Denzel Washington Top 10 Movies

From Ridley Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin
Rated R

American Gangster tells the true story of Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington), a crime boss in the late 1960s and early 1970s who turned the heroin trade in Harlem into a major business. With the help of his loyal friend and partner, Nicky Barnes (Cuba Gooding Jr.), Lucas becomes one of the most powerful and successful drug lords in the city. At the same time, however, Lucas is pursued by a relentless cop, Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe), who is determined to put Lucas behind bars. As the two men battle it out, Lucas is forced to confront the dangerous realities of his empire while Roberts attempts to rebuild his career and his personal life.

From Boaz Yakin, starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst
Rated PG

Remember the Titans is a 2000 American sports drama film directed by Boaz Yakin. The film tells the true story of African-American coach Herman Boone (Denzel Washington), who is hired to coach the football team at the newly desegregated T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia during the 1971 school year. Boone is initially met with much resistance from the players and their prejudiced communities, but Boone works to build trust and respect among the team, eventually leading the Titans to a historic, undefeated season and the state championship game. Along the way, the players and the community must learn to accept and respect one another and rise above the racial tensions caused by the desegregation.

From Tony Scott, starring Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell
Rated R

Man on Fire (2004) is an action-thriller directed by Tony Scott. The film follows John Creasy (Denzel Washington), an ex-Marine-turned-mercenary-for-hire, who is hired by the wealthy family of a nine year old girl, Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning), to act as her bodyguard. Initially, Creasy is reluctant to take the job, but eventually he comes to care deeply for Pita and forms a strong bond with her. When Pita is kidnapped by a Mexican gang, Creasy is determined to get her back and embarks on a bloody mission of revenge. With the help of his close friend, Rayburn (Christopher Walken), Creasy is able to exact a deadly retribution and rescue the young girl.

From Antoine Fuqua, starring Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, Scott Glenn, Tom Berenger
Rated R

Training Day is a 2001 American crime thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by David Ayer. Starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, the plot follows two Los Angeles Police Department officers over a 24-hour period in the gang-ridden neighborhoods of the LAPD Rampart Division. Washington plays Alonzo Harris, an experienced veteran narcotics officer whose methods of enforcing the law are questionable and often ruthless, while Hawke plays Jake Hoyt, a rookie who is observing Harris for his first day with the LAPD. The film follows Alonzo and Jake as they patrol the streets of Los Angeles and its neighborhoods, engaging in verbal and physical confrontations with drug dealers and gang members. As the day progresses, Alonzo begins to manipulate and pressure Jake into participating in increasingly illegal activities, testing the rookie's moral and ethical boundaries. The film culminates in a violent confrontation between the two officers that leaves one dead. In the end, Jake's courage and determination to do the right thing are what ultimately triumph.

From Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, Spike Lee
Rated PG-13

Malcolm X is a biographical drama about the life of African-American human rights activist Malcolm X, directed by Spike Lee. The film follows Malcolm X's life from his troubled childhood in the 1930s to his assassination in 1965. It examines the major turning points throughout his life—his conversion to Islam and his relationship with Elijah Muhammad, his struggles with racism, his split from the Nation of Islam and his pilgrimage to Mecca, and his ultimate attempt to reconcile the differences between whites and blacks. With a powerful supporting cast, this film provides a thought-provoking look at one of the most influential figures of the 20th century.

From Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer
Rated R

Inside Man is a 2006 crime thriller film directed by Spike Lee. The movie follows the story of Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) and his partner Bill Mitchell (Chiwetel Ejiofor) as they investigate a bank robbery masterminded by a mysterious criminal mastermind, Dalton Russell (Clive Owen). With the bank surrounded, Russell and his team of robbers, including Steven (Jodie Foster), threaten to blow up the bank if their demands are not met. As the situation quickly escalates, Frazier and Mitchell are joined by Madeline White (Christopher Plummer), a crisis negotiator hired by the bank's powerful owner, Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer). With White playing both sides against each other, it soon becomes clear that the robbery is more than just about money. As Frazier and Mitchell get closer to uncovering the truth behind the heist, they must stop a conspiracy that could cost lives and millions of dollars.

From Antoine Fuqua, starring Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour
Rated R

From Nick Cassavetes, starring Denzel Washington, Robert Duvall, Gabriela Oltean, Kimberly Elise
Rated PG-13

From Russell Mulcahy, starring Denzel Washington, John Lithgow, Ice-T, Kevin Pollak
Rated R