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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.
4. Fallen (1998)
In ‘Fallen,’ Washington stars as Philadelphia detective John Hobbes, who has just witnessed the execution of serial killer Edgar Reese (Elias Koteas), whom he put behind bars. However, evil is far from gone as John comes across murders that resemble those committed by Edgar. Soon, he finds out that it is a demon called Azadel that is responsible for the crimes and is taunting him. With help from a woman named Gretta Milano (Embeth Davidtz), whose dead father was also a detective who investigated such supernatural deaths, Hobbs tries to defeat the fallen angel. Is that even possible? Can a human defeat an occult entity? Directed by Gregory Hoblit, ‘Fallen’ can be streamed right here.
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. Inside Man (2006)
‘Inside Man,’ directed by Spike Lee, opens with criminal mastermind Dalton Russell (Clive Owen) setting out to pull off the perfect bank robbery at Wall Street. When it devolves into a hostage situation, Detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington), the hostage negotiator for the NYPD, arrives at the scene. His work is hindered by Madeleine White (Jodie Foster), a fixer working for the bank’s founder, Arthur Case (Christopher Plummer), who wishes to have all efforts of law enforcement focused on protecting his safe deposit box. A gripping heist drama with brilliant performances, ‘Inside Man’ can be streamed right here.
1. 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.
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