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By Jason Collins
| Published
Some action movies come and go, while others stick around because they get the fundamentals right. Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer falls firmly into the latter category. Released in 2014, the film paired Fuqua with Denzel Washington for the first time since Training Day and launched one of the most consistent action franchises of the last decade. Over 10 years later, The Equalizer remains every bit as gripping, brutal, and satisfying as it was when it first hit theaters.
Denzel Launched A Franchise
The Equalizer is one of the defining action movies of the 2010s because it gave birth to two successful sequels and introduced audiences to one of Denzel Washington’s most memorable characters. The film follows Robert McCall, a retired U.S. Marine and former intelligence operative who lives a quiet life in Boston. By day, he works at a big-box home improvement store. By night, he spends his sleepless hours reading books at a local diner. Over time, he befriends Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), a teenage sex worker who is being exploited by the Russian mob.
Denzel Is A Force Of Nature
After Teri is brutally beaten and hospitalized by her Russian handlers, Robert decides he can no longer stand by and do nothing. He first attempts to resolve the situation peacefully by offering to buy her freedom. When her procurer, Slavi (David Meunier), refuses, Robert calmly locks the office doors, sizes up the room, assesses every available weapon, and shows exactly why he was feared in his previous life. What follows is one of the most memorable scenes in modern action cinema, establishing McCall as a force of nature who delivers justice on behalf of people who can’t protect themselves.
Everything Is A Weapon
Naturally, Robert’s actions attract the attention of some very dangerous people within the Russian mob, setting off a deadly chain of events that escalates throughout the film. One of The Equalizer’s greatest strengths is its creativity. While many action movies rely on flashy choreography and massive explosions, this film turns everyday objects into instruments of destruction. The violence is stylish, methodical, and often shockingly inventive, but beneath the action is a story about redemption, justice, and standing up against abuse and exploitation.
All Three Movies Are Fantastic
The Equalizer was a commercial success, earning more than $190 million worldwide against a budget reported to be between $55 million and $73 million. Its success paved the way for two sequels, both of which performed well with audiences and further expanded Robert McCall’s story. While fans may debate which installment is the strongest, all three films deliver exactly what viewers want from the franchise: Denzel Washington calmly dismantling criminals who underestimate him.
The Equalizer remains one of the strongest action films of its era, blending intense action with a compelling lead performance and a surprising amount of heart. If you’ve somehow missed Robert McCall’s first outing, now is the perfect time to fix that. The Equalizer is currently streaming for free on Tubi.
