Every Denzel Washington Movie, Ranked Worst To Best

A star of Denzel Washington's caliber needs no introduction; everyone has likely seen at least one of his movies–some, however, have definitely aged better than others. Having taken up acting at the age of 23, Washington had to suffer through a few cinematic disasters until better and richer roles came his way. After landing a role on NBC's medical drama St. Elsewhere in 1982, he finally had a major breakthrough, which was quickly followed by his Oscar-nominated performance as anti-apartheid activist Stephen Biko in Richard Attenborough's Cry Freedom in 1987, and it was only the beginning.

In his nearly five-decade-long career, Washington has truly done it all — films, shows, voice work, narration, and theater, although he has largely preferred movies to anything else, and there are over 50 feature-length titles listed on his impressive resume. The actor has received numerous accolades, including ten Academy Awards nominations and two wins. He has even tried his hand at directing and producing, which have proven to be rather successful as well. Washington's films have had a huge impact on the film industry, with many becoming cult classics in the years to come. Here are all of his prominent movies, ranked from worst to best.

50 Heart Condition

This 1990 comedy is a product of its time, the time before the #MeToo and BLM movements, that is, but it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be criticized for its shortcomings. The blatant racism of Bob Hoskins' cop Jack Moony is played for laughs, and yet no one seems to be cracking even a smile. Moony receives a heart transplant from the lawyer he hated in life, Denzel Washington's Napoleon Stone, and now he has to find out who has killed him. Washington is a sight for sore eyes, but Heart Condition is as bad as it sounds.

49 Virtuosity

Before the AI-gains-conscience movies, there was the virtual-reality-becomes-physical concept in sci-fi. This kind of thrillers rarely age well, and Virtuosity isn't an exception. The premise is that Washington's Parker Barnes needs to stop a virtual-reality serial killer simulation that has escaped into the real world, played by none other than Russell Crowe. The acting duo works well together, but that's the only good thing about this film. The suspense is nowhere to be found, the dialogue is a tad ridiculous, and the plot is extremely predictable.

48 Carbon Copy

Carbon Copy was one of the first movies Denzel Washington ever made. In the film, he plays Roger Porter, the illegitimate son of George Segal's Walter Whitney, who is extremely concerned with keeping up appearances, and a long-lost Black son is not what he needs right now (or ever). Walter is so afraid of what people will think about him that he even hides the fact that he is Jewish from his anti-Semitic boss. From the weird poster to plenty of inappropriate jokes, this 1981 comedy couldn't have been more racist if had tried.

47 The Book of Eli

The Washington-starrer is hardly his best movie, but it does serve as a nice way to diversify the genres, adding the post-apocalyptic neo-Western into the mix. The Book of Eli is an ambitious story brought to life by a talented cast, including Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis, and yet the reality of the film is just not believable enough. Washington's character is his typical tough guy, but somehow it still doesn't get tiresome.

46 The Bone Collector

Based on Jeffery Deaver's crime novel of the same name, The Bone Collector doesn't do justice to its source material, and neither does the recent television series adaptation. Denzel Washington plays Lincoln Rhyme, a quadriplegic detective who is devastated that he can't walk anymore, and Angelina Jolie portrays Amelia Donaghy, a newbie patrol officer who becomes his unlikely partner in an investigation. Both actors are honestly too good to be in this film of questionable quality. Thankfully, it has never spawned a sequel.

45 The Magnificent Seven

The remake of the 1960 movie of the same name is nowhere near its predecessor in terms of becoming a cultural phenomenon, and even Washington couldn't save it. In fact, his character, Sam Chisholm, mostly just isn't that interesting to watch, which isn't really the actor's fault, as his lines would have sounded dull on anyone. The Western genre looks good on the star even though Washington hesitated to take on The Magnificent Seven at first, so that's not a total loss.

44 The Taking of Pelham 123

This remake of the 1974 movie is proof that not every movie needs to be remade. Denzel Washington plays Walter Garber, a train dispatcher who is forced to negotiate with the hijackers, and while the actor is doing his best, he isn't exactly convincing in the role of a supposedly quiet and nerdy subway worker. Action thrillers are Washington's thing, but The Taking of Pelham 123 is certainly not the project he shined the most in.

43 Courage Under Fire

Another Gulf War drama in Washington's resume is also his second collaboration with director Edward Zwick. The plotlines could probably be better and more original, but Washington's righteous portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling fits nicely with Meg Ryan's complicated character, Captain Karen Emma Walden. Courage Under Fire features three-dimensional characters, but the plot twists in the investigation aren't as exciting as they could have been.

42 For Queen & Country

The movie is set in the 1980s during the era of Thatcherism, and Denzel Washington plays Reuben James, a British soldier who comes back home from war and struggles to lead a normal life again. Upon his return, he discovers that he is not treated as a war hero, but instead, he is seen as a second-class citizen due to his race. For Queen & Country wasn't well received when it hit theaters in 1988, but decades later, the film is praised for its accurate depiction of Thatcherism and its effect on the U.K. In addition to his amazing performance, Washington's British accent is spot-on.

41 The Preacher's Wife

This Oscar-nominated Christmas flick is a sweet comedy-drama that has stood the test of time. Washington plays Dudley, an angel that God sends from Heaven to help Reverend Henry Biggs (Courtney B. Vance) and his wife Julia (Whitney Houston) who are having a hard time keeping their faith intact. The Preacher's Wife sends a good message, Houston beautifully sings (a lot), and Washington showcases his comedic abilities in a new light, so it's everything a Christmas movie can offer and more.

40 Power

Sidney Lumet's Power had a lot of potential, presenting a fresh take on the world of corruption and how it affects people with power and without it. However, its lack of climax and one too many subplots make it seem like the screenwriter has just given up mid-script. Denzel Washington as PR expert Arnold Billings is a fun opposition to Richard Gere's media consultant Pete St. John, and their on-screen tension can almost be cut with a knife, but the whole movie just feels unfinished.

39 The Mighty Quinn

This 1989 comedy thriller is a gem, made up of all the different genres that somehow work together. Washington plays Xavier Quinn, a police officer who is convinced that his childhood friend Maubee (Robert Townsend) has been wrongly accused of a murder he didn't commit. All the plot details aside, The Mighty Quinn could as well be a 1.5-hour-long documentary of how much of a nice guy Washington (or his character, no one can really tell them apart anymore in this film) is.

38 The Little Things

The star-studded cast, comprised of Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, and Rami Malek, has come close to saving The Little Things, but the suspense element of the thriller lacks, well, suspense. The crime thriller doesn't offer anything new that viewers haven't already known, so it's only worth watching for the leads. Washington and Malek make unexpectedly solid on-screen partners, but the latter can't compete with his scene-stealing co-star no matter how hard he tries.

37 2 Guns

Another day, another buddy cop comedy that looks and sounds too familiar. Mark Wahlberg and Washington play two undercover agents who only pose as criminals unbeknownst to each other. Their interactions are hilarious, the movie delivers on its promise of abundant action, but 2 Guns is hardly a masterpiece, compared to other projects Washington has done over the years. This role hasn't required him to put in much effort, but it doesn't show because the star's innate charisma has saved the day.

36 Ricochet

The crime thriller follows Nick Styles (Denzel Washington), a former cop turned district attorney, as he teams up with his childhood friend Odessa (Ice-T) who is now a drug dealer. Together, they take on a serial killer (John Lithgow) that Styles put in prison when he was still a police officer. Washington shines in the lead role as always, with the twist being that Ricochet's Styles is a bit more hardcore than most of the actor's similar characters within the same genre, but it suits him.

35 License to Kill

Washington always looks great as a good guy who's giving bad guys a hard time, and this movie is no different. In License to Kill, he portrays prosecutor Martin Sawyer, determined to put Don Murray's Tom Fiske, the drunk driver who killed an innocent girl, behind bars, as the latter hires a cunning defense attorney who is doing everything in his power to keep putting off the trial. Washington is rather convincing in the role, but the film itself is a bit too slow-paced.

34 The Siege

Edward Zwick's drama foreshadowed the 9/11 events three years prior, and the movie has become more popular since then. The Siege stars Denzel Washington as FBI Special Agent Anthony Hubbard and Bruce Willis as General William Devereaux who become entangled in the intricacies of a post-9/11 New York City. The plot gets too complicated to follow at some point, but the two leads are fascinating to watch in their respective roles. A bonus point: Washington's final speech is still relevant today.

33 Unstoppable

This Oscar-nominated disaster film showcases Washington's ability to bring clever and practical characters to life through his acting talent. Unstoppable centers around railroad engineer Frank Barnes (Washington) and train conductor Will Colson (Chris Pine) who work against the clock to stop a runaway train and save the unaware populace. The two actors have strong chemistry, which has only amplified their characters' contrasting personalities in a way that benefits the film.

32 Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Dan Gilroy's legal drama explored the life of the titular character, a civil rights activist and defense lawyer (Denzel Washington), as he faces a personal crisis and can't decide what to do about it. Roman J. Israel, Esq. is the movie that earned Washington an Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category, but his performance is one of the few things that are truly astonishing about the film. The plot itself is somewhat uneven, and the pacing seems odd, especially toward to end.

31 Safe House

Daniel Espinosa's Hollywood debut might have been a commercial success, but critics did not particularly care for its poorly edited action sequences and tiresome screenplay. However, the performance of Washington and Ryan Reynolds is rightfully hailed – the co-stars are definitely in their element in Safe House. Their witty banter makes up for the unsteady suspense, and Washington's matter-of-fact demeanor is unexpectedly amusing. If only Reynolds hadn't accidentally hit Washington for real on set.