The Equalizer (1, 2, & 3) movies narrate the tales of a modern warrior and the hero Robert McCall (Denzel Washington). He was a well-trained secret assassin of the US government.
These action-packed movies are based on the classic TV series The Equalizer (1985-1989), created by Michael Sloan and Richard Lindheim. The third and final chapter of this movie series will be released in September 2023. So, let us recap and talk about this action-packed movie franchise to refresh our memories.
The Equalizer (2014) Movie
Trailer of this 2014 action-packed movie
Synopsis of the first (2014) action-packed movie of this franchise
He is The Equalizer.
Denzel Washington plays Robert McCall, a man who believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when McCall meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help.
Ratings of the first (2014) action-packed movie of this franchise
| FM’s rating | 3.75/5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date | 60% Tomatometer & 76% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus / Rotten Tomatoes | This film is more stylishly violent than meaningful, but with Antoine Fuqua behind the cameras and Denzel Washington dispensing justice, it delivers. |
Poster of the first (2014) action-packed movie of this franchise
Key details about the first (2014) action-packed movie of this franchise
| Genre | Action, Crime, Thriller |
| Age-restrictions | A (18+) |
| Writer | Richard Wenk, Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
| Taglines | What do you see when you look at me? |
| Cast | Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, etc. |
| Award | Image Awards (NAACP) – 2015 Winner Image Award – Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture – Antoine Fuqua |
The Equalizer 2 (2018) Movie
Trailer of this 2018 action-packed movie
Synopsis of the second (2018) action-packed movie of this franchise
Not all enemies are created equal.
Denzel Washington returns to one of his signature roles in the first sequel of his career. Robert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed – but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?
Poster of the second (2018) action-packed movie of this franchise
Key details about the second (2018) action-packed movie of this franchise
| Genre | Action, Crime, Thriller |
| Age-restrictions | UA (16+) |
| Writer | Richard Wenk, Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
| Taglines | There is no equal. |
| Cast | Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Bill Pullman, Melissa Leo, etc. |
Ratings of the second (2018) action-packed movie of this franchise
| FM’s rating: | 3.50/5 |
| Rotten Tomatoes ratings as of the date: | 52% Tomatometer & 60% Audience Score |
| Critics Consensus / Rotten Tomatoes | This film delivers the visceral charge of a standard vigilante thriller, but this reunion of trusted talents ultimately proves a disappointing case study in diminishing returns. |
Spoilers Free review of the first two (1 & 2) Equalizer movies
The introduction
This movie franchise focuses most of its attention on the hero Robert McCall, stylishly played by Denzel Washington. So, let us talk about his dedication to film and acting craft. You know, the original script of this movie had no back story about Robert McCall, so Denzel Washington took the initiative and assisted in developing a unique background story for his cast.
For instance, Denzel added obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) to Robert McCall’s personality. Later on, he also met and asked several real-life persons with OCD to be able to play the OCD aspect properly. Also, to make his character much more believable, he practised daily physical and fight training before the shooting of the movie and as a matter of fact, Denzel trained with the fighter Tyron Woodley for his fight scenes.
We liked his character Robert McCall
We especially like the way, Denzel’s character can calculate the time and plan his action moves, while confronting the bad guys. No doubt, their action sequences are very well-choreographed. He is one of few Hollywood actors, who immerses himself into a role that makes it so real and believable.
Good time pass movies
Not surprisingly, Denzel has won two Oscar Awards for his acting. To be honest, we are truly impressed with Denzel in the first two parts of this movie franchise. Like us, why don’t you catch up with these movies, in which Denzel has a towering presence as an action star? They are good time-pass films.
Denzel Washington has superbly played this dark and brooding hero Robert McCall in his unique style and towering on-screen presence in these action-packed films, the protagonist Robert McCall supposedly leads a retired life. But more often than not the villainous bad guys and the antagonists continue to bump into him. And then all hell breaks loose.
The conclusion
These adrenaline-packed films continue to reaffirm Denzel Washington’s action-star status in the Hollywood movie world. These action-packed films have become Denzel’s first trilogy—a Hollywood movie franchise. Meanwhile, we (me and my team members) wait and look forward to watching the third and final of this action movie when it releases and reviewing it for our readers.
The Equalizer 3 (2023) Movie
Trailer of the upcoming (2023) action-packed movie
Synopsis of the third (2023) action-packed movie of this franchise
Vengeance meets his equal.
Since giving up his life as a government assassin, Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) has struggled to reconcile the horrific things he’s done in the past and finds a strange solace in serving justice on behalf of the oppressed. Finding himself surprisingly at home in Southern Italy, he discovers his new friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends’ protector by taking on the mafia.
Poster of the third (2023) action-packed movie of this franchise
Key details about the third (2023) action-packed movie of this franchise
| Genres | Action, Crime, Thriller |
| Released | Yet to be released |
| Director | Antoine Fuqua |
| Writer | Richard Wenk, Michael Sloan, Richard Lindheim |
| Taglines | Justice knows no borders. |
| Cast | Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman, Sonia Ammar, etc. |
The Equalizer 3 movie will be released in the coming months of 2023 and then we shall review the same. Article Update: Now, you can read our FM Review Article about The Equalizer 3 (2023) Film. Check the top fight scenes video on YouTube.
If you like action-packed movie franchises, then check out the article about the Fast X (2023) film from the Fast & Furious movie franchise.
Featured & Other Images: The Equalizer movies | Sony & IMDb.