Summary
- Denzel shines in underrated roles across genres—many great performances remain overlooked.
- Some early and mid-career gems—Devil in a Blue Dress, Mississippi Masala, A Soldier's Story—deserve revival.
- His directing (Antwone Fisher) and recent Macbeth show rare sensitivity and bold versatility.
Denzel Washington can make almost any movie worth watching, which explains why audiences have spent decades following him from one genre to another. His Oscar-winning turn as a corrupt detective in Training Day remains unforgettable, while Man on Fire and The Equalizer cemented his reputation as one of Hollywood's most convincing action stars. Yet some of his finest movies rarely enter the conversation.
Take Devil in a Blue Dress, a wonderfully atmospheric 1995 crime thriller that should have launched an entire franchise. Or Mississippi Masala, in which Washington delivers one of his most charming romantic performances. Both received considerable critical acclaim, but neither enjoys anything approaching the cultural recognition of his biggest hits.
Of course, Washington's career has never depended entirely on blockbuster success. Long before he became one of Hollywood's most bankable leading men, he was delivering impressive performances in ensemble dramas and smaller productions. His extraordinary run of movies throughout the 1990s demonstrated an ability to move between genres without sacrificing the intensity that became his trademark.
Even some of his later collaborations with celebrated filmmakers have gradually slipped from the spotlight. Tony Scott's Unstoppable remains an exceptionally entertaining thriller, while Joel Coen's The Tragedy of Macbeth offers a radically different showcase for Washington's talents. Neither seems to dominate discussions of the actor's greatest achievements.
These eight movies represent some of the most rewarding and frequently overlooked work of Washington's career. They may not all be flawless, but each comes remarkably close to accomplishing exactly what it sets out to do. More importantly, they prove that anyone who thinks they've already seen Denzel Washington at his best probably has a few movies left to discover.
A Soldier's Story (1984)
Norman Jewison's A Soldier's Story offered an early demonstration of Denzel Washington's considerable talents, years before he became a household name. Set at a segregated U.S. Army base in Louisiana during World War II, the film follows Captain Richard Davenport (Howard E. Rollins Jr.), a Black military investigator attempting to solve the murder of Sergeant Waters (Adolph Caesar). Washington plays Private First Class Melvin Peterson, a soldier whose confrontations with Waters expose some of the unit's deepest divisions.
Adapted from Charles Fuller's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, A Soldier's Play, the film combines a compelling murder mystery with an examination of racial prejudice and internalized discrimination. Washington's performance is relatively brief but extraordinarily assured, particularly in his confrontations with Caesar. The film also benefits from an excellent ensemble, making it an essential early chapter in Washington's remarkable acting career.
The Mighty Quinn (1989)
Before Denzel Washington became synonymous with intense dramatic performances, he displayed an entirely different side of his screen persona in The Mighty Quinn. Set on a fictional Caribbean island, the film stars Washington as Xavier Quinn, a police chief investigating the murder of a wealthy businessman. When his childhood friend Maubee (Robert Townsend) becomes the prime suspect, Quinn finds himself caught between his responsibilities and his personal loyalties.
Director Carl Schenkel blends murder mystery, political intrigue, and humor into an unusually entertaining thriller. Washington's effortless charm is particularly appealing, allowing him to portray a confident authority figure without the emotional intensity that would characterize many of his later roles. The Caribbean setting and infectious musical atmosphere also distinguish the film from conventional crime dramas. Among Washington's most underrated movie performances, Xavier Quinn deserves considerably more recognition.
Mississippi Masala (1991)
Mira Nair's Mississippi Masala features one of Denzel Washington's most appealing romantic performances, yet it remains surprisingly overlooked. He plays Demetrius Williams, a Black carpet-cleaning businessman in Mississippi who falls in love with Mina (Sarita Choudhury), a young woman whose Indian family was forced to flee Uganda under Idi Amin's regime. Their relationship challenges prejudices within both communities, exposing tensions that neither family is particularly willing to confront.
Washington and Choudhury have extraordinary chemistry, bringing warmth and sensuality to a romance complicated by cultural expectations and painful family histories. Nair's film also explores displacement and belonging without allowing its social commentary to overwhelm the central relationship. Despite earning a 92% Rotten Tomatoes critics' score, Mississippi Masala remains one of the least discussed highlights of Washington's early career.
POLL
Devil In A Blue Dress (1995)
Carl Franklin's Devil in a Blue Dress should have been the beginning of a major detective franchise. Adapted from Walter Mosley's novel, the film stars Denzel Washington as Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins, an unemployed World War II veteran living in 1948 Los Angeles. Desperate to keep up with his mortgage payments, Easy accepts an assignment to locate a missing woman named Daphne Monet (Jennifer Beals), inadvertently becoming entangled in a dangerous conspiracy.
Washington is exceptional as the reluctant investigator, bringing intelligence and an understated confidence to a character navigating the racial inequalities of postwar America. Don Cheadle nearly steals the movie as Easy's unpredictable friend Mouse, while Franklin's period detail creates an evocative version of Los Angeles. Despite its critical acclaim, Devil in a Blue Dress never received the sequels it deserved. That's a genuine loss, considering how many adventures Mosley's detective has enjoyed on the page.
Courage Under Fire (1996)
Edward Zwick's Courage Under Fire gives Denzel Washington one of his most emotionally complicated military roles. He portrays Lieutenant Colonel Nathaniel Serling, an officer struggling with guilt after accidentally killing American soldiers during the Gulf War. Assigned to investigate whether the late Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan) deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor, Serling discovers that conflicting eyewitness accounts make the truth increasingly difficult to establish.
The film's shifting perspectives gradually reveal the events surrounding Walden's death, creating a compelling mystery about courage, responsibility, and the unreliability of memory. Washington delivers a restrained performance as a man whose professional investigation forces him to confront his own mistakes. Ryan is equally impressive in an unusually demanding role, while a young Matt Damon makes a memorable appearance. Among the best movies about the Gulf War, Courage Under Fire deserves a far more prominent reputation.
Antwone Fisher (2002)
Denzel Washington made his feature directorial debut with Antwone Fisher, a deeply affecting drama inspired by the real experiences of its screenwriter. Derek Luke stars as Antwone, a young Navy sailor whose violent outbursts lead him to psychiatrist Dr. Jerome Davenport (Washington). Initially resistant to treatment, Antwone gradually begins confronting the childhood abuse and abandonment that have shaped his adult life.
Washington demonstrates considerable restraint behind the camera, allowing Luke's remarkable debut performance to carry much of the film's emotional weight. His own portrayal of Davenport is equally effective, particularly as the relationship between doctor and patient develops beyond their initial professional