Summary

Denzel Washington ’s collaborations withTony Scottproduced some of Hollywood ’s best works between an A - list actor and a bankable director that the entertainment industry has ever go through . From the nineties to the 2010s , Washington and Scott join forces on a broad image of projects that take care them both meet into their persuasiveness and also go against expectations . Washington and Scott ’s chemistry allowed the duo to producefive unique and entertaining movies ranging from legal action adventures to psychological thrillers .

Despite Washington ’s more serious spectacular pursuits , as understand inMalcolm XandPhiladelphia , and Scott ’s penchant for in high spirits - octane smash hit likeTop GunandBeverly Hill Cop II , the two successfully came together and blend their sensibility in a alone and surprisingly effective way . They first collaborated on Scott’sCrimson Tide , and the winner of the action at law thriller conduct to four more movies that enjoyed vary degrees of critical and commercial-grade achiever . With a professional relationship that spanned 15 years and gross more than $ 780 million globally , Tony Scott is one of thebest film director Denzel Washington ever work with .

Oscar winner Denzel Washington ’s mainstream body of work is prolific . However , he has mass of underrated roles under his belt many are n’t familiar with .

16 Denzel Washington Action Movies, Ranked Worst To Best

5The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Washington plays Walter Garber in Scott’s action thriller remake.

Cast

The Taking of Pelham 123sees a face - off between a criminal mastermind and an ordinary subway system train dispatcher in a tense adaptation of John Godey ’s novel of the same name . While the movie falls short compared to the original 1974 film version and even to the 1998 TV picture remake , it excels in its power to make its hearing feel the suspense of the rider aboard the hijacked subway caravan . Denzel Washington and Tony Scott ’s take on the story accomplishes this through frantic redaction , genuinely act as fiber , and sweeping filming that leave little way for viewers to breathe .

The movie ’s generic plot , its unconvincing scoundrel ( meet by John Travolta ) , and its excessive reliance on style over sum makeThe Taking of Pelham 123the weakest collaboration between the player and film director . However , Washington ’s performance not only works as the movie ’s most pregnant highlight , but it helps display the angst and anxiety many New Yorkers and , to a less extent , Americans overall palpate regarding post-9/11 mother country security efforts . The Taking of Pelham 123could have well focused entirely on the action , but its rousing spoken language from Washington and vehemence on the comradeliness of the passenger help make it a memorable coaction .

The Taking of Pelham 123is available to stream on AMC+ .

The Films of Tony Scott ranked worst to best

Denzel Washington has starred in a fate of movies over the course of his career , including 16 natural process movies that can be rank by overall quality .

4Unstoppable (2010)

Washington plays Frank Barnes in Scott’s disaster thriller.

Unstoppablesees Denzel Washington as a veteran conductor named team up with Chris Pine ’s young pardner , as the two body of work together to block an unmanned train from barreling through a metropolis . Unstoppablehearkens back to Tony Scott’sTop Gunsensibilities , as the movie is garish , action - packed , and filled with enough drama between its two lead to keep things suspenseful throughout its 98 - minute runtime . Among many thing , Unstoppablethrives on its power to make the action as piquant as it is thrilling , and it achieve this by elbow room of Frank and Will ’s collide political theory regarding how to hold start the day .

Tony Scott died in 2012 , makingUnstoppablehis final movie as a conductor .

WhileUnstoppablecould do without its overtly political messaging , the filmmaking employed to convincingly betray the action shot has helped sustain the motion picture ’s bequest . In addition to its spirit - rush score by Harry Gregson - Williams , Unstoppable ’s filming and sharp redaction are among two of the motion-picture show ’s solid technical scene . The luxuriant verdure of the movie ’s northerly Pennsylvanian landscape is intercut with blind drunk , sizzling close - ups of train machinery spiraling out of control , as the trains nearly collide with innocent civilians . Unstoppablewas the last collaboration between Washington and Scott , andits bedazzle activity and witty grapheme make it a highlighting in their joint filmography .

Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3

Unstoppableis available to rent on all the major VOD platform .

Ranking every movie from the late great music director Tony Scott , from Top Gun to True Romance to Crimson Tide to The Last Boy Scout and beyond .

3Déjà Vu (2006)

Washington plays Doug Carlin in Scott’s sci-fi action film.

In Tony Scott’sDéjà Vu , ATF special broker Doug Carlin ( Denzel Washington ) uses experimental surveillance technology to unearth a mystery after a ferry is bombed in New Orleans . This is the duo ’s only sci - fi collaboration , and while it ’s not the most scientifically exact flick , its geographic expedition of base of guiltiness and rue through its usage of time traveling help make it a uniqueentry in the duet ’s filmography . moreover , Doug ’s obsession with one of the victim of the bombardment serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of dwelling on the past tense .

An underrated quality ofDéjà Vuis that its grapheme and plot serve as substantial metaphors for the military strength of world when forced to overcome insurmountable odds . The script was written around the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks , and its scope was change from New York to New Orleans shortly after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city in 2005 . Even with Scott ’s accent on action and flair over skill and the possible action of sentence travel , Déjà Vuis in effect because of howit highlights human grit and determination while displaying the issues inherent to trying to alter the past .

Déjà Vuis useable to pullulate on Tubi .

Denzel Washington as John W. Creasy from Man on Fire and Frank Barnes from Unstoppable

2Crimson Tide (1995)

Washington plays Ronald “Ron” Hunter in Scott’s submarine action thriller.

Crimson Tidesees Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter ( Denzel Washington ) arrange a mutiny aboard a submarine to prevent his induction - happy superior from launching missile at Russia and Japan . Rife with Tony Scott ’s brand of action and suspense , it exceeds action motion-picture show expectation thanks torewrites from Quentin Tarantino that strengthen the movie ’s themes of dedication and combine . base partially on the Cuban Missile Crisis , Crimson Tideuses its submarine sic to tell an effective story about the red ink of one ’s humanity through paranoia and greed , and its brilliant acting performance help it stand as one ofDenzel Washington ’s good ' ninety flick , as well as one of his best collaborations with Scott .

Crimson Tideis useable to rend on all major VOD political platform .

With a career sweep over four decennary , Denzel Washington has long become a family name , and here are all of his movies , ranked .

15 Underrated Denzel Washington Performances

1Man On Fire (2004)

Washington plays John W. Creasy in Scott’s action thriller.

Man on Firecenters around John W. Creasy ( Denzel Washington ) , a retired CIA intelligence officer , and his pursuit for payback after a corporate trust assaults a family he swore to protect . Featuring one ofDenzel Washington ’s best speeches , Man on Firehighlights the futility of retaliation and the barbarism of violence through its grip story and effective handling of natural process . Additionally , the chemistry between Washington and then nine - yr - honest-to-goodness Dakota Fanning aids importantly in yield the movie plenty of center . Man on Fireis Washington and Scott ’s undecomposed collaboration because of its captivating action and themes , and continued need forMan on Fire 2nearly two decades after its release proves its worth .

Man on Fireis uncommitted to rain cats and dogs on Max .

Denzel Washington as Walter Garber talks into a microphone in The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

Headshot Of Denzel Washington In The Premiere Of Apple Original Films' and A24’s

Headshot Of John Travolta In The TCM Classic Film Festival Opening Night

Headshot Of James Gandolfini

Headshot Of John Turturro In The Arrivals for ‘The Batman’ World Premiere

Headshot Of Chris Pine iN The Wags & Walks 12th Annual Benefit Gala at Taglyan Complex.

Headshot Of Rosario Dawson In The Special Screening for Hulu&rsquo;s <code>Dopesick</code>

Headshot Of Kevin Dunn In The FYC for HBO Veep 6th Season Premiere

Denzel Washington as Doug Carlin sitting in a car watching someone off-screen in Déjà Vu

Headshot oF Dakota Fanning

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Headshot Of Radha Mitchell In The 31st Annual Race To Erase MS Gala 2024