Denzel Washington – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · August 15, 2026

Training Day gets reached for first, but Malcolm X and Glory show a controlled, dignified register instead of explosive. Fences and Flight are the strongest evidence of his range in the last fifteen years. In American Gangster (2007): Cold, controlled, and completely commanding opposite Russell Crowe. Just as strong is Remember the Titans (2000): A crowd-pleaser that still works because he never phones it in, even in the feel-good roles.

Training Day (2001)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 74% Metacritic 71

The performance that won him his second Oscar, and one of the most quotable villains in modern film.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua · 2h 02m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar18 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus, TNT · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Malcolm X (1992)

TMDB ★ 7.7

A towering, career-defining performance that should have won him the Oscar it did not.

Directed by Spike Lee · 3h 22m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Glory (1989)

TMDB ★ 7.8

His first Oscar win, and a genuinely powerful supporting performance.

Directed by Edward Zwick · 2h 02m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

American Gangster (2007)

IMDb ★ 7.8 RT 81% Metacritic 76

Cold, controlled, and completely commanding opposite Russell Crowe.

Directed by Ridley Scott · 2h 37m · Rated R

Nominated for 2 Oscars12 wins & 38 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, YouTube TV, MGM Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Fences (2016)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A stage-to-screen performance with enormous weight behind every line.

Directed by Denzel Washington · 2h 19m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Essential · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Hurricane (1999)

TMDB ★ 7.6

One of his most physically and emotionally demanding roles.

Directed by Norman Jewison · 2h 26m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Man on Fire (2004)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 39% Metacritic 47

Tense and brutal, and one of his most purely entertaining action roles.

Directed by Tony Scott · 2h 26m · Rated R

1 win & 7 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Philadelphia (1993)

IMDb ★ 7.7 RT 81% Metacritic 66

A quieter, more restrained side of his range, opposite Tom Hanks.

Directed by Jonathan Demme · 2h 06m · Rated PG-13

Won 2 Oscars21 wins & 23 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Flight (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A raw, uncomfortable performance about addiction that holds nothing back.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 2h 18m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Paramount Plus Essential, Starz Apple TV channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Remember the Titans (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A crowd-pleaser that still works because he never phones it in, even in the feel-good roles.

Directed by Boaz Yakin · 1h 53m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus, Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

Denzel Washington – 10 Best Movies

Training Day (2001)

Malcolm X (1992)

Glory (1989)

American Gangster (2007)

Fences (2016)

The Hurricane (1999)

Man on Fire (2004)

Philadelphia (1993)

Flight (2012)

Remember the Titans (2000)

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