One of the most accomplished modern actors that anyone could muster,Denzel Washingtonis known worldwide for both his dramatic and comedic capabilities on screen. He’s built an illustrious filmography, and remains one of only five actors to be nominated for an Oscar in five disparate decades.
He began attracting attention at the Academy Awards in the late eighties, with one nomination and one win fromCry Freedom(1987) andGlory(1989) respectively. Since, he’s become a household name, consistently cast in some of the biggest roles that Hollywood has to offer. He’s a treat for any director to work with, and while dozens of popular names have cast Denzel in their movies, these six guys collaborated with him the most.
6Norman Jewison - 2 Collaborations
The first two directors on this list only worked with Washington twice apiece, but both directors put out one film that provedinstrumental to Washington’s career. ForNorman Jewison, the essential Denzel film wasThe Hurricane(1999). Washington played the titular Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter, a boxer who gets wrongfully arrested and fights (you know, like boxers do) against the corruption of the justice system.
It’s among the more recognizable roles for Washington, as he received for the second time a Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards. He even won in the same category at the Golden Globes. However, Washington and Jewison collaborated once more, long beforeThe Hurricane— in fact, it was Denzel’s second-ever role in film.
InA Soldier’s Story(1984), he played Private Melvin Peterson. This was an early version of Denzel, but he still performed as one would expect: exceptionally. Since Jewison retired in 2003, they’ll never make another film together, but here’s to the two they did manage to work on.
5Carl Franklin - 2 Collaborations
Undoubtedly the least-recognizable name on the list,Carl Franklindirected eight feature films, and only one of them profited at the box office. That’s a fairly unfortunate but noteworthy statistic that showcases his paucity of popularity with audiences.
However, several of his films received tremendous reviews from critics, and among them wasDevil in a Blue Dress(1995). It holds a 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and nearly two decades after release, it’s become a sort ofcult classic.
It was probably the most vital title of Franklin’s career, and hardcore Denzel fans have been waxing lyrical about it for years, but this director/actor duo did collaborate once more in their careers.Out of Time(2003) released to mostly positive reviews, but critical reception aside,Devil in a Blue Dressalone is enough to warrant their spot.
4Himself - 3 Films
Directors such as Woody Allen and Clint Eastwood frequently cast themselves in the starring role of their respective films. Even guys like Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, and Quentin Tarantino often make cameos throughout their filmography, playing characters that may not have a name but are definitely recognizable in the scene.
Denzel Washington has gone the Allen/Eastwood route on three occasions now with regard to his directorial features. In 2002, he both directed and starred inAntwone Fisher. Critics were polarized about its quality, but it’s a notable release nonetheless. The criticism for his next two films would be much more decisive.
The Great Debaters(2007) andFences(2016) both hold “Certified Fresh” approval ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, with respective scores of 80% and 92%. That’s pretty impressive, especially considering that Denzel’s primary craft is acting.
Related:Best Movies Directed & Produced by Denzel Washington, Ranked
3Spike Lee - 4 Collaborations
This is by far the most famous collaboration on the list, and that’s in large part due toMalcolm X(1992). Not much needs to be said about Denzel’s titular performance therein. He was nominated across the board of award ceremonies, but for the most part lost out to Al Pacino inScent of a Woman(1992). Make of that what you will.
However, that was far from the only project that Washington and Spike Lee worked on together. Even beforeMalcolm X, the pair put outMo’ Better Bluesin 1990. It’s among the more underrated of their respective careers, and kicked off one of the mostprolific collaborationsof modern Hollywood.
They would subsequently collaborate twice more: once withHe Got Gamein 1998, and again withInside Manfrom 2006. Both are among the best of their respective careers, and solidified them as a powerhouse Hollywood duo.
Related:Da 5 Bloods Almost Had Samuel L. Jackson and Denzel Washington in the Leads
2Antoine Fuqua - 5 Collaborations
In one of the more recognizable roles of his career, Denzel Washington won the Academy Award for Best Actor thanks to his work as Detective Alonzo Harris inTraining Day(2002). It would be the first of five total collaborations between Washington and director Antoine Fuqua, and although their work together only dips in quality from this point forward, they’re all fairly famous movies.
The Equalizer(2014),The Magnificent Seven(2016), andThe Equalizer 2(2018) are the films at hand. They all received fairly mediocre critical consensus scores, but again: they’re recognizable titles, and they all made great money at the box office.
Plus, The Equalizer 3 isreleasing next year, and Washington is set to reprise his role as Robert McCall. That will mark five total collaborations between Washington and Fuqua, and while some of their films may not be of the highest quality, their work together onTraining Daywas more than enough to solidify their spot.
1Tony Scott - 5 Collaborations
Denzel Washington and Tony Scott have a hit-or-miss partnership.Man on Fire(2004) andDéjà vu(2006) are frankly mediocre, if not outright bad productions.Crimson Tide(1995) andUnstoppable(2010), on the other hand, were fantastic displays of both direction (from Scott) and acting (from Washington).
Tony Scotthas frequentlycollaborated with several other A-list actors, like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. But when addingThe Taking of Pelham 123(2009), that’s five total collaborations between Washington and Scott — which is more than either has worked with anyone else, until next year’sEqualizersequel.
