Denzel Washington’s Hit Action Thriller Breaks into Netflix Global Chart for 10th Anniversary (2024)

The Equalizer crashes Netflix’s Global Top 10 list. Imagine Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall setting the alarm on his all-black, Suunto Core wristwatch, as he so often does in director Antoine Fuqua’s Equalizer films. Now, envision the jarring alarm coming to life out of nowhere and resonating after an entire decade. Well, as shocking as it may seem, the original Equalizer movie is making some alarming noise itself almost 10 years after its original theatrical release began back in September of 2014. Suddenly, The Equalizer has broken into Netflix’s Global Top 10 (per Tudum).

The Equalizer ranks No. 8 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 for the week of July 1 through July 7. Denzel Washington’s debut as Robert McCall was viewed a total of 3.5 million times on the streaming service during its first week in the Top 10 with 7.6 million hours viewed. Fuqua’s first of three Equalizer movies also beat out No. 9 The Hard Way (3.4 million views/5.3 million hours) and No. 10 Minions (3.3 million views/5 million hours).

The Equalizer (2014)

R

Action

Crime

Drama

Thriller

Where to Watch

• stream
• rent
• buy

*Availability in US

Release Date

September 24, 2014

Director

Antoine Fuqua

Cast

Denzel Washington , Marton Csokas , Chloe Moretz , David Harbour , Haley Bennett , Bill Pullman

Runtime

131

Writers

Richard Wenk , Michael Sloan , Richard Lindheim

Tagline

What do you see when you look at me?

The Equalizer is one of four films spending their first week in Netflix’s Global Top 10, which includes the long-awaited reunion of Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold and John Ashton in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. The fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise debuted at No. 1 with 41 million views and 80.7 million hours viewed. The other two movies having spent one week in the Global Top 10 include Miraculous World: Shanghai, The Legend of LadyDragon (3.6 million views/3.2 million hours viewed) and the aforementioned The Hard Way.

The Equalizer’s Enduring Legacy with & without Denzel Washington

For those who haven’t seen Denzel Washington’s version of Robert McCall helping right wrongs and battle bad guys for those who cannot, cinephiles can still check out the first 10 minutes of The Equalizer 3 for absolutely free online. The action-packed and suspense-filled footage will give newbies a taste of what they can expect when watching any of the Washington-led Equalizer projects. However, Washington isn’t the first or only actor to tackle the role of the crime-fighting McCall.

The Equalizer began as a television series for CBS, which starred Edward Woodward as the titular character, Robert McCall. The show enjoyed four seasons (1985-1989) on TV, and then the franchise froze in place for 25 years before Washington came along to pick up McCall’s mantle in 2014. Washington reprised the role in both The Equalizer 2 and The Equalizer 3.

In 2021, The Equalizer returned to CBS after the original show ended in 1989. The small-screen reboot reimagined the character of Robert McCall as Robyn McCall, who is now portrayed by Emmy, GRAMMY and Golden Globe winner Queen Latifah. The Equalizer’s Season 4 finale dropped on May 19, and the show has been renewed for Season 5 (per Variety).

So, will Washington ever reprise the role of Robert McCall in another Equalizer big-screen installment? According to an interview with screenwriter Richard Wenk back in February, the answer is yes. Wenk, who penned all three of director Antoine Fuqua’s Equalizer films, revealed that he had been “tasked” with figuring out the next chapter in McCall’s cinematic life. Wenk said (below):