Denzel Washington is a legendary actor who has starred in many critically acclaimed movies. If you’re looking for some of his best work on Netflix, you’re in luck. From Dramas to Action movies Denzel Washington has stared in them all. In this article, we will dive into the best Denzel Washington movies on Netflix. Are you ready?
1. American Gangster
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2007 |
| Genre | Crime and Drama |
| Director | Ridley Scott |
American Gangster is easily one of the best Denzel Wshing ton movies on Netflix. It stars Frank Lucas, a gangster from La Grange, North Carolina, who becomes the right-hand man of Harlem mob boss Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson. After Johnson dies of a heart attack, Frank enters the heroin trade, buying directly from producers in Thailand and smuggling it into the U.S. through returning Vietnam War servicemen.
2. Flight
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2012 |
| Genre | Drama |
| Director | Robert Zemeckis |
Flight stars Denzel Washington as William “Whip” Whitaker Sr., an alcoholic airline pilot who miraculously crash-lands his plane after a mechanical failure, saving nearly everyone on board. Although hailed a hero, an investigation soon begins to cast the captain in a different light making it one of the best Denzel Washington movies on Netflix.
3. Training Day
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
| Genre | Crime Thriller |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
The movie follows the story of Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke), a rookie cop who is assigned to work with Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington), a highly decorated narcotics officer, for a one-day evaluation. The two officers drive around in Alonzo’s Monte Carlo, catching some college kids buying marijuana. Alonzo confiscates the drugs, puts it into a pipe, and tells Jake to smoke it. When Jake refuses, Alonzo threatens him at gunpoint, stating that refusing like this while on the streets would get him killed.
4. The Equalizer
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2014 |
| Genre | Action |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
The plot of the movie revolves around Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a former U.S. Marine and DIA / DCS officer, who now lives a quiet life in Boston, where he works at a hardware store. One night, he befriends a teenage prostitute named Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz) and becomes embroiled in a conflict with the Russian mafia after they brutally beat her. Robert decides to take matters into his own hands and uses his skills to help Teri and other victims of the Russian mob
5. The Book of Eli
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2010 |
| Genre | Neo-western action |
| Director | Hughes Brothers |
Eli, a skilled and mysterious nomad, journeys through a post-apocalyptic world, carrying a mysterious book. In a town ruled by the warlord Carnegie, who seeks control through the power of this elusive book, Eli’s exceptional survival and combat abilities draw attention.
After a confrontation, Carnegie discovers that Eli possesses the book he desires—the Bible. Eli refuses to surrender it, leading to a deadly clash. Along the way, Eli encounters Solara, who initially seeks to join him but is left behind as he continues his solitary quest.
6. The Equalizer 2
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
| Genre | Action-Thriller |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
The Equalizer 2 is one of Denzel Washington’s best movies on Netflix. Why? Robert McCall, a retired DIA officer turned Lyft driver, aids the less fortunate with the help of his friend Susan Plummer. When he travels to Istanbul to rescue a kidnapped girl, he also assists Holocaust survivor Sam Rubinstein in recovering a painting.
Upon returning home to find his apartment vandalized, Robert befriends troubled teen Miles Whittaker. Tragedy strikes when Susan is murdered, leading Robert to believe she was targeted. As he seeks revenge and investigates Susan’s death, he uncovers a web of deceit and sets out to expose the truth behind the murder.
7. Inside Man
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2006 |
| Genre | Crime-Thriller |
| Director | Spike Lee |
A complex bank heist unfolds on Wall Street, as robbers disguised in painter coveralls take hostages inside a Manhattan bank. The criminals use the alias “Steve” and manipulate hostages by making them wear masks and coveralls similar to their own. The hostages are shuffled between rooms, and the robbers work on a mysterious project involving demolishing a storage room floor.
Detectives Keith Frazier and Bill Mitchell lead the negotiations with the robbers, who demand food. The police send pizzas with hidden listening devices, revealing a connection to Albanian propaganda recordings. The robbers seem to have anticipated surveillance, adding an intriguing layer to the unfolding hostage situation.
8. Fences
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2016 |
| Genre | Drama |
| Director | Denzel Washington |
Fences follows the story of Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington), a former baseball player who now works as a garbage collector in Pittsburgh. The film takes place in 1950s Pittsburgh at Troy Maxson’s house that he lives in with his wife Rose and their son Cory.
Troy left home at 14 after beating up his abusive father and became a robber to sustain himself. While serving time for killing a man during a robbery, he met Bono and showed himself to be a talented baseball player. He then played in the professional Negro leagues; but he never made it to Major League Baseball, which held a “color barrier” until 1947. He claimed to have survived near-fatal pneumonia in his youth by defeating Death in a wrestling match, upon which Death vowed to return for a rematch.
9. Man on Fire
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Genre | Action Thriller |
| Director | Tony Scott |
Man on Fire follows the story of John Creasy (Denzel Washington), a former CIA operative who becomes a bodyguard for a young girl named Lupita “Pita” Ramos (Dakota Fanning) in Mexico City. When Pita is kidnapped, Creasy goes on a revenge rampage to find her and bring her captors to justice.
10. 2 Guns
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Year | 2013 |
| Genre | Action comedy |
| Director | Baltasar Kormákur |
Bobby and Stig, two undercover agents, plan to rob a drug lord named Papi to gather evidence for tax evasion. However, they find over $43 million instead of the expected $3 million in Papi’s bank vault. Stig, following orders from his superior, shoots Bobby and leaves him in the desert, unaware of Bobby’s DEA affiliation.
Stig brings in the money but is betrayed by his commanding officer, Quince. As Bobby and Stig navigate a web of betrayal and pursuit, they team up to clear their names. They kidnap Papi, seeking information to expose the corruption within their own ranks and recover the stolen money. The plot thickens as a mysterious figure named Earl becomes involved, and the duo faces challenges from both sides of the law.
Conclusion: The Best Denzel Washington Movies on Netflix
Denzel Washington is known for his diverse range of moving and acting roles. From dramas to thrillers Denzel Washington has a knack for captivating his audiences through exceptional and relatable performances.
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