The Equalizer

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2:33

The Equalizer

R

Released Sep 26, 2014

2h 12m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

61%

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204 Reviews

77%

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50,000+ Ratings

Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put the past behind him, dedicates himself to creating a quiet new life. However, when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenager who has been manhandled by violent Russian mobsters, he simply cannot walk away. With his set of formidable skills, McCall comes out of self-imposed retirement and emerges as an avenging angel, ready to take down anyone who brutalizes the helpless.

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Critics Consensus

The Equalizer is more stylishly violent than meaningful, but with Antoine Fuqua behind the cameras and Denzel Washington dispensing justice, it delivers.

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Shadow and Act Staff

Shadow and Act

The film is worth seeing to watch Denzel deliver his trademark slow burn gaze.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 14, 2022

Full Review

Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

This paint-by-numbers film, though powerful when you watch it, largely thanks to its lead actor, has no lasting emotional affect.

Mar 7, 2017

Full Review

Katie Kilkenny

The Atlantic

The movie's all about reading, especially with a critical eye, but when you take too close a look at its disparate parts, they neither add up nor have anything constructive to teach.

Jul 19, 2016

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

The Equalizer is about as subtle as a pneumatic stapler shot to the temple. But who wants subtlety when one can bask in the glory of Denzel obliterating remorseless degenerates left and right?

Rated: 3/4

Nov 25, 2023

Full Review

Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Me gusta el cine

Washington shines, playing McCall as a clean and orderly man, whose OCD doesn't prevent him from getting his hands dirty with the blood and grime of Boston's most rotten. He is a killing machine that almost never fails. Full review in Spanish.

Rated: 4/5

Oct 17, 2023

Full Review

Ruth Maramis

FlixChatter Film Blog

Denzel’s immense gravitas and quiet power elevate this beyond a run-of-the-mill violent action thriller.

Rated: 3.5/5

Sep 1, 2023

Full Review

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tim s

Denzel Washington excels as a cool-headed and calculative dispenser of justice. At the core of his character is a man who has sworn off his past as a deadly government operative in favor of a quiet, peaceful life. As the story goes with this type of character, he is forced back into the life he left behind. Although the action scenes are infrequent due to the film’s slow pacing, they are appropriately graphic. Marton Csokas, in turn, is suitably savage as a mobster on Denzel’s trail.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

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Jorge R

A fun and well thought-out action movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/13/25

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D P

I was supposed to be watching 1 & 2 back-to-back, but I stopped after watching this one. It was actually a chore to get through. I think it took 2 or 3 sessions to get through the whole thing. It's just not my genre. But so many people like this franchise, so I decided to give it a try.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

04/04/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Loved it. Waited 11 years to watch this. Was so busy In the past and takes my business failing to watch movies again in life

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/25/25

Full Review

Kevin P

A solid action revenge thriller following an intriguing mystery man played well by Denzel Washington who peels back the layers to brutalize the brutalizers with some clever character payoffs that weaves the whole story together (even if Chloe Grace Moretz’s character nearly gets fridged until the end of the movie). It’s no John Wick, but it’s still wittier and more exciting than your average action flick and you do end up caring for everyone in the main badass’s little tight-knit community.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/26/25

Full Review

Aleksandar D

A weekend action movie. Ok.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/25

Full Review

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Antoine Fuqua

Director

Denzel Washington

Robert McCall

Marton Csokas

Teddy

Chloë Grace Moretz

Teri

David Harbour

Masters

Bill Pullman

Brian Plummer

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Head of the Snake

2:07

The Equalizer: Official Clip - A New Start

2:47

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Evening Tea

2:54

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Her Life Will Go On

1:30

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Pay It Back

2:58

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Brick by Brick

4:48

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Deadly Diner Patron

2:29

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Disrespect the Badge

3:15

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Just Kinda Lost

3:26

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Walking Terri Home

1:58

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Movieclips: The Equalizer's Best Scenes

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The Equalizer: Trailer 2

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Synopsis

Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a man of mysterious origin who believes he has put the past behind him, dedicates himself to creating a quiet new life. However, when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenager who has been manhandled by violent Russian mobsters, he simply cannot walk away. With his set of formidable skills, McCall comes out of self-imposed retirement and emerges as an avenging angel, ready to take down anyone who brutalizes the helpless.

Director: Antoine Fuqua
Producer: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Denzel Washington, Alex Siskin, Steve Tisch, Mace Neufeld, Tony Eldridge, Michael Sloan
Screenwriter: Richard Wenk
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: Escape Artists, Zhiv, Mace Neufeld Productions
Rating: R (Some Sexual References|Language Throughout|Strong Bloody Violence)
Genre: Action, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 26, 2014, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 28, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $101.5M
Runtime: 2h 12m
Sound Mix: Datasat, Dolby Digital

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