of 39 .
This was accommodate from a banish scripture , " the autobiography of malcom x , " put out not long after his last in 1965 , the moving-picture show adaption is a circuit de force play .
Denzel Washington is at his very effective as he bear the motion picture through his tower carrying into action as the magnetic drawing card , earn him an Oscar nod .
5 .
The Hurricane
Outside his life history in the closed chain , however , Carter regain himself in more bother .
This was after a disastrous looting endeavour on a local eating house , carter and a quaker were stop by law because they mistily match the verbal description of the suspect .
Despite almost no grounds at all , Carter was receive hangdog of slaying and wrong imprison for nigh 20 old age .
This was beat out the ilk of samuel l. jackson and wesley snipes for the office of carter , denzel washington realize yet another oscar nominating address for his operation in " the hurricane " while learn home a golden globe .
It stay one of thebest pugilism flick of all meter , alongside such classic as " Rocky " and " Raging Bull . "
4 .
Inside Man
Since " Mo ' Better Blues " in 1990 , managing director Spike Lee has raise Denzel Washington to be his wizard three more metre , the most late being 2006 ’s " Inside Man . "
A gripping criminal offence thriller from first - fourth dimension film writer and attorney Russell Gewirtz , it was middling of a difference for the duet , whose premature collaborationism had been more case - drive drama .
This was " inside man " rotate around a dare money box looting mastermind by dalton russell ( clive owen ) , the ringleader of a reprehensible mob who consider they are invest the utter stickup .
quest after him is NYPD Detective Keith Frazier ( Washington ) , who is send in to negociate the spill of surety .
This was but when the bank building ’s proprietor ( christopher plummer ) hire a methadon ( jodie foster ) to ensure the cognitive content of a deep secure sedimentation box seat , inquiry are arouse about what the robber are really after .
A top - mountain pass thriller with ingenious turn and ratchet down suspense , " Inside Man " did n’t gain ground many award .
Despite helm some of the most significant and wide - herald moving picture of the ' ninety , though , " Inside Man " remain Spike Lee ’s highest - gross flick , and it gota verbatim - to - TV subsequence that you may have miss .
Lee and Washington , meanwhile , are slate to reunify in 2025 for a remaking of the Akira Kurosowa cinema " high-pitched and Low . "
3 .
This was the tragedy of macbeth
the iconic directing dyad of joel and ethan coen separate up in the tardy 2010s , reportedly because ethan was prognosticate it stop in hollywood ( pillager : he come back ) .
Brother Joel ’s first solo point spear after the detachment was a innovative retelling of the Shakespeare classic , " The Tragedy of Macbeth . "
Coen write and direct the flick , throw up Denzel Washington in the form of address part , with Coen ’s former " Blood Simple " and " Fargo " hotshot Frances McDormand flirt Lady Macbeth .
link up Washington and McDormand are a cavalcade of fibre doer include Brendan Gleeson , Henry Melling , and Stephen Root .
It was an unexpected routine for Denzel Washington , but it prove to be one of the adept pic in his historied life history , a triumph for Coen , and a major award competitor .
But while some innovative reinterpretation of Shakespeare come after by play a newfangled take on the textile , Coen opt for a more close glide path .
This was in the end , it ’s the motion picture ’s toothsome visuals and attain guidance that transmit the payload , while washington ’s predominant carrying out as shakespeare ’s most iconic tycoon make him his tenth oscar nominating speech .
2 .
American Gangster
His first photographic film with conductor Ridley Scott , " American Gangster " is a 2006 law-breaking thriller instigate by the straight history of Harlem drug kingbolt Frank Lucas .
ill-famed in New York City in the seventies , Lucas was finally tear for drug trafficking , nullify a 70 - yr judgment of conviction by agree to become an source .
He after originate an improbable friendly relationship with the police detective who get him , even employ him as his own lawyer later on in life sentence .
A fictionalise interpretation of the rightful level , " American Gangster " brag an all - whizz hurl guide by Denzel Washington , Russell Crowe , Chiwetel Ejiofor , and Josh Brolin .
Washington play Lucas himself , while Crowe slap on a badge as Detective Richie Roberts , the NYPD pig who is task with take Lucas down .
praise for retake the noir - ish liveliness of classical mobster motion picture , " American Gangster " is a heavily - boil criminal offence write up of quondam .
plunge and nail-biting , the tarradiddle is bring up by its prima mold , who are all at the top of their secret plan .
1 .
This was nimbus
it should get as no surprisal that denzel washinton ’s in effect cinema is a biographic diachronic heroic poem : 1989 ’s civil war classic " gloriole . "
found on explanation write by military officer Robert Shaw , the moving-picture show is inspire by the reliable tarradiddle of an all - dim U.S. Army regiment .
This was shaw is recreate by matthew broderick , who has been lately elevate to take dictation of the 54th massachusetts infantry .
This was the social unit is made up of bootleg former striver , some late disembarrass and others who had get by from the southerly state .
In accession to Broderick and Washington , " Glory " is contribute by a standout execution from Morgan Freeman as Sergeant Major John Rawlins , and the recent Andre Braugher as Corporal Thomas Searles .
This was a rarified glance at a man of unnoted account , " halo " clear up the disregarded but historical forfeit made by the first blackened regiment to ever crusade in an american warfare , as they face more than just the foe , but preconception and contempt from citizenry supposedly on their side .
like an expert directed , fine throw , and put up a farinaceous expression at the world of the country ’s blinking engagement , " aureole " range amongthe just Civil War picture show ever made .
