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%

Tomatometer

205 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

Sharai Bohannon

A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast

This movie is surprisingly fun and I think Denzel Washington elevates it way more than we realize. He also reminds us that we're never too old to throw hands.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 17, 2025

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

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Stuart S

I love watching this film every few years! It's a classic. Denzel Washington puts on a first rate performance.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/13/25

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Kirstin S

Only two stars purely because of Denzel Washington and Chloë Grace Moretz. Story could be stronger and less predictable.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

09/01/25

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AWookieMistake ..

This was a great action thriller. Denzel put up an amazing performance. I felt that the movie got stale and long in a few moments. But other than that, the action sequences were good, and extremely violent. Denzel’s character, McCall is great, well written and well developed. This Equalizer film is the strongest out of the three and I would recommend watching.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/03/25

Full Review

Audience Member

It was a comedy action but a bit violent, I do recommend

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/25/25

Full Review

George R

The Equalizer” asks you to believe that a retired Home Depot employee can blow up a trainyard with the contents of a gym bag, build kill traps out of lightbulbs, and outwit trained killers who walk into death one at a time like they’ve never seen a movie. McCall doesn’t just bring justice—he brings Hollywood physics and a bottomless bag of C4. My toaster is also lethal weapon if I believe in it strongly enough.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/21/25

Full Review

Gordon H

Absolute rubbish compared with the original TV series that starred Edward Woodward. Edward, as McCall was dynamic, exciting, had class and held your attention. Denzel Washington is more likely to send you to sleep! They’ve basically taken a script that was good for a 30 minute TV show and padded it out with insignificant rubbish in order to make it into a 2 hour 22 minute film. So damned boring. Give me the Edward Woodward TV series every time!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/19/25

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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