The 20 Best Denzel Washington Thriller Movies, Ranked

Fun fact: The first action thriller I ever saw in its entirety was Man on Fire. I couldn't have been more than 11 years old, and while I didn't have the skills of a film critic back then, I had seen enough to know that Denzel Washington was a master at his craft.

Today, with 60 movies and two Academy Awards to his name, I still consider Washington to be one of the best thriller actors of all time, thanks to his natural ability to add depth and nuance to his roles. Not to mention his improvisational skills and his quiet approach to powerful characters. His most recent thrillers, like The Tragedy of Macbeth and The Equalizer 3, have been met with critical acclaim, and he shows no signs of slowing down, which is a testament to his career's longevity.

While speaking with Entertainment Tonight about future roles, the 68-year-old star said “I’m about the challenges. At this point, like the character, I’m in the yellow leaf of my career. To be quite honest, looking to do other things. So as far as acting, it’s gonna have to be an extreme challenge for me to be interested.”

As of now, he's got three movies in the pipeline, including a new drama that stars all four of his children. But until then, I'm sharing my full ranking of 20 of the best Denzel Washington thriller movies, from Inside Man to Training Day.

20. The Little Things (2021)

• Director: John Lee Hancock
• Cast: Rami Malek, Jared Leto, Natalie Morales
• Run Time: 128 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 45% | IMDb 6.3/10

This haunting thriller drama follows Joe "Deke" Deacon (Washington), a seasoned former detective and deputy sheriff who teams up with newcomer Jimmy Baxter (Malek) to investigate a series of serial murders. When they discover that they don't have enough evidence to arrest their top suspect, the case begins to consume them both. In my review of the film, I wrote, "I applaud Hancock for intentionally keeping the killer's identity (and Sparma's potential involvement) a mystery. And though I wouldn't call this Washington's best, his solid performance alone makes it well worth the watch."

19. 2 Guns (2013)

• Director: Baltasar Kormákur
• Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Paula Patton, Bill Paxton, Fred Ward
• Run Time: 126 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 64% | IMDb 6.7/10

Based on Steven Grant's comic book series, the movie follows DEA agent Bobby Trench (Washington) and U.S. Navy intelligence officer Marcus Stigman (Wahlberg), who are working undercover as cocaine dealers. However, neither of them knows that the other is an undercover agent—until their plans to infiltrate a Mexican drug cartel go south. Although 2 Guns technically falls under the buddy cop action umbrella, there are some intense moments that make it feel like a thriller, and the chemistry between Wahlberg and Washington is spot on.

18. Fallen (1998) 

• Director: Gregory Hoblit
• Cast: John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini
• Run Time: 124 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 40% | IMDb 7.0/10

Washington stars as a Philadelphia police detective who investigates a string of occult murders. The wildest part? They're reminiscent of killings committed by a notorious criminal who died on death row, suggesting that there may be a copycat killer. Easily one of Washington's most underrated movies, Fallen leans more into the horror genre and features a jaw-dropping twist that will make you question reality.

17. The Bone Collector (1999) 

• Director: Phillip Noyce
• Cast: Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker, Mike McGlone, Luis Guzmán
• Run Time: 118 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 29% | IMDb 6.7/10

In this '90s thriller Washington plays Lincoln, an injured forensic detective who enlists the help of a cop to help him solve a string of murders. There are moments where this film isn't as suspenseful as it tries to be, but that didn't stop Washington from totally nailing his role. He captured the struggles of being disabled, and it was so fascinating to see him work through the case. (BTW, would you believe me if I told you that Al Pacino was the first choice to play Washington's role?)

16. Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017)

• Director: Dan Gilroy
• Cast: Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo, Shelley Hennig, Lynda Gravatt
• Run Time: 122 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 55% | IMDb 6.5/10

"I'm tired of doing the impossible for the ungrateful" is, by far, one of the best and most relatable lines I've ever heard in a film. It was delivered by none other than Washington who plays Roman, a civil rights activist whose life takes a dangerous turn when he takes on a challenging new case. Though the film didn't perform at the box office, Washington's performance earned him nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

15. Safe House (2012)

• Director: Daniel Espinosa
• Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Vera Farmiga, Brendan Gleeson, Sam Shepard, Rubén Blades, Nora Arnezeder
• Run Time: 115 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 53% | IMDb 6.7/10

In Safe House, a CIA officer is forced to go on the run with Tobin (Washington), a veteran and fugitive he's been holding in a safe house, after a group of killers starts to pursue them. This marked Espinosa's first English-language film, and though Reynolds holds his own, it's Washington's quiet confidence and charisma that steals the show. The actin-packed flick was a major box-office success, earning more than $208 million.

14. Ricochet (1991) 

• Director: Russell Mulcahy
• Cast: John Lithgow, Ice-T, Kevin Pollak, Lindsay Wagner
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 74% | IMDb 6.2/10

Washington is Assistant District Attorney Nick Styles. Eight years ago, when he worked as a cop, Styles helped put a hitman behind bars. But when that criminal escapes, he plots revenge against the attorney. Washington essentially carries this film with his authentic performance, and there's enough suspense to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Oh, and did I mention that there are rare shirtless scenes of Washington? (Fun fact: He reportedly followed a rigorous workout routine to prepare for this role. He exercised for three hours a day, six days a week for four months.)

13. Out of Time (2003)

• Director: Carl Franklin
• Cast: Eva Mendes, Sanaa Lathan, Dean Cain
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 64% | IMDb 6.5/10

While going through a divorce with his wife, Matt Lee Whitlock (Washington), the police chief of a Florida town, pursues a romantic relationship with a woman named Ann. Unfortunately, he learns that she has terminal cancer, and he steals money from a drug bust to cover her treatment. But his plans quickly fall apart when Ann dies in a suspicious fire. Yes, the plot is a tad predictable, but Washington is so cool and calculating in this role.

12. Déjà Vu (2006)

• Director: Tony Scott
• Cast: Val Kilmer, Paula Patton, Bruce Greenwood, Adam Goldberg, Jim Caviezel
• Run Time: 126 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 56% | IMDb 7.1/10

In Déjà Vu, Doug Carlin, an ATF Special Agent, time travels to the past to catch a terrorist who killed hundreds of people in a ferry bombing. Per usual, Washington is simply brilliant, and I like that there's a blend of sci-fi, action and romance. Director Tony Scott told Phase 9 Entertainment, "The heart of it is a love story, but it's a love story where the two protagonists aren't even in the same room together for the first two-thirds of the movie. It's also got terrorists, technology, lots of different things and different aspects."

11. The Equalizer 2 (2018) 

• Director: Antoine Fuqua
• Cast: Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo
• Run Time: 121 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 52% | IMDb 6.7/10

The entire Equalizer franchise is definitely worth a watch, but if I had to rank them all, it's the second installment that would take third place. In it, ex-Marine Robert McCall is out for revenge after his old colleague suddenly gets murdered. Washington is still as compelling as ever (and Pascal also phenomenal), but the plot is predictable and a few of the action sequences fall short.

10. Unstoppable (2010)

• Director: Tony Scott
• Cast: Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Dunn
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 87% | IMDb 6.8/10

Inspired by the real-life 2001 CSX 8888 incident, this edge-of-your-seat thriller tells the story of a train operator who teams up with a veteran engineer (Washington) to stop a runaway freight train. To say this film took me on a wild ride would be an understatement, and there's no shortage of intense action sequences. This was Scott's final film before he passed away in 2012, and it was nominated for an Oscar for Best Sound Editing.

9. The Pelican Brief (1993) 

• Director: Alan J. Pakula
• Cast: Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Sam Shepard, John Heard, Tony Goldwyn
• Run Time: 141 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 55% | IMDb 6.6/10

Based on John Grisham's 1992 novel, The Pelican Brief follows Darby Shaw, a law student who submits a legal brief on the murder of two Supreme Court justices. When her mentor shares the brief with the FBI, he gets killed in a car explosion, and Darby quickly deduces that the true killers are coming after her next. With the help of a young journalist (played brilliantly by Washington), she goes on the run and uncovers a major conspiracy.

8. The Equalizer 3 (2023)

• Director: Antoine Fuqua
• Cast: Dakota Fanning, Eugenio Mastrandrea, David Denman, Gaia Scodellaro
• Run Time: 109 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 76% | IMDb 6.8/10

The second movie was a disappointment for some (me included), but fortunately, this third installment more than makes up for it. In part three, a retired Robert McCall is living his best life in Southern Italy—only to find out that his friends are being terrorized by members of the Mafia. The violence and gore is turned up a few notches, and Washington still shines as the meticulous and calculating Robert. Oh, and the gorgeous Italian backdrop is the icing on the cake.

7. The Equalizer (2014) 

• Director: Antoine Fuqua
• Cast: Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, Bill Pullman
• Run Time: 132 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 61% | IMDb 7.2/10

Fans were first introduced to Robert McCall in this classic first installment, where he embarks on a mission to save a sex worker from being controlled by Russian mobsters. Washington does an incredible job portraying Robert's OCD while he grapples with his dark past and tries to move on. While speaking with Collider about his character's condition, he said, "We added it so he's just not the action guy.  He's troubled, flawed and we don't finish the story- it's not like suddenly at the end he's fine. It's been an interesting development as we've gone along."

6. Man on Fire (2004)

• Director: Tony Scott
• Cast: Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken, Radha Mitchell, Giancarlo Giannini, Marc Anthony
• Run Time: 146 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 39% | IMDb 7.7/10

Inspired by A. J. Quinnell's 1980 novel, Man on Fire revolves around a mercenary and bodyguard who is out for revenge when Pita Ramos, the girl he was hired to protect, gets kidnapped in Mexico City. I absolutely loved seeing the many layers of Washington's character. One moment he's broken and suicidal, then he's hopeful and, finally, he morphs into's a vengeful protector who's determined to get Pita back. With so many explosive sequences, it's quite a thrill ride.

5. Training Day (2001)

• Director: Antoine Fuqua
• Cast: Ethan Hawke, Eva Mendes, Scott Glenn, Cliff Curtis, Dr. Dre
• Run Time: 122 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 74% | IMDb 7.8/10

In Training Day, Washington is Alonzo, a veteran detective who teams up with Jake, a newcomer, to visit the most dangerous neighborhoods in L.A. But there's just one problem: Jake begins to worry that Alonzo isn't trustworthy, thanks to his questionable methods. Washington delivered such a raw and edgy performance, which would ultimately earn him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Washington told The Hollywood Reporter, “I don’t think it was written for a Black guy. It was more like a plaid-shirt [wearing] guy with beer bottles in the back. Antoine was the one that brought gangster to it.”

4. Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) 

• Director: Carl Franklin
• Cast: Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, Don Cheadle, Maury Chaykin
• Run Time: 102 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 92% | IMDb 6.8/10

World War II veteran Easy Rawlins (Washington) gets hired to find a missing woman, assuming that it will be a simple job. However, he quickly learns that he's in over his head when he eventually gets caught up in a political scandal. Inspired by Walter Mosley's 1990 novel, I love that this film explores issues like segregation, racism and violence. And while I enjoyed seeing Washington's charm and cool demeanor, I also have to give props to Cheadle (aka Mouse), who took this film to another level.

3. Crimson Tide (1995) 

• Director: Tony Scott
• Cast: Gene Hackman, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, Matt Craven
• Run Time: 116 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 89% | IMDb 7.3/10

Washington has mastered the art of portraying experienced veterans who take newbies under his wing (ex. The Little Things, Training Day, etc.). But in this case, he's the newbie with zero combat experience—and he's just as compelling. In Crimson Tide the USS Alabama receives an order to launch nuclear missiles while patroling Russian waters. The only problem? They lose radio contact, and Lieutenant Commander Ron (Washington) disagrees with his Captain on how to proceed.

2. Inside Man (2006) 

• Director: Spike Lee
• Cast: Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, Chiwetel Ejiofor
• Run Time: 129 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 86% | IMDb 7.6/10

A Manhattan bank robbery goes south and takes a dangerous turn when Dalton, a criminal mastermind, and his crew get trapped inside with several hostages. A police hostage negotiator (Washington) decides to intervene, and the bank's chairman privately hires an outsider to protect a mysterious item in the bank, which raises even more questions about the heist. As you'd expect with any Spike Lee joint, it includes some spon-on commentary on social issues, and Washington is simply brilliant as the seasoned negotiator.

1. The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

• Director: Joel Coen
• Cast: Frances McDormand, Bertie Carvel, Alex Hassell, Corey Hawkins, Harry Melling
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes 92% | IMDb 7.1/10

Inspired by Shakespeare’s famous play, this incredible adaptation follows Macbeth, a Scottish general who takes the council of his wife and three witches when they encourage him to murder the king for power. Unfortunately, when he does the deed, chaos ensues as he becomes increasingly paranoid. The film is so well-executed and it features striking visuals, but Washington's ability to show Macbeth's psychological torment was just outstanding. (Fun fact: Washington's daughter, Olivia, appears in the film as a children’s nurse.)