The Equalizer
Directed by Antoine FuquaRobert McCall is a former special service commando who faked his own death in hopes of living out a quiet life. Instead, he comes out of his self-imposed retirement to save a young girl, and finds his desire for justice reawakened after coming face-to-face with members of a brutal Russian gang. McCall becomes the go-to man when the helpless require the kind of vengeance they would never find without his skills.
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The Equalizer Ratings & Reviews
- marzecms13January 6, 2026Great trilogy !
- ShaydeknightDecember 20, 2025I was a big fan of the original Equalizer television series with Edward Woodward back in the 1980s. That show wasn't merely about an ex-spy turned Robin Hood private investigator, in retrospect, its enduring appeal lay in its atmosphere. How it looked and sounded mattered enormously. Stewart Copeland's music gave it a pulse, much as Jan Hammer did for Miami Vice. A number of shows from that era leaned into that aesthetic edge (stylish, gritty, mood-forward) while also offering more complex plots, morally ambiguous characters, and the early stirrings of serialization that are now industry standard. That combination is why they resonated so strongly with younger audiences at the time. Antoine Fuqua's The Equalizer is not that kind of cool. This film has very little atmosphere in the stylistic sense. It is almost entirely character-driven, and while that's not inherently a flaw, it represents a fundamental departure from what made the original series unique. This is a different Robert McCall, a different vision entirely. What we get instead is, more or less, a generic action hero that is competently executed, well-performed, and effective within its genre, but not especially distinctive. Within that narrower frame, however, it is a solid action film. The similarities to the show largely begin and end with the premise. Robert McCall, played by Denzel Washington, is a former government operative, and this first film functions as his transition into becoming "The Equalizer". He embodies a fantasy many people harbour: the ultra-violent yet morally upright executioner, unbound by law, bureaucracy, or consequence. He is the free agent who destroys evil in all its forms, never gets caught, never faces meaningful repercussions, and never questions his own righteousness. He is the ultimate white-hat hero, riding into town, solving everything, killing everyone who needs killing, and moving on. And in the downtime between these violent crusades, he's perfectly happy to help the people around him become the best versions of themselves. He's a genuinely nice guy who just happens to be able to kill with extreme efficiency, creativity, and brutality. Antoine Fuqua, as a director, remains frustratingly hit or miss. I would argue that any of his genuinely good films succeed largely because of strong material and strong actors, and are good in spite of his direction rather than because of it. His work here is similarly bland. There is little in the way of visual flair, thematic boldness, or directorial personality. The camera does its job, the scenes are intelligible, the action is clear, but there is nothing particularly inspired in the framing, the movement, or the rhythm. The cinematography leans toward muted, functional compositions, the production design favours generic urban spaces over evocative ones, and the editing, while clean, lacks the musicality or tension-building sophistication that could have elevated the material. Washington, meanwhile, is Washington. He is natural, credible, and entirely convincing. No matter what he does, he fits. His range may be limited, but what he does, he does exceptionally well, and this role sits squarely within his wheelhouse. His quiet authority and restrained intensity do most of the heavy lifting, supplying the film with a gravitas it might otherwise lack. Marton Csokas, as the primary antagonist, is mesmerizing. The action scenes are a clear strength. They are precise, well-staged, and feel more grounded and credible than the typical action spectacle. Until the climax, that is, where we experience the typical and hackneyed scene where the "hero sets traps for a larger force and kills people in gruesome and interesting ways". Regardless, Fuqua's preference for clarity over chaos tends to work: the violence is efficient, purposeful, and often unsettling in its matter-of-fact brutality. McCall's methodology (timed, measured, almost surgical) adds a distinctive texture to the action, even if the surrounding cinematic language remains pedestrian. In the end, The Equalizer is a decent action movie. It is not stellar, not particularly memorable, and not especially stylish, but it is competently made, well-acted, and effective on its own terms. It is not something I would enthusiastically recommend, but it is also not something I would dissuade others from seeing.
- Lucas LeCompteApril 13, 2025My favorite part is when Robert goes "it's equalizing time" and equalizies all over the places.
- flavo43November 24, 2025The Equalizer is one of the rare modern reimaginings that genuinely improves on its source material while still respecting what made it great. I was a fan of the original TV series, so when Denzel Washington took on the role of Robert McCall, I was curious—but the result completely impressed me. The film gives McCall a thoughtful, grounded background story that explains why he offers his unique brand of justice, something the original series only hinted at. Reimagining his former intelligence ties, especially his CIA contacts, adds depth and credibility to his skills without undermining the character’s quiet, methodical nature. Denzel brings a powerful mix of calm, compassion, and explosive precision to McCall, delivering a performance that feels both iconic and entirely his own. The action is brutal but purposeful, and the film’s tone matches the modern world while keeping the “help the helpless” spirit alive. The Equalizer is smart, stylish, and a worthy successor to the classic series.
- mwc66November 3, 2025Really enjoyed plenty action
- KokeSeptember 27, 2025Denzel Washington shines as Robert McCall, delivering a mix of intensity and calm in this gripping vigilante thriller. The film earns high marks for its tense atmosphere, sharp action, and strong lead performance—losing only half a star for a slightly predictable plot.
- nicpedersonAugust 23, 2025Nothing special, but a good watch.
- sgkf2August 19, 2025Amazing movie that restores faith in humanity.
- mickerdooAugust 13, 2025Bad dude vs system showdown. Entertaining and inventive takedowns. Gun could've hurried things along. Denzel always rocks.
- Mr. DAugust 10, 2025Thought this sucked on release, originally. Now? "A man with those skills? I want to know who he's working for." #watchedpart3first
- Scott SmithAugust 8, 2025A better than average vigilante movie, because Denzel is a better than average actor. With anyone else in the lead role it could be a weaker movie. But with Denzel as the "good guy" and the guy that played the main Russian bad guy, this is a fun watch. Some brutal fight scenes, and a good story that only keeps you guessing about his full back story. Well worth the watch.
- ርልዪረAugust 1, 20251- Denzel Washington kills a dozen bad guys far far from his apartment and when he arrives home, he starts washing off his bloody hands. On the way back home his hands were bloody and no one cares. The cobs stop most people walking that time of the night, but fortunately no cobs are awake and our hero reaches to his destination safe and sound! 2- Once he steals a hammer from the stores he works. The day after that, he returns the hammer back on its shelf while wiping it out by a handkerchief. He forgot to wipe the hammer last night and came back to work carrying the bloody hammer in his hands! 3- At the end of the movie, he goes for the gangs boss. He passes through all bodyguards to reach Pushkin and kills them all. Pushkin is showering when Denzel arrives and he hasn't heard a voice or noise or sound of the conflict outside his room. Denzel Washington had asked the bodyguards not to make any sound and they all are good and obedient bodyguards! Fortunately, all anti-theft system are out of work! Mohammad Reza Nassiri, Iran
- Karen NakamuraJuly 20, 2025Disjointed but perfectly popcorn. Don’t try to think about the plot holes or why the bad guys act so irrationally. It’s all about the screen fluff.
- PhineasJuly 10, 2025This movie frustrates me so much, because it had 5 star potential if not for the third act. Denzel is amazing, and the first 2/3rds of this movie was incredible because it was gritty and grounded and above all, realistic. But then the scale overinflates dramatically (ship scene, I'm looking at you) and ends with a entertaining but Hollywood climax, and it loses the pacing it had at the beginning.
- Kevin WardJuly 2, 2025Solid Denzel action flick with a pretty bland story. Once Denzel actually starts kicking ass, it’s definitely a fun watch. I was late to the party on both is this and the John Wick franchises until earlier this year. Had I seen this before John Wick, I can imagine I might have rated this higher as a pure action flick. The action kind of pales in comparison to John Wick, though. Still, there’s not many leading men you can put above Denzel.
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The Equalizer Trivia
The Equalizer was released on September 24, 2014.
The Equalizer was directed by Antoine Fuqua.
The Equalizer has a runtime of 2 hr 12 min.
The Equalizer was produced by Denzel Washington, Richard Wenk, Steve Tisch, Michael Sloan, Tony Eldridge, Jason Blumenthal, Alex Siskin, Mace Neufeld, Todd Black.
The key characters in The Equalizer are Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), Teddy (Marton Csokas), Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz).
The Equalizer is rated R.
The Equalizer is a Thriller, Action, Crime film.
The Equalizer has an audience rating of 7.7 out of 10.