Denzel Washington’s Most Underrated Action Franchise Is Now on Max — and Here’s the Secret Fans Missed

In Hollywood, reboots are often transparent attempts to leverage established intellectual property for an easy payday. Yet, occasionally, a reimagining arrives that is so masterfully executed—or based on such a niche premise—that it completely eclipses its source material. The action trilogy headlined by Denzel Washington, The Equalizer, is a prime example of this phenomenon. All three films became available to stream on HBO Max as of July 1.

The original CBS series premiered in 1985, featuring Edward Woodward as Robert McCall, a disillusioned former intelligence operative who repents for his past by operating as a private vigilante in New York City. He famously advertised his services in the local paper: “Got a problem? Odds against you? Call The Equalizer.” While created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim, the show enjoyed a modest but respectable run, peaking at 15 million weekly viewers before a contract dispute regarding Murder, She Wrote led to its cancellation after four seasons.

Fast forward 25 years: Denzel Washington stepped into the role of McCall, reimagined as a man desperately trying to maintain a quiet, humdrum life working at a hardware store. Unlike the original version, he isn’t actively seeking work as a fixer. Instead, he is a man of quiet habits who happens to intervene when he witnesses injustice. However, his past inevitably catches up with him when a selfless act of violence against the Russian mafia forces him to reawaken the dormant skills of a lethal assassin.

The trilogy maintains a remarkable level of consistency. The Equalizer 2 fleshes out McCall’s history, while The Equalizer 3 takes the action to Italy, pitting our protagonist against entrenched organized crime elements. Alongside contemporary peers like John Wick, these films thrive on the “retired badass” trope. What elevates this series is Washington’s performance—he imbues McCall with a weary, empathetic soul that makes his sudden, clinical outbursts of violence all the more impactful. Director Antoine Fuqua, who reunited with Washington after their Oscar-winning collaboration on Training Day, keeps the stakes high and the pacing tight.

While screenwriter Richard Wenk provides a solid foundation, the material relies heavily on the charisma of its lead. The third entry, notably, features a significant amount of Italian dialogue, requiring a bit more patience from the audience, though it has garnered the most critical acclaim of the bunch. Furthermore, the property’s longevity is underscored by the 2021 reboot series starring Queen Latifah, which successfully spanned five seasons.

As for the future of the big-screen franchise, Washington hinted in late 2024 that two more installments are in development. While official confirmation from Sony remains pending, the prospect of more from this duo is an exciting one. Whether you are revisiting the trilogy or coming to it fresh, the Equalizer films stand as some of the most satisfying and well-crafted action cinema of the last decade.

Source: Polygon