12 Years Ago Today, Denzel Washington Launched One Of The 2010s Best Action Thriller Franchises

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It would be pretty easy to make the argument that Denzel Washington is the best actor ever. At the very least, he's one of the greatest to ever do it. He's delivered Oscar-worthy performances in dramas like "Philadelphia" and kicked ass in movies like "Man on Fire." He's equally excellent at both, and has been for a very, very long time. But 12 years ago, Washington gave us one of the very best action franchises of the 2010s, elevating something that had "average" written all over it into something much better.

Re-teaming with Antoine Fuqua, who directed Washington to an Oscar-winning performance in "Training Day," 2014's "The Equalizer" was the start of the actor's one and only action franchise. Based on the classic TV series of the same name, the mid-budget thriller saw Washington taking on what seemed like a run-of-the-mill big screen reboot of a once-popular show. In practice, it led to one of the most satisfying recurring action heroes to grace the silver screen in quite some time.

The first entry in the trilogy centers on Robert McCall (Washington), a mysterious man who believes he's put the past behind him, dedicating himself to a quiet new life. However, when he meets Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), a teenager who has been brutalized by Russian mobsters, McCall can't just walk away. With his particular set of skills, he comes out of a self-imposed retirement, taking down anyone who harms the helpless.

"The Equalizer" became one of Washington's most rewatchable movies, which is no small thing as the man has made many films that fall into that category. More than that, it inspired two sequels of similar quality that made for one heck of a satisfying trilogy.

Antoine Fuqua and Sony Pictures seemed to understand something crucial when they were making "The Equalizer," which is that you don't mess with Denzel. With another actor as Robert McCall, there's almost no chance that this movie works as well as it does. But Washington's charisma coupled with his ability to convincingly whip wholesale ass makes these movies sing. He adds a depth to the character at the center of this violent action that elevates the final product to something greater than what it is on paper.

"The Equalizer 2," which sees Washington play the most badass Lyft driver around, became the first sequel the actor starred in during his impressive career. Again, on paper, it could have just been a cash grab. Instead, once again, Fuqua and Washington managed to turn it into a genuinely satisfying sequel, with meaningful stakes, characters worth caring about, and yes, excellent action set pieces, all while deepening our understanding of Robert McCall. At the same time, they understand that the mystery surrounding him is part of what makes McCall interesting. They never pull the curtain back too far — just far enough to be compelling.

Then there's "The Equalizer 3," which proved that Washington is still unstoppable. Brilliantly reuniting him with Dakota Fanning years after "Man on Fire," the sequel features Washington's most brutal fit of revenge as McCall, with a third act that basically turns him into a slasher villain lurking in the shadows, dispatching terrible people with a gleeful brutality that makes viewers want to get up and cheer.

Washington is able to silently convey so much as McCall, while also turning on that action hero switch at the drop of a dime. He walks so seamlessly in both worlds, which is the real not-so-secret ingredient in this franchise.

In the 2010s, it felt very much like American action cinema was almost singlehandedly defined by the "John Wick" franchise. Keanu Reeves took "John Wick" from an underdog to the action movie king and yes, those movies are rightfully praised as excellent works of genre fare. That said, it does feel like "The Equalizer" trilogy is pretty frequently overlooked for just how great and consistent these movies have been.

Every single one of these films has made more than $190 million at the box office, demonstrating remarkable commercial consistency. And that's in no small part because all three movies, thus far, are consistent in terms of what they offer viewers in the entertainment department. They know what they are and they're executed well, with one of our greatest living actors giving his all to something that could easily just be cheap popcorn entertainment in someone else's hands.

Denzel Washington doesn't care about winning Oscars, and these aren't the sort of movies that are going to get awards season attention. But it's easy to notice when an actor of his caliber shows up for a paycheck and only give what they feel the material deserves. Washington and Antoine Fuqua, meanwhile, decided to give their A-game to "The Equalizer," delivering a trilogy that's far more special than it seems on the surface.

Sony Pictures is developing "The Equalizer 4" and "The Equalizer 5" with Washington. At some point, these Robert McCall revenge tales will run out of gas. But they haven't yet, and as an action cinema fan, it's hard not to desire more of Denzel Washington murdering everyone with purpose.

You can grab "The Equalizer" three-movie collection on Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon.