The Equalizer

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2:33

The Equalizer

R

2014

2h 12m

Action

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

205 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

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

09/14/2022

3.5/5

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

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Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

03/07/2017

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

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Katie Kilkenny

The Atlantic

07/19/2016

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.

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Sharai Bohannon

A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast

Jun 17

3/5

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.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

11/25/2023

3/4

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?

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Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Me gusta el cine

10/17/2023

4/5

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.

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Carson C

@Weetziebat3 14h

I dozed off towards the end but this is due more to boyfriend warmth than the movie being boring. I haven't seen a lot of Denzel's work but I appreciate what I have seen of him. This is Denzel John Wick. I love the tiny detail of him reading 100 books for his late wife. The choreography in the fight scenes is very well done. The character of Robert is a very respectful man and honestly, I wish there were more men who cared this much about the rights of women. I'm not asking for him to start the stopwatch but just to care.

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Noah S.

@Noah2002 Jan 28

I need an Equalizer in my life.

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Ry N

@RyGuy Jan 22

An ex-DIA officer that avenges people around town befriends a girl in trouble with a Russians gang. It's cool to see how organized McCall is and giving his opponents a choice with a directing style that shows you his point of view.

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Marcus

@MarcusC2 Jan 18

The movie brings nostalgia from the 80's TV show while building a solid action genre pace for Denzel in this his first every recurring role on the big screen.

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Brayden G

@DeadShotVibe802 Jan 11

Alright movie. It took a while to get better

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Julian P

@JulianPoulter Jan 10

Very good from Denzel. Admirable motive being to save the girl from the Russian mafia and the key to the success of the movie (and the sequels) is the degree of hatred for the bad guys which an excellent script, well directed gives us. So much so in fact that when Denzel kills them all you fail to question the likelihood of one man being so much better trained than all the others - but it's the movies!

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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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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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