Denzel Washington wasn't always seen as an action star. Since the '80s, he has headlined a number of dramatic films that have earned him awards recognition, but his career shifted in the early 2000s with the release of Man on Fire (2004), which saw him become a one-man army-type of hero. This continued with The Book of Eli (2010), Safe House (2012), and 2 Guns (2013), all of which feature Washington taking down an abundance of enemies.

Now 70 years old, Washington is still widely associated with the action genre due to his starring role in a popular thriller franchise. The American actor takes on the role of a former government assassin in the Antoine Fuqua-directed movies, killing criminals and protecting the innocent with lethal efficiency. Washington first played the assassin in 2014 before returning for two sequels.

The Equalizer 2 Becomes A Prime Video Hit

Denzel Washington's Sequel Is Still A Win With Audiences

Seven years after its release in theaters, The Equalizer 2 has become a big hit on Prime Video. Released in 2018, Washington's second outing as assassin Robert McCall sees him now working as a Lyft driver, returning to his violent ways after his colleague is killed under mysterious circumstances. The second Equalizer movie, which costars Pedro Pascal as villain Dave York, was a success at the box office, grossing $190 million on an estimated budget of $62 million.

Washington and Pascal recently reunited as part of the cast of Gladiator 2.

Viewers are now rediscovering The Equalizer 2, as the film ranks, as of writing, as the seventh most popular title on Prime Video in the U.S. While the title beats The Creator (2024), Ryan Trahan (2019–), and The Family Stone (2005), it falls short of other titles like A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), Culpa Tuya (2024), and, in the top position, Red One (2024). Check out the full Prime Video top 10:

What The Equalizer 2's Streaming Success Means For The Movie

How The Sequel Compares To The Other Installments

Of the three movies in the Equalizer franchise, the second one is the worst-rated on Equalizer 2 ending, the sequel has only a 52% score from critics, making it the only movie in the franchise that is officially designated "rotten." The second film also grossed the lowest amount at the box office, falling just short of the original movie and the third installment. Check out a chart comparing the three movies below:

Even though The Equalizer 2 may have fallen short of the other two installments, it was still a hit, and the performance of the three movies taken together speaks to the consistent and loyal audience this franchise has. The fact that the sequel is now once again finding success on streaming bodes well for the franchise's future, as Washington recently confirmed that The Equalizer 4 and 5 are happening. The Equalizer 2 may not be the franchise's high point, but it remains a solid action flick, and viewers are evidently enjoying revisiting the film from home.

The Equalizer Franchise's Future Explained

When Will The Fourth & Fifth Movies Be Released?

Esquire, he revealed that he has agreed to return for The Equalizer 4 and a fifth movie:

“I told them I would do another Equalizer, and we’re doing four and five. More people are happy about that—people love those daggone Equalizers. But I’ve come to realize that the Equalizer films are for me, too, because they’re for the people. They want me to go get the bad guys. ‘We can’t get them, so you go get them.’ And I say, Okay, I’ll get them! Just wait right there. I’ll be right back!”

Though Washington certainly seems enthusiastic about continuing as McCall, his slate of projects raises questions about when these new sequels will actually happen. He recently revealed that he has several Shakespeare adaptations coming for both the stage and screen, including Othello and King Lear. He's also set to reteam with Fuqua for a movie about the Carthaginian general Hannibal, on top of collaborations with Steve McQueen and Ryan Coogler, the latter of whom is writing a part for him in the Black Panther 3.

Now, the exact timeline of when all these projects are happening isn't clear, but it could potentially be a few years before The Equalizer 4 can even start filming. This means Washington could be approaching his mid-70s in the next movie, and potentially his late 70s when he makes The Equalizer 5. This could end up impacting how the action scenes look in the final movie, but The Equalizer 2's streaming success suggests audiences will probably just be happy to see Washington back as McCall for another adventure.

Source: Prime Video