Denzel Washington’s 10 Best Crime Movies

Denzel Washington has developed a reputation as one of the greatest actors of his generation, and many of his best movies have come in the crime genre. Washington has a habit of playing different law enforcement officials, whether they are detectives, federal agents or private investigators. Often, when he takes a foray into an unfamiliar genre, like sci-fi or Westerns, he does so in a movie that still deploys many tropes and traditions of the crime genre.

Washington’s best crime movies have a surprising range of genres and styles. There are more comedic and intelligent puzzles like Inside Man, as well as brutal action flicks like the Equalizer franchise. No matter what kind of character he’s playing, Washington always seems to bring his A-game to the crime genre. He has even earned some awards for his performances in the crime genre.

10

The Bone Collector (1999)

Lincoln Rhyme

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The Bone Collector

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Release Date

November 5, 1999

Director

Phillip Noyce

Cast

Denzel Washington
, Angelina Jolie
, Queen Latifah
, Leland Orser
, Michael Rooker

Denzel Washington has played just about every kind of police officer, federal agent and detective possible by now, but The Bone Collector is still an oddity, since he plays a paraplegic forensics expert who works from the confines of his bed. Angelina Jolie plays the rookie cop who stumbles onto the case of a deranged serial killer, and Washington’s character helps to direct her movements as they investigate as a team.

The Bone Collector didn’t earn the best reviews, but it’s much more popular with audiences than critics. Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie work well together, and the huge differences between their two characters lend the story an inherent dynamism that some crime thrillers struggle to achieve. Serial killer movies were a major trend of the 1990s, and while The Bone Collector doesn’t compare to hits like The Silence of the Lambs and Se7en, it still deserves more love.

9

The Little Things (2021)

Joe “Deke” Deacon

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6/10

The Little Things

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Release Date

January 29, 2021

Director

John Lee Hancock

Cast

Sofia Vassilieva
, Isabel Arraiza
, Stephanie Erb
, Denzel Washington
, Kerry O’Malley
, Rami Malek
, Jason James Richter
, Terry Kinney
, Adam J. Harrington
, Jared Leto
, Tom Hughes
, Chris Bauer
, Natalie Morales
, Michael Hyatt

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The Little Things feels like a throwback to an earlier style of crime thriller, and it’s the kind of movie that Denzel Washington might have made about 20 years earlier. Unsurprisingly, The Little Things was first written in 1993, and it was dragged through development hell for decades, passing through the hands of many different actors and directors before eventually taking shape with Washington alongside Rami Malek and Jared Leto.

Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli and Inside Man on a blue sky gritty background

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The Little Things received mixed reviews, but it’s the type of movie that could become more popular over time as audiences watch it without the context of other crime movies of the era. The three stars all deliver great performances, with Leto dialing in his detached, sociopathic gaze and Malek blending volatile anger with self-righteous confusion. The ending of The Little Things leaves audiences with a few questions to ponder, giving the movie a lot of rewatch value.

8

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Sam Chisholm

The Magnificent Seven Movie Poster

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8/10

The Magnificent Seven

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Release Date

September 23, 2016

Director

Antoine Fuqua

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

Denzel Washington’s first Western wasn’t a completely new experience for him, since The Magnificent Seven is also a crime movie in which Washington plays a United States Marshal, placing him in somewhat familiar territory. The Magnificent Seven is a remake of the classic 1960 Western of the same name starring Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson et al. The remake holds up well, even if it doesn’t threaten the status of the original.

The Magnificent Seven quickly delivers plenty of gunslinging action to accompany its personal and moral conflict.

The Magnificent Seven stars Washington alongside Ethan Hawke, Chris Pratt, Vincent D’Onofrio and more. It’s an eclectic mix, but it works well, as the ragtag group of bounty hunters make for some interesting character dynamics. The Magnificent Seven quickly delivers plenty of gunslinging action to accompany its personal and moral conflict. Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua worked together on Training Day and the Equalizer franchise, but The Magnificent Seven shouldn’t be overlooked.

7

Man On Fire (2004)

John Creasy

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4/10

Man on Fire

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Release Date

April 23, 2004

Director

Tony Scott

Cast

Dakota Fanning
, Marc Anthony
, Denzel Washington
, Radha Mitchell
, Mickey Rourke
, Christopher Walken

Man on Fire holds an interesting place in Denzel Washington’s filmography, since it was initially panned by critics but has since been recognized as one of his best and most exciting movies. The difference between Man on Fire‘s 38% Rotten Tomatoes score and its 89% audience score highlights the huge divide between opinions. Man on Fire‘s grim tone and blood-soaked violence isn’t to everyone’s tastes.

The difference between Man on Fire‘s 38% Rotten Tomatoes score and its 89% audience score highlights the huge divide between opinions.

Man on Fire is being remade as a Netflix series, which highlights how the movie still has an audience over 20 years later. It will be hard to replicate the appeal of the original, however, since Denzel Washington is firing on all cylinders as a reluctant bodyguard tasked with protecting a young girl. It’s a simple thriller, but Washington makes it shine, and Tony Scott shows that his reputation for exhilarating action is well-earned.

6

The Equalizer (2014)

Robert McCall

The Equalizer (2014) - Poster - Denzel Washington With A Rifle

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9.3/10

The Equalizer

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Release Date

September 24, 2014

Director

Antoine Fuqua

Cast

Denzel Washington
, Marton Csokas
, Chloe Grace Moretz
, David Harbour
, Haley Bennett

Denzel Washington doesn’t make many sequels, even for some movies which seem like ideal candidates. The Equalizer franchise seems to be the one big exception to this rule. He has made two sequels so far, with plans for The Equalizer 4 and 5 also in the pipeline. The Equalizer movies are more action-heavy than some of Washington’s other crime movies, which helps explain why they work well as a franchise.

The Equalizer movies are more action-heavy than some of Washington’s other crime movies.

There’s some debate over which of the three Equalizer movies is the best, but the original deserves credit for creating the formula that the sequels have followed. Not only did Washington venture into uncharted territory as a true action star, but The Equalizer also gave him a chance to play a ruthless vigilante, unlike some of his morally righteous law enforcement characters in other movies.

5

Déjà Vu (2006)

Douglas Carlin

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6.5/10

Déjà Vu

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Release Date

November 22, 2006

Director

Tony Scott

Cast

Denzel Washington
, Paula Patton
, Val Kilmer
, James Caviezel
, Adam Goldberg
, Elden Henson

Tony Scott and Denzel Washington teamed up again two years after Man on Fire, and they created another explosive crime movie that seems to please audiences more than critics. The key difference is the time-travel element to Déjà Vu, which is an unusual hook, considering Washington isn’t known for sci-fi movies. Déjà Vu tries to remain as grounded as possible with its sci-fi trickery, so it often resembles some of Washington’s other crime thrillers without the time-travel getting in the way of the story’s emotional thrust.

Denzel Washington as Nick Styles laughing in Ricochet

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Déjà Vu is a compelling fantasy about wishing to turn back time, and it examines the public grief and trauma caused by disasters, as well as the shortcomings of law enforcement and criminal justice. The plot focuses on the aftermath of a terrorist attack, suggesting that the emotional beats were inspired by the public response to the September 11 attacks, but it’s important to note that Déjà Vu was filmed in New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina. Both disasters caused an outpouring of grief and denial, and this is what Déjà Vu looks to explore.

4

Devil In A Blue Dress (1995)

Easy Rawlins

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Devil in a Blue Dress

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Release Date

September 29, 1995

Director

Carl Franklin

Cast

Denzel Washington
, Tom Sizemore
, Jennifer Beals
, Don Cheadle
, Maury Chaykin
, Terry Kinney
, Mel Winkler
, Albert Hall

Devil in a Blue Dress is one of many Denzel Washington movies that seemed like it would be perfect for a sequel, but the ending’s hint towards more possible movies was left unresolved. Still, Devil in a Blue Dress stands out as a compelling crime drama, with Washington bringing his familiar detective persona to post-war Los Angeles. The movie captures the atmosphere of the time beautifully, creating an absorbing story.

While Washington is in fine form in one of his earliest crime movies, Don Cheadle also deserves recognition for an outstanding performance. Washington and Cheadle both contribute to a lively period crime thriller that feels realistic despite its historical setting. The setting isn’t just for show, however, as it sets up an intriguing personal drama about trauma and race in post-war America.

3

Inside Man (2006)

Keith Frazier

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9.5/10

Inside Man

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Release Date

March 24, 2006

Director

Spike Lee

Cast

Denzel Washington
, Clive Owen
, Jodie Foster
, Christopher Plummer
, Willem Dafoe
, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Denzel Washington and Spike Lee always seem to bring the best out of each other, and their 2006 heist drama Inside Man is proof of this. Washington plays a charming detective called to the scene of a hostage situation at a Manhattan bank. He develops an intriguing dynamic with Clive Owen, who plays the leader of the bank robbers, and the few scenes that they share together crackle with intensity.

Inside Man is filled with all the exciting twists and turns that a great heist movie should have.

Inside Man is filled with all the exciting twists and turns that a great heist movie should have. Spike Lee knows that he’s playing a game of wits with his audience, and he uses some time jumps, dead ends and other narrative techniques to keep his audience guessing right until the end. This gives Washington the space to have a little fun, and he commands his surroundings like a veteran detective.

2

American Gangster (2007)

Frank Lucas

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9/10

10/10

American Gangster

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Release Date

November 2, 2007

Director

Ridley Scott

Cast

Carla Gugino
, Idris Elba
, John Hawkes
, Cuba Gooding Jr
, Russell Crowe
, Denzel Washington
, Ted Levine
, Josh Brolin
, Chiwetel Ejiofor
, Joe Morton

Long before Gladiator II, American Gangster marked Denzel Washington’s first collaboration with Ridley Scott. Washington is famous for playing cops, so it’s an interesting change of pace to see him playing notorious drug lord Frank Lucas, and he revels in the chance to play a more villainous character. Lucas and other people close to the case have said that American Gangster takes some creative liberties with the story – which is no surprise considering Scott’s views on historical accuracy – but it’s a wonderfully entertaining crime thriller nonetheless.

It’s an interesting change of pace to see him playing notorious drug lord Frank Lucas.

Russell Crowe also delivers a superb performance in American Gangster. He plays the detective on Frank Lucas’ tail, as the two men discover their vast differences and their interesting similarities. American Gangster was Denzel Washington’s highest-grossing movie until Gladiator II, proving that it has a broad general appeal. Washington’s villain role is essential to this, and so is Scott’s flair for action.

1

Training Day (2001)

Alonzo Harris

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9/10

10/10

Training Day

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Release Date

October 5, 2001

Director

Antoine Fuqua

Cast

Eva Mendes
, Ethan Hawke
, Denzel Washington
, Scott Glenn
, Cliff Curtis

Denzel Washington’s Oscar-winning performance in Training Day could be his very best, as he brings a volatile and fiercely watchable energy to Antoine Fuqua’s crime drama. Washington plays a crooked cop tasked with showing Ethan Hawke’s young rookie how things are really done in the streets. The movie unfolds over the course of one frantic day, so Training Day manages to maintain a frantic speed throughout.

Denzel-Washington-as-Alonzo-from-Training-Day-2001-and-Denzel-Washington-as-Whip-Whitaker-from-Flight

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Training Day‘s script is filled with memorable quotes, with Washington hoovering up more than his fair share. He seems so at home in the character of Alonzo Harris that everything he says feels natural, even when it’s completely unhinged. The fact that he improvised his famous “King Kong” line shows that Washington understands the comedic side to Training Day. This comedy helps to keep the pace up, but it also makes the drama and the action even more intense.

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