The Equalizer | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

61% Tomatometer 206 Reviews 77% Audience Score 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. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

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The Equalizer

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The Equalizer

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Critics Consensus

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

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Critics Reviews

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The Equalizer | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Shadow and Act Staff Shadow and Act The film is worth seeing to watch Denzel deliver his trademark slow burn gaze. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 14, 2022 Full Review The Equalizer | Rotten Tomatoes (2) Dwight Brown National Newspaper Publishers Association This paint-by-numbers film, though powerful when you watch it, largely thanks to its lead actor, has no lasting emotional affect. Mar 7, 2017 Full Review The Equalizer | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Katie Kilkenny The Atlantic 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. Jul 19, 2016 Full Review The Equalizer | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The Equalizer is about as subtle as a pneumatic stapler shot to the temple. But who wants subtlety when one can bask in the glory of Denzel obliterating remorseless degenerates left and right? Rated: 3/4 Nov 25, 2023 Full Review The Equalizer | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Sebastian Zavala Kahn Me gusta el cine Washington shines, playing McCall as a clean and orderly man, whose OCD doesn't prevent him from getting his hands dirty with the blood and grime of Boston's most rotten. He is a killing machine that almost never fails. Full review in Spanish. Rated: 4/5 Oct 17, 2023 Full Review The Equalizer | Rotten Tomatoes (6) Ruth Maramis FlixChatter Film Blog Denzel’s immense gravitas and quiet power elevate this beyond a run-of-the-mill violent action thriller. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 1, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Maria H I enjoyed every minute of this movie. Denzel delivers aa great performance, and so does Chloe Mortez. I loved itwould 💯 recommend Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/12/24 Full Review Tony P I'd see anything Denzel Washington is in because he doesn't do a lot of bad movies however! This one I found to be kind of weird, and cheesy even though it had a solid cast! Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/10/24 Full Review Audience Member Great movie. Loved it. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/28/24 Full Review Cristian s Te engancha desde el principio y te genera empatía inmediata con los personajes. A medida que progresa se pone mejor. Un balance justo entre una buena historia y escenas de accion épicas. Una joya. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/05/24 Full Review Nathan W It's a great action movie with Denzel's classic moral backbone. Definitely a must watch. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/24/24 Full Review Augustine J Solid action flick. Denzel Washington is really good. The action is unique. Very engaging. Give it a watch. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews

The Equalizer

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Cast & Crew

Antoine Fuqua Director Denzel Washington Robert McCall Marton Csokas Teddy Chloë Grace Moretz Teri David Harbour Masters Bill Pullman Brian Plummer
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The Equalizer

The Equalizer: Official Clip - Head of the Snake The Equalizer: Official Clip - Head of the Snake 2:07 The Equalizer: Official Clip - A New Start The Equalizer: Official Clip - A New Start 2:47 The Equalizer: Official Clip - Evening Tea The Equalizer: Official Clip - Evening Tea 2:54 The Equalizer: Official Clip - Her Life Will Go On The Equalizer: Official Clip - Her Life Will Go On 1:30 The Equalizer: Official Clip - Pay It Back The Equalizer: Official Clip - Pay It Back 2:58 The Equalizer: Official Clip - Brick by Brick The Equalizer: Official Clip - Brick by Brick 4:48 The Equalizer: Official Clip - Deadly Diner Patron The Equalizer: Official Clip - Deadly Diner Patron 2:29 The Equalizer: Official Clip - Disrespect the Badge The Equalizer: Official Clip - Disrespect the Badge 3:15 The Equalizer: Official Clip - Just Kinda Lost The Equalizer: Official Clip - Just Kinda Lost 3:26 The Equalizer: Official Clip - Walking Terri Home The Equalizer: Official Clip - Walking Terri Home 1:58 View more videos

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Movieclips: The Equalizer's Best Scenes Movieclips: The Equalizer's Best Scenes 14:13 Denzel Washington Coolest Lines Mashup Denzel Washington Coolest Lines Mashup 2:00 The Equalizer: Trailer 2 The Equalizer: Trailer 2 2:33 View more videos

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Movie Info

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, Mace Neufeld Productions, Zhiv

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
Most Popular at Home Now
The Equalizer | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

FAQs

Why was Susan killed in equalizer? ›

Robert confronts Dave at his home, and Dave confesses that after his unit was disbanded by the government, he and the rest of the members of his team became killers for hire. He confirms that he killed Susan because she would have figured out that he was behind the Brussels killings.

What does 100 Rotten Tomatoes mean? ›

The percentage is based on the film's reviews aggregated by the website and assessed as positive or negative, and when all aggregated reviews are positive, the film has a 100% rating.

Why is it called Rotten Tomatoes? ›

Although the name "Rotten Tomatoes" connects to the practice of audiences throwing rotten tomatoes in disapproval of a poor stage performance, the direct inspiration for the name from Duong, Lee, and Wang came from an equivalent scene in the 1992 Canadian film Léolo.

Are the Equalizer movies any good? ›

"The Equalizer" is a great action thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua. Denzel Washington is perfect, as usual, in the role of a vigilante that protects his friends against the Russian mobsters and corrupt police detectives. The movie is highly entertaining, with a great villain. My vote is seven.

Who killed McCall's wife in Equalizer? ›

One of the biggest mysteries in the movies is what exactly happened to Robert McCall's wife Vivienne. It is known that she died sometime before the first The Equalizer. The movies have indicated that this was the result of an illness, but any specific details about her passing have otherwise been left out.

What mental illness does The Equalizer have? ›

The script originally had no back story about Robert, so Denzel Washington contributed much to the character's background and back story, including McCall having obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

What is the longest film ever? ›

The longest film ever made, according to Guinness World Records, is "The Cure for Insomnia" (1987), directed by John Henry Timmis IV.

What is considered the best movie of all time? ›

1. Citizen Kane (1941)

What does the popcorn mean on Rotten Tomatoes? ›

The Audience Score, denoted by a popcorn bucket, represents the percentage of users who have rated a movie or TV show positively.

Is 0% on Rotten Tomatoes good? ›

On the film review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, films that every surveyed critic considered bad have a 0% rating. As of 2023, only 40 films with 20 reviews have received this rating.

Does Disney own Rotten Tomatoes? ›

Rotten Tomatoes, owned by Warner Bros.

Why is Equalizer so popular? ›

CBS Entertainment president Amy Reichenbach said in a statement that 'The Equalizer', led by the incomparable Queen Latifah, has all the best elements of a powerful drama. He added that the series is stacked with suspense, heroism, high stakes and formidable characters our audience roots for.

Why was The Equalizer Cancelled? ›

Lansbury emerged with a new deal to keep her top-rated show on the air, but CBS then cancelled The Equalizer, which had previously been renewed for a fifth season. “It was because of a horrible relationship between Universal and CBS at that time,” Luck said.

How old was Chloe Grace Moretz in The Equalizer? ›

Busy Chloe Grace Moretz on her star turn with Denzel Washington in "The Equalizer" Just 17, Chole Grace Moretz has a maturity that belies her age and got her a major role in the Denzel Washington thriller.

How is Susan Plummer alive in Equalizer 3? ›

Melissa Leo's character, Susan Plummer, died in The Equalizer 2, making her unexpected appearance in The Equalizer 3 surprising. The movie uses footage from the first movie to include Susan Plummer in a conversation with Robert, which becomes more important as the ending reveals her true identity as Emma Collins.

What happened to Mccalls' wife? ›

McCall is widowed as his wife passed away from some illness, having made a promise to leave his hitman life and move forward. During his career, McCall became close to the Plummer spouses, notably Susan Plummer, and later became a good friend to Dave York.

Why did The Equalizer fake his death? ›

Robert "Bob" McCall is a former Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Paramilitary Operations Officer of Defense Clandestine Service who faked his death to start a new life and put his past behind him.

Why is Bishop off The Equalizer? ›

Chris Noth was fired from CBS' “The Equalizer” in December after being accused of sexual assault by two women.

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