Denzel Washingtonwasn’t always seen as an action star. Since the ’80s, he has headlined a number of dramatic films that have earned him awards recognition, but his career shifted in the early 2000s with the release ofMan on Fire(2004), which saw him become a one-man army-type of hero. This continued withThe Book of Eli(2010),Safe House(2012), and2 Guns(2013), all of which feature Washington taking down an abundance of enemies.
Now 70 years old,Washington is still widely associated with the action genre dueto his starring role in a popular thriller franchise. The American actor takes on the role of a former government assassin in theAntoine Fuqua-directed movies, killing criminals and protecting the innocent with lethal efficiency. Washington first played the assassin in 2014 before returning for two sequels.
The Equalizer 2 Becomes A Prime Video Hit
Denzel Washington’s Sequel Is Still A Win With Audiences
Seven years after its release in theaters,The Equalizer 2has become a big hit on Prime Video. Released in 2018,Washington’s second outing as assassin Robert McCall sees him now working as a Lyft driver, returning to his violent ways after his colleague is killed under mysterious circumstances. The secondEqualizermovie, which costars Pedro Pascal as villain Dave York, was a success at the box office, grossing $190 million on an estimated budget of $62 million.
Washington and Pascal recently reunited as part of thecast ofGladiator 2.
Viewers are now rediscoveringThe Equalizer 2, asthe film ranks, as of writing, as the seventh most popular title on Prime Video in the U.S.While the title beatsThe Creator(2024),Ryan Trahan(2019–), andThe Family Stone(2005), it falls short of other titles likeA Quiet Place: Day One(2024),Culpa Tuya(2024), and, in the top position,Red One(2024). Check out the full Prime Video top 10:
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What The Equalizer 2’s Streaming Success Means For The Movie
How The Sequel Compares To The Other Installments
Of the three movies in theEqualizerfranchise, the second one is the worst-rated onRotten Tomatoes. Despite the action-packedEqualizer 2ending,the sequel has only a 52% score from critics, making it the only movie in the franchise that is officially designated “rotten.“The second film also grossed the lowest amount at the box office, falling just short of the original movie and the third installment. Check out a chart comparing the three movies below:
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77%
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76%
94%
$70M
$191M
Even thoughThe Equalizer 2may have fallen short of the other two installments, it was still a hit, and the performance of the three movies taken together speaks to the consistent and loyal audience this franchise has. The fact that the sequel is now once again finding success on streaming bodes well for the franchise’s future, as Washington recently confirmed thatThe Equalizer 4and5are happening.The Equalizer 2may not be the franchise’s high point, but it remains a solid action flick, and viewers are evidently enjoying revisiting the film from home.
The Equalizer Franchise’s Future Explained
When Will The Fourth & Fifth Movies Be Released?
The Equalizer 3’s endingseemingly served as a final farewell for McCall, giving the character a happy and satisfying sendoff after he takes down the Italian mafia. Though the third movie appeared to serve as the end of the line for the character, with Washington and Fuqua suggesting during the movie’s press tour that they intended it to serve as Washington’s final outing, the actor recently dropped a surprising bit of news. In an interview withEsquire, he revealed thathe has agreed to return forThe Equalizer 4and a fifth movie:
“I told them I would do anotherEqualizer, andwe’re doing four and five. More people are happy about that—people love those daggoneEqualizers. But I’ve come to realize that theEqualizerfilms are for me, too, because they’re for the people. They want me to go get the bad guys. ‘We can’t get them, so you go get them.’ And I say, Okay, I’ll get them! Just wait right there. I’ll be right back!”
Though Washington certainly seems enthusiastic about continuing as McCall, his upcoming slate of projects raises questions about when these new sequels will actually happen. He recently revealed that he has several Shakespeare adaptations coming for both the stage and screen, includingOthelloandKing Lear.He’s also set to reteam with Fuqua for a movie about the Carthaginian general Hannibal, on top of collaborations with Steve McQueen and Ryan Coogler, the latter of whom is writing a part for him in the upcomingBlack Panther 3.
Denzel Washington’s 10 Best Scenes In The Equalizer Movies, Ranked
The Equalizer movies have given Denzel Washington some great material to work with, and here are his best scenes across the three films.
Now, the exact timeline of when all these projects are happening isn’t clear, butit could potentially be a few years beforeThe Equalizer 4can even start filming. This means Washington could be approaching his mid-70s in the next movie, and potentially his late 70s when he makesThe Equalizer 5. This could end up impacting how the action scenes look in the final movie, butThe Equalizer 2’s streaming success suggests audiences will probably just be happy to seeWashingtonback as McCall for another adventure.
