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The Ultimate Denzel Movie List
Denzel Washington is back on the big screen in Safe House, playing a rogue former intelligence officer who seems like a bad guy - or is he? Ryan Reynolds co-stars as a rookie operative who must shepherd the deadly assassin to the next safe house before time runs out.
Let's take a look back at the other great movie roles inhabited by Denzel. -
Cry Freedom (1987)
Although he had been on TV for years in "St. Elsewhere," Denzel's breakout film role was his performance as Steve Biko in this dramatic bio-pic which earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
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Glory (1989)
Playing a Union soldier in this Civil War pic earned Washington his first Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor. The film also earned 4 other Oscar nominations including for Cinematography, Editing and Sound.
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Malcolm X (1992)
Directed by Spike Lee, this biopic on the late, controversial black Muslim leader earned Denzel his first Academy Award nomination in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category.
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Philadelphia (1993)
Denzel co-starred with Tom Hanks in this moving drama about a man (Hanks) wrongly fired from his job because he has AIDS. Denzel plays the small-time homophobic lawyer who takes the case and eventually overcomes his fears and sees Hanks' character as no different than anyone else.
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Crimson Tide (1995)
The first collaboration of five films with director Tony Scott was this action-thriller about a nuclear sub on the brink of war with Russia co-starring Gene Hackman as Washington's adversary.
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Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
This first-rate film noir from director Carl Franklin (who'd already made a splash with his awesome crime drama One False Move) casts Denzel as World War II vet turned private eye Easy Rawlins, who's called upon to find a mysterious, beautiful woman in late '40s Los Angeles.
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Courage Under Fire (1996)
In Courage Under Fire, Denzel provided true grit as Lt. Col. Nathaniel Serling, a soldier who has difficulty coping after mistakenly ordering the destruction of an American tank unit during the Gulf War. Back at home, he's assigned to investigate the actions of a female helicopter pilot killed in combat to see if she should be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Directed by Glory filmmaker Ed Zwick.
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He Got Game (1998)
Re-teaming with director Spike Lee, Denzel again proved his versatility as the all too human convict/father of a rising basketball star, who's given a chance to lessen his prison sentence if he can convince his son to attend the governor's alma matter.
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The Bone Collector (1999)
Paired with rising superstar Angelina Jolie, this '99 crime-thriller finds Washington delivering superb work while being mostly confined to a bed, playing a paralyzed forensics detective who helps street-smart cop Jolie track down an elusive serial killer.
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The Hurricane (1999)
Nominated again for an Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role, Washington portrays Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, a boxer who was wrongly imprisoned for murder and later exonerated with the help of a young boy and his Canadian mentors.
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Remember the Titans (2000)
In one of his most popular films, Denzel plays football coach Herman Boone, tasked with putting together a winning team cobbled together from three high schools (two white, one African-American) in 1971. Based on real events that took place in Alexandria, Virginia.
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Training Day (2001)
"King Kong ain't got sh*t on me!" This was one of many memorable lines spoken by Washington as rogue detective Alonzo Harris that earned him his second Academy Award, this time for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Washington has frequently said that Alonzo Harris is his favorite character that he's played. Hey, it's fun to be a bad guy!
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Antwone Fisher (2002)
Denzel made his feature directorial debut with this biopic based on the real life story of the lead character Antwone, who has to go see a psychiatrist, played by Washington, which in turn makes him confront his painful past. This was also actor Derek Luke's feature film debut playing Fisher.
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Man on Fire (2004)
Who better to protect than Denzel? In Man on Fire, the actor plays an ex-operative who becomes the bodyguard of a ten-year-old girl (Dakota Fanning) living in Mexico City with her wealthy parents. After she's kidnapped, our man goes on a rampage, and nothing will likely stop him from rescuing his young charge.
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Inside Man (2006)
Denzel's most recent collaboration (of 4) with director Spike Lee was in this crime-thriller co-starring Willem Dafoe, Jodie Foster, Clive Owen and Christopher Plummer. Denzel plays a detective caught in an intense hostage situation happening during a bank robbery.
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American Gangster (2007)
Based on a true story, and again taking on the role of the bad guy, Washington plays drug kingpin of the 70s Frank Lucas, who is being pursued by detective Richie Roberts, played by Russell Crowe.
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The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)
This film is a re-make of the 1974 movie, and has Washington taking on the role previously played by Walter Matthau. John Travolta plays the villain who hijacks a New York City subway train demanding $10 million within one hour. Washington plays the train dispatcher who has to negotiate with the hijackers.
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The Book of Eli (2010)
Denzel roams the post-apocalyptic landscape in this action-thriller from filmmaking duo Allen and Albert Hughes (Menace to Society). He's a spiritual warrior who's handy with a shotgun, minimal with his words and possessive of a book that may just save the rest of mankind.
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Unstoppable (2010)
Maybe this film was named after Denzel's career?! He co-stars as a veteran engineer alongside Star Trek's Chris Pine as a young conductor. Together, they work to stop a runaway train carrying toxic chemicals.
Which Denzel Washington movies did we miss? Leave a comment below and let us know!
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