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Thespian Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. began his career on stage, acting in off-Broadway productions. Getting his break on the NBC drama series ‘St. Elsewhere,’ he went on to have an illustrious film career, winning critical acclaim and accolades for films such as ‘A Soldier’s Story,’ ‘Glory,’ ‘Training Day,’ ‘Cry Freedom,’ ‘Malcolm X,’ and ‘Fences.’ Denzel has also starred in an exhaustive list of commercial films, which include the likes of ‘The Pelican Brief,’ ‘Crimson Tide,’ ‘Remember the Titans,’ ‘Inside Man,’ ‘American Gangster,’ ‘Safe House,’ and ‘The Equalizer’ trilogy.
Over the years, he has also served as the producer and director in many projects, and has continued to appear on stage. In addition to numerous awards won over the decades, Denzel has been honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016, the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019, the Honorary Palme d’Or in 2025, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025. If you’re preparing to dive into Denzel Washington‘s work on Netflix, the following list will help guide you.
3. Hard Lessons (1986)
Originally titled ‘The George McKenna Story,’ Eric Laneuville’s ‘Hard Lessons’ is a biographical film that chronicles the experiences of George McKenna (Denzel Washington) as he takes on the job of a principal at George Washington Preparatory High School in South Los Angeles. It becomes a career-defining moment for him, as he faces students who care for nothing, and teachers and parents who cannot be bothered. With the help of educator Bobbie Maxwell (Lynn Whitfield), George embarks on a mission to transform the school from a site for gang wars to a reputable place of learning. Watch the film on Netflix.
2. American Gangster (2007)
Ridley Scott’s cult classic crime drama ‘American Gangster’ follows Newark Detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) as he goes after drug lord Frank Lucas (Washington), who has been using the coffins of US soldiers being brought from the Vietnam War to transport drugs, which eventually makes him Harlem’s top crime lord. While Lucas enforces loyalty, honesty, integrity, and hard work, Roberts is all in for Lucas’ other qualities, like extortion, bribery, murder, and racketeering. How Roberts catches Lucas using informants, wiretaps, warrants, and more, while the latter grows more and more as a powerful figure, forms the premise of the neo-noir drama. The Academy Award-nominated film dramatizes the criminal career of gangster Frank Lucas and how he was brought down by Newark Detective Richie Roberts. packed with top-notch performances, thrills, and drama. You can watch it here.
1. Glory (1989)
Directed by Edward Zwick, ‘Glory’ is a war movie set during the American Civil War. Washington plays the role of Private Trip, a recruit at the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the Union Army, led by Captain Robert Gould Shaw (Matthew Broderick). Alongside Trip is Sergeant Major John Rawlins (Morgan Freeman), among others. Shaw is a white man leading an all-Black regiment, and the epic drama shows the layers of racial prejudice against the backdrop of one of America’s most remembered wars. The multiple Academy Award-winning drama is renowned for its portrayal of war and compelling performances. You can stream ‘Glory’ here.
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