Top critic
Indian Express
Film review ·
This is far from Fuqua's own Training Day and Washington's other impressive body of work, but The Equalizer is a good reminder of what we may be missing.


Washington commands, but a bloated finale drags this thriller down.
Verdict tier Mixed, lukewarm or divided, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.
Critic consensus
Critical reception for The Equalizer is mixed-to-moderate, with reviewers broadly agreeing that Denzel Washington's performance is the film's strongest asset. Washington and his on-screen chemistry with antagonist Csokas are noted as convincing and compelling. However, multiple critics flag a drawn-out second half and an overlong climax as significant weaknesses, and several feel the film falls short of its potential, particularly given the pedigrees of Washington and director Antoine Fuqua.
Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10
AI-generated summary of 5 critic reviews · may contain errors
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Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated
Top critic
Film review ·
This is far from Fuqua's own Training Day and Washington's other impressive body of work, but The Equalizer is a good reminder of what we may be missing.
Film review ·
Denzel Washington steals the show in 'The Equalizer'. Denzel's a pretty cool customer for his age. Age seems to slow a lot of action stars down. Thank god, he's nowhere close to being an Expendable one.
Film review ·
The movie's climax in is a bit drawn out but all said and done, Washington and Csokas are thoroughly convincing and if you're an action junkie, you'll surely get your money's worth.
Film review ·
You really don't have to do much to make an action flick work. Give us a good guy to root for and a bad guy to despise, and we are happy. The Equalizer does exactly that. You will certainly enjoy the film with your friends. But be prepared to sit through an excruciatingly long second half.
Film review ·
The Equalizer isn't a terrible movie, as action sagas go. It just doesn't nearly live up to what it aspires to be, which is a smart, classy update of the 1980s TV series of the same name, about an ex-government agent who spends his retirement as a sort of ultra-violent avenging angel, rubbing out villains who treat good people badly.
Credits
Denzel WashingtonRobert McCall
Marton CsokasTeddy
Chloë Grace MoretzTeri
David HarbourMasters
Haley Bennett
Melissa Leo
David MeunierSlavi
Johnny SkourtisRalphie
Vladimir KulichVladimir Pushkin
James WilcoxPederson
Mike O'DeaRemar
Allen MaldonadoMarcus
Matt LaskyMarat
Vitaliy ShtabnoyAndri
Robert WahlbergDetective Harris
Antoine Fuqua
Jason Blumenthal
Richard Wenk
Steve Tisch
Todd Black
Zack Snyder
Harry Gregson-Williams
Mauro Fiore
John RefouaEnglish films like The Equalizer