Denzel Washington has anchored dozens of memorable films with intense, layered performances that span biopics, thrillers, and dramas. These entries stand out for critical praise, cultural resonance, and box-office draw. Vote to reorder them by your own criteria.
What counts: Best means strongest combination of critical acclaim, cultural impact, Denzel's lead performance, and audience reach; figures are approximate
▲ Rising
Washington embodies the full arc of Malcolm X from street hustler to national leader in Spike Lee's epic. The three-hour runtime lets the transformation breathe and ends with a powerful historical coda. It earns the top spot for the unmatched depth of the central performance.
Year: 1992IMDb Rating: 7.7/10Box Office: 48 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 202 min
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▲ Rising
Washington's portrayal of the defiant Private Trip in the 54th Massachusetts regiment delivers one of cinema's most searing anti-hero arcs. The flag-raising climax and whipping scene remain signature moments of 1980s prestige drama. It ranks high for historical weight and raw emotional payoff.
Year: 1989IMDb Rating: 7.8/10Box Office: 27 $MOscar Wins: 1Runtime: 122 min
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▲ Rising
Washington's alcoholic pilot performs a miraculous landing then faces the consequences in Robert Zemeckis's moral drama. The opening crash sequence and courtroom testimony anchor the film. It earns its place for the raw portrayal of addiction and accountability.
Year: 2012IMDb Rating: 7.3/10Box Office: 162 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 138 min
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▲ Rising
Washington flips his heroic image as the corrupt Detective Alonzo Harris in a single-day descent into moral chaos. His Oscar-winning turn anchors a taut thriller that still sparks debate about police ethics. The film tops many rankings for its electric villainy and tight plotting.
Year: 2001IMDb Rating: 7.7/10Box Office: 105 $MOscar Wins: 1Runtime: 122 min
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▲ Rising
Washington's defense attorney evolves from prejudice to empathy in Jonathan Demme's landmark AIDS drama. The library research montage and courtroom summation remain iconic. It earns its place for helping shift mainstream attitudes while showcasing dramatic range.
Year: 1993IMDb Rating: 7.7/10Box Office: 206 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 125 min
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▲ Rising
Washington adapts and stars in August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning play, mining quiet rage and regret as Troy Maxson. The backyard fence becomes a potent symbol across generations of family pain. Its high placement reflects the stage-to-screen fidelity and award-season dominance.
Year: 2016IMDb Rating: 7.2/10Box Office: 64 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 139 min
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▲ Rising
Washington channels Rubin Carter's wrongful imprisonment and courtroom redemption with ferocious intensity. The film builds to a rousing final act that still resonates in discussions of justice reform. It earns its spot through the actor's transformative physical and emotional commitment.
Year: 1999IMDb Rating: 7.6/10Box Office: 74 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 146 min
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Washington plays real-life drug kingpin Frank Lucas opposite Russell Crowe in Ridley Scott's sleek crime epic. The rise-and-fall arc and meticulous period detail give the film its heavyweight status. Its ranking reflects the star power and meticulous production values.
Year: 2007IMDb Rating: 7.8/10Box Office: 268 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 157 min
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▲ Rising
Washington's lone wanderer protects a sacred book across a post-apocalyptic wasteland in the Hughes brothers' stylish action drama. The final reveal and quiet conviction give the film its weight. It earns its spot for the actor's stoic, faith-driven lead.
Year: 2010IMDb Rating: 6.8/10Box Office: 157 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 118 min
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Washington's retired operative dispenses vigilante justice with meticulous precision in Antoine Fuqua's action reboot. The hardware-store scene and final showdown showcase controlled intensity. It ranks for redefining the actor as an action franchise lead.
Year: 2014IMDb Rating: 7.2/10Box Office: 192 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 132 min
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Washington delivers a brooding, vengeful ex-CIA operative in Tony Scott's stylish revenge thriller. The Mexico City setting and brutal set pieces cemented its cult status. It ranks for the actor's shift into darker action-hero territory.
Year: 2004IMDb Rating: 7.7/10Box Office: 130 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 146 min
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▲ Rising
Washington's detective plays a high-stakes chess match with Clive Owen's bank robber in Spike Lee's clever heist film. The layered flashbacks and twisty negotiations keep viewers guessing. It earns its spot for smart plotting and charismatic lead chemistry.
Year: 2006IMDb Rating: 7.6/10Box Office: 186 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 129 min
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Washington leads the real-life integration of a high-school football team with a mix of toughness and warmth. The locker-room speeches and on-field triumphs made it a perennial inspirational favorite. It sits high for broad appeal and lasting cultural footprint.
Year: 2000IMDb Rating: 7.8/10Box Office: 115 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 113 min
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Washington clashes with Gene Hackman in a submarine thriller that hinges on moral authority and mutiny protocol. The chess-game tension and debate scenes highlight his commanding screen presence. It ranks well for tight pacing and classic Hollywood conflict.
Year: 1995IMDb Rating: 7.3/10Box Office: 157 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 116 min
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Washington's quadriplegic detective mentors a young cop through a serial-killer case in Phillip Noyce's sleek thriller. The forensic tension and wheelchair-bound intensity anchor the film. It earns its spot for the unusual hero dynamic and procedural craft.
Year: 1999IMDb Rating: 6.7/10Box Office: 151 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 118 min
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▲ Rising
Washington directs and stars as a debate coach guiding Wiley College students to national prominence in the 1930s. The final Harvard showdown delivers rousing oratory and historical uplift. It earns its place for inspirational education themes and ensemble work.
Year: 2007IMDb Rating: 7.5/10Box Office: 30 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 126 min
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Washington teams with Chris Pine to stop a runaway train in Tony Scott's high-octane thriller. The real-time tension and blue-collar heroics deliver crowd-pleasing momentum. It earns its place for efficient action craftsmanship and star chemistry.
Year: 2010IMDb Rating: 6.8/10Box Office: 168 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 98 min
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▼ Falling
Washington's jazz trumpeter navigates love, ambition, and artistic integrity in Spike Lee's vibrant music drama. The club performances and romantic entanglements drive the narrative. It earns its place for the rich musical sequences and early-career charisma.
Year: 1990IMDb Rating: 6.6/10Box Office: 16 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 129 min
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Washington's ATF agent uses experimental time-travel tech to prevent a terrorist bombing in Tony Scott's sci-fi actioner. The time-bending set pieces and romantic thread give the film its hook. It ranks for inventive premise and brisk pacing.
Year: 2006IMDb Rating: 7.1/10Box Office: 181 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 126 min
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▼ Falling
Washington's rogue operative forces a young agent into a deadly game of cat and mouse across Cape Town. The brutal fight scenes and shifting alliances highlight his action-star evolution. It ranks for kinetic energy and international locale.
Year: 2012IMDb Rating: 6.7/10Box Office: 208 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 115 min
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▼ Falling
Washington's subway dispatcher negotiates with John Travolta's hijacker in Tony Scott's tense remake. The real-time clock and moral negotiations drive the suspense. It earns its spot for the contained setting and star power.
Year: 2009IMDb Rating: 6.4/10Box Office: 150 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 106 min
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▼ Falling
Washington directs and co-stars as the psychiatrist helping a troubled sailor confront his past in this autobiographical drama. The therapy sessions and family revelations form the emotional backbone. It ranks for the sensitive handling of trauma and quiet power.
Year: 2002IMDb Rating: 7.3/10Box Office: 23 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 120 min
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▼ Falling
Washington's detective tracks a demonic entity that jumps between hosts in this supernatural thriller. The voice-over narration and escalating paranoia keep the mystery alive. It ranks for the unusual premise and solid genre execution.
Year: 1998IMDb Rating: 7/10Box Office: 25 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 124 min
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▼ Falling
Washington's desperate father takes a hospital hostage to secure his son's heart transplant in Nick Cassavetes's social-issue thriller. The ethical standoffs and family stakes drive the narrative. It ranks for the actor's everyman intensity and topical relevance.
Year: 2002IMDb Rating: 7.1/10Box Office: 102 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 116 min
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▼ Falling
Washington plays a father seeking redemption through his basketball-prodigy son in Spike Lee's family drama. The one-on-one scenes and paternal tension remain the emotional core. It ranks for the nuanced father-son dynamic and sports authenticity.
Year: 1998IMDb Rating: 6.9/10Box Office: 22 $MOscar Wins: 0Runtime: 136 min
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Came for the argument, stayed for the comparison grid. The numbers settle half the fights here.
Malcolm X (1992) at the top is the correct call and I'll die on this hill.
This is the most honest version of this ranking I've seen anywhere. The pros and cons are fair.
Missing a few names that belong in the top ten, but the top three is basically right.
Wild that Malcolm X (1992) is winning this. Scroll down — the real answer is further down the board.