5 Denzel Washington Movies That Are Underrated (& 5 That Are Overrated)
Though some actors tend to fade in and out of the spotlight during their career, Denzel Washington is an actor who has always been one of Hollywood's biggest stars. He has achieved this level of fame, not through blockbusters and franchises, but through his incredible acting talent.
Washington has brought his talents to a variety of genres and worked with some of the best filmmakers in the business. Though few of his movies go unnoticed, there are some that never did get the attention they deserved. On the other hand, there are also some that aren't as good as their reputation suggests.
10 Underrated: Devil In The Blue Dress (1995)
Washington was perfectly cast in the noir mystery Devil in the Blue Dress. Set in Los Angeles in the 1940s, Washington plays a former soldier who is hired to find a woman who has gone missing. Soon he finds himself wrapped up in a deadly conspiracy.
The film got a mixed response from audiences and didn't make much of a dent in the box office. However, it feels like a perfect throwback to the seedy and gritty noir films of the past. It is a compelling and sexy story with a great cast, including a breakout role for Don Cheadle.
9 Overrated: Hurricane (1999)
Tacking an incredible true story, Washington stars in The Hurricane as Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a promising boxer who is imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit and is helped out by unlikely allies who fight for his freedom.
Praise for the movie was mostly due to Washington's powerful and intense performance. The rest of the movie is often cheesy and melodramatic, going far too over-the-top with what was already a very interesting story.
8 Underrated: Crimson Tide (1995)
It's always a thrill to see Washington share the screen with another great actor, and in Crimson Tide, he went head-to-head with Gene Hackman. The submarine thriller finds the world on the brink of nuclear war and Washington plays the second-in-command who clashes with his captain (Hackman).
The film is rarely talked about and seems to be piled with the other forgotten thrillers of the 1990s. But this movie tells a smart, tense, and captivating story which is further elevated by the immense talent of the two leads.
7 Overrated: Flight (2012)
Washington earned another Oscar nomination for his lead role in Flight from director Robert Zemeckis. Washington plays an alcoholic airline pilot who saves his plane from a disaster. The ensuring investigation causes him to confront his demons for the first time.
Once again, Washington's performance is the real reason to watch the film. He is phenomenal in the role. However, the movie doesn't offer much beyond that. It is overly melodramatic at times, much longer than it needs to be, and its ending is unsatisfying.
6 Underrated: The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Remaking a classic movie can be troublesome and it can be hard to convince fans of the original that the retelling is worthwhile. This seems to be the case with Jonathan Demme's The Manchurian Candidate. The thriller involves a conspiracy by outside forces to brainwash a candidate for President of the United States.
The movie was dismissed as a pale imitation of the original, but it does feel like a solid modern take on the story. Washington, Liev Schreiber, and Meryl Streep are all great in the film that delivers smart twists and nail-biting suspense.
5 Overrated: Training Day (2001)
Washington won his second Oscar for his villainous turn in the cop drama Training Day. He plays a ruthless and corrupt detective who is showing a young rookie (Ethan Hawke) the ropes but ends up dragging him through a violent nightmare.
Washington clearly has a lot of fun playing against type and really commands the screen. But the movie's tone is all over the place, jumping from a grounded and gritty crime story to an over-the-top action movie. It becomes hard to take seriously in the end.
4 Underrated: Fallen (1998)
The thriller genre seems to be of particular interest to Washington. Fallen is one such film that fell through the cracks but is worth seeking out. Washington plays a detective investigating a supposed copycat killer of a man who was executed. He soon learns there are more demonic powers at work.
The reviews for the film were lukewarm at best and it bombed at the box office. Though it doesn't always live up to its interesting premise, it is an effective supernatural thriller with a memorable ending.
3 Overrated: The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Taking on another classic story, Washington led an all-star cast in the remake of The Magnificent Seven. The movie follows a group of gunfighters who form a team to protect a small town from an evil land baron.
The movie was a hit with audiences, but the famous cast must have been the only draw. The film itself is a by-the-numbers action film that does nothing new with the story and features few if any memorable characters.
2 Underrated: Man On Fire (2004)
Washington frequently collaborated with director Tony Scott before Scott's death in 2012 and their best film together was certainly Man on Fire. The revenge thriller stars Washington as a troubled former soldier hired as a bodyguard for a young girl. When the girl is taken, he goes on a deadly warpath.
Receiving only mixed reviews and modest box office success when it was released, the movie was largely forgotten. Though it has found a wider audience outside of the theaters, fans of the action genre still need to discover this brutal and gritty film.
1 Overrated: The Equalizer (2014)
In recent years, Washington has continued to show himself to be a formidable action star. The Equalizer was one of his biggest hits in the genre. He plays a former special forces officer who is trying to leave behind his violent life but is drawn back in to help out innocent people.
After becoming a huge box office hit, the movie received a sequel in 2018. However, the movie feels like so many similar action movies with the stoic badass who saves the day. Even the fight scenes feel familiar and Washington's character is too skilled to be interesting.