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Denzel Washington is one of the greatest actors in movie history. Even in films that are just average, his performances are always unforgettable. If someone tells you they’re not a Denzel fan, you should stop talking to them, because they clearly have horrible taste.
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With upcoming films “Gladiator II” releasing Nov. 22 and new Spike Lee Joint “High and Low” in production, it doesn’t look like his streak is ending anytime soon.
While Washington’s award-winning filmography is unquestioned, his lack of appearances in major sci-fi or comic book franchises means he doesn’t have a big time billion-dollar blockbuster on his resume. But that doesn’t mean his roster isn’t chock full of box office hits.
In case you’re curious about where his movies rank, we’ve done the work for you. According to BoxOfficeMojo, these are Denzel Washington’s top 20 films, per worldwide gross.
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‘American Gangster’ - $269,755,430
The amazing thing about “American Gangster” is that it has so many quotable moments and everyone has their favorite. It’s why we keep coming back to it over and over.
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‘Safe House’ - $208,076,205
Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds isn’t a team we were expecting, but somehow their two different styles work in this fun, good vs. evil action film.
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‘Philadelphia’ - $206,678,440
What makes Washington so fantastic in “Philadelphia” is how you can still discover something new in his performance all these years later. He and Tom Hanks are perfection here.
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‘The Pelican Brief’ - $195,268,056
If you like government conspiracy thrillers and major movie stars, this ‘90s hit is probably one of your favorites. If we’re being honest, we weren’t expecting it to be this high.
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‘The Equalizer’ - $192,330,738
‘The Equalizer’ - $192,330,738
In his first outing as “The Equalizer,” Denzel entered the action hero conversation with a brutal, violent trip to a big box hardware store. We’ll never look at Home Depot or Lowe’s the same way again.
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‘The Equalizer 3’ - 191,067,560
This was meant to feel like a final chapter, but we’ll watch Washington “equalize” problems forever if he keeps making these awesome movies.
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‘The Equalizer 2’ - $190,400,157
Just in case you’re wondering, that’s a franchise total of $573,798,455. Half a billion dollars for an action franchise led by a Black actor is a major deal.
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‘Inside Man’ - $186,003,591
Every time Spike Lee and Washington team up, it’s magic. The way “Inside Man” unravels its complicated web is beautiful and even more fun on subsequent viewings. And of course, in a ridiculously star-studded cast, Denzel is a spectacular anchor.
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‘Déjà Vu’ - $180,557,550
Spoiler alert for a movie from 2006: the time travel plot is a lot. Don’t think too hard about it or you’ll get a headache.
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‘Unstoppable’ - $167,805,466
Not only were we not expecting this runaway train epic to crack the top 10, it’s also surprising to see how evenly split the box office is between domestic and international numbers. It brought in $81.5 million domestic and $86.2 million globally.
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‘The Magnificent Seven’ - $162,360,695
Despite a cast that includes Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke, we’re giving all the credit for this western’s success to Washington.
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‘Flight’ - $161,772,375
Washington delivers another classic performance in “Flight,” but we’re still not happy about his character’s fate.
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‘Crimson Tide’ - $157,387,195
Washington and Gene Hackman go toe to toe in this thriller that somehow feels relevant again.
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‘The Book of Eli’ - $157,107,755
Word on the street is we’re getting “Book of Eli” prequel series starring John Boyega. He’s an amazing actor who can definitely bring the emotional weight required for the role. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want a Washington cameo if possible.
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‘The Bone Collector’ - $151,493,655
As quadriplegic forensics investigator Lincoln Rhyme, Washington brilliantly conveys his character’s emotional upheaval without venturing into pity or mockery.
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‘The Taking of Pelham 123’ - $150,166,126
We’re not claiming this is one of his instant classics, but clearly some people enjoyed it. Even amongst John Travolta’s overacting, Washington is rock solid.
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‘Remember the Titans’ - $136,771,683
If you don’t like “Remember the Titans” we have serious questions about all your life choices.
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‘2 Guns’ - $131,940,411
Even when you’re a legend, they won’t all be winners. We’re totally blaming Mark Wahlberg for the lower box office total.
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‘Man on Fire’ - $130,834,852
If this were a list of Washington’s best action movies, “Man on Fire” would definitely be in the top five. It’s his unmatched ability to draw you in and make you truly feel every single one of Creasy’s emotions that makes him so great.
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‘The Siege’ - $116,672,912
Following the Sept. 11 attacks, this 1998 film about similar attacks in NYC leading to martial law sort of faded away, as it was a little too real in how it portrayed the United States’ response to the situation.
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