The Equalizer

Play trailer

2:33

The Equalizer

R,

2014,

2h 12m,

Action/

Mystery & Thriller

Play Trailer

Watchlist

The Equalizer: Trailer 2

Now Playing

Movieclips: The Equalizer's Best Scenes

Now Playing

Denzel Washington Coolest Lines Mashup

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Head of the Snake

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - A New Start

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Evening Tea

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Her Life Will Go On

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Pay It Back

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Brick by Brick

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Deadly Diner Patron

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Disrespect the Badge

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Just Kinda Lost

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Walking Terri Home

Now Playing

View more videos

Stream Now

Watchlist

61%

207 Reviews

Tomatometer

72%

50,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

61%

Tomatometer

207 Reviews

72%

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.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Stream

Netflix

Watch The Equalizer with a subscription on Netflix, rent on Fandango, or buy on Fandango.

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

Shadow and Act Staff

Shadow and Act

Sep 14, 2022

3.5/5

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

Go to Full Review

Dwight Brown

National Newspaper Publishers Association

Mar 7, 2017

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

Go to Full Review

Katie Kilkenny

The Atlantic

Jul 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.

Go to Full Review

Matt Oakes

Silver Screen Riot

Oct 14, 2026

C+

It's that much more of a shame when Fuqua feels the need to throw a bucket of blood and a circus of explosions right in their faces.

Go to Full Review

Jonathon Wilson

Ready Steady Cut

May 29, 2026

3.5/5

I don’t know if you could call The Equalizer a great movie. But you can certainly call it a great version of this particular kind of movie; wrongs are righted, evil is vanquished, and the ordinary man in a button-down shirt triumphs over all.

Go to Full Review

Sharai Bohannon

A Nightmare On Fierce Street Podcast

Jun 17, 2025

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Kylo S

Apr 25, 2019

Even with literary references, the film only succeeds as being a good action movie, which is OK.

Hermione S

Apr 7, 2019

Fantastic film. One of those films you can and probably will watch more than once.

Luke S

Mar 7, 2019

Action packed all the way!!

Feb 16, 2019

Great story and awesome action movie. Loved it.

Harry S

Feb 3, 2019

I really liked this movie. One of Denzel's best in my opinion. Great action, amazing acting, plenty of twists, and a feel good ending. :-) Can't wait to see the sequel!

See more

Abraham S

Jan 26, 2019

The movie is a compound of good action scenes, which however become predictable and dull over time. All packed into a way too long and tedious movie with no or at best little story line. The story is a failed attempt to bring a "good versus evil" idea to life with some sort of depth and thoughtful dialogs. The movie clearly doesn't suit the great cast.

See more

Read all reviews

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

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - A New Start

2:47

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Evening Tea

2:54

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Her Life Will Go On

1:30

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Pay It Back

2:58

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Brick by Brick

4:48

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Deadly Diner Patron

2:29

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Disrespect the Badge

3:15

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Just Kinda Lost

3:26

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Walking Terri Home

1:58

Now Playing

View more videos

Looper

93%

82%

Looper

Watchlist

Contraband

50%

57%

Contraband

Watchlist

End of Watch

85%

86%

End of Watch

Watchlist

The Heat

65%

71%

The Heat

Watchlist

Deadpool

85%

90%

Deadpool

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Deadpool

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

10 Stars Who Will Own the Summer 2018 Movie Season

New on DVD & Blu-Ray: The Equalizer, Tusk, and More

Now Streaming: The Equalizer, A Walk Among the Tombstones, and More

Movieclips: The Equalizer's Best Scenes

14:13

Now Playing

Denzel Washington Coolest Lines Mashup

2:00

Now Playing

The Equalizer: Trailer 2

2:33

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

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

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings