The Best Denzel Washington Movies, Ranked
68 credits from 1977 to 2025, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Sidney (2022) comes out on top with a score of 78. The biggest box office hit is Gladiator II (2024) with $462M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Top Rated Denzel Washington Movies
The 8 highest-rated films Denzel Washington is credited on. Sidney (2022) leads with 78, followed by The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) at 77. The Movie Echo Score blends critic reviews, audience ratings, cultural impact and how well a film holds up.
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#1 Movie Echo Score: Score 78 Sidney 2022 · Biography -
#2 Movie Echo Score: Score 77 The Tragedy of Macbeth 2021 · Drama -
#3 Movie Echo Score: Score 74 Highest 2 Lowest 2025 · Crime -
#4 Movie Echo Score: Score 67 Roman J. Israel, Esq. 2017 · Drama -
#5 Movie Echo Score: Score 65 Gladiator II 2024 · Action -
#6 Movie Echo Score: Score 65 The Equalizer 3 2023 · Action -
#7 Movie Echo Score: Score 65 The Equalizer 2 2018 · Action -
#8 Movie Echo Score: Score 58 The Little Things 2021 · Thriller
Biggest Denzel Washington Box Office Hits
Denzel Washington's films have made $4.89B worldwide in total. Gladiator II (2024) is the biggest hit at $462M, ahead of American Gangster (2007) ($270M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
- 1 Gladiator II 2024 · Action $462M $172M dom.
- 2
American Gangster 2007 · Drama $270M $130M dom. - 3
Safe House 2012 · Action $208M $126M dom. - 4
Philadelphia 1993 · Drama $207M $77.4M dom. - 5
The Pelican Brief 1993 · Drama $195M $101M dom. - 6
The Equalizer 2014 · Action $192M $102M dom. - 7 The Equalizer 3 2023 · Action $191M $92.4M dom.
- 8 The Equalizer 2 2018 · Action $190M $102M dom.
- 9
Inside Man 2006 · Drama $186M $88.5M dom. - 10
Deja Vu 2006 · Action $181M $64M dom.
The Best Denzel Washington Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Denzel Washington has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Drama leads with 23 films, and The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) is the pick of them.
- Drama 23 films The Tragedy of Macbeth 2021 · as Macbeth Movie Echo Score: 77
- Action 18 films Gladiator II 2024 · as Macrinus Movie Echo Score: 65
- Biography 7 films Sidney 2022 Movie Echo Score: 78
- Thriller 2 films The Little Things 2021 · as Joe 'Deke' Deacon Movie Echo Score: 58
- Crime 1 film Highest 2 Lowest 2025 · as David King Movie Echo Score: 74
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Comedy 1 film Heart Condition 1990 · as Napoleon Stone -
History 1 film Glory 1989 · as Pvt. Trip
The Best Denzel Washington Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Denzel Washington's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1980s to 2020s.
Most Awarded Denzel Washington Movies
Denzel Washington's films with wins at the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database, the most decorated first. Fences (2016) leads with 6 wins from 16 nominations.
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Awards: 6 wins Fences 2016 · 16 nominations - Awards: 4 wins Philadelphia 1993 · 9 nominations
- Awards: 1 win American Gangster 2007 · 14 nominations
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Awards: 1 win Cry Freedom 1987 · 14 nominations -
Awards: 1 win Training Day 2001 · 5 nominations -
Awards: 1 win Glory 1990 · 5 nominations -
Awards: 1 win Antwone Fisher 2002 · 2 nominations -
Awards: 1 win The Hurricane 1999 · 5 nominations
The Latest Denzel Washington Movies
The most recent films Denzel Washington is credited on, newest first — starting with Highest 2 Lowest (2025). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
- Highest 2 Lowest 2025 · David King
- Gladiator II 2024 · Macrinus
- The Equalizer 3 2023 · Robert McCall
- Sidney 2022 · Biography
- The Tragedy of Macbeth 2021 · Macbeth
- The Little Things 2021 · Joe 'Deke' Deacon
- The Equalizer 2 2018 · Robert McCall
- Roman J. Israel, Esq. 2017 · Roman J. Israel, Esq.
- Fences 2016 · Drama
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The Magnificent Seven 2016 · Action - The Equalizer 2014 · Action
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2 Guns 2013 · Action
The Best Denzel Washington Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Denzel Washington films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the best Denzel Washington movie?
Sidney (2022) is the best-rated Denzel Washington film, with a Movie Echo Score of 78, ahead of The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) (77) and Highest 2 Lowest (2025) (74). The Movie Echo Score blends critic reviews, audience ratings and how well a film has lasted.
Sidney: cast, ratings & box office What is the highest-grossing Denzel Washington movie?
Gladiator II (2024) made the most at the box office, with $462M worldwide, followed by American Gangster (2007) with $270M. Together, Denzel Washington's films with box office figures have made $4.89B.
Which Denzel Washington movie won the most awards?
Fences (2016) is the most decorated Denzel Washington film, with 6 wins from 16 nominations across the Oscars, Golden Globes, BAFTA and the other ceremonies in the awards database.
What is the best Denzel Washington drama movie?
The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) is the best-rated of Denzel Washington's drama films, with a score of 77. In other genres: Gladiator II (action), Sidney (biography) and The Little Things (thriller).
What is the newest Denzel Washington movie?
The newest film on Denzel Washington's filmography is Highest 2 Lowest (2025), with Denzel Washington as David King.
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