Denzel Washington’s Top 20 Highest-Grossing Movies (2024)

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Denzel Washington’s Top 20 Highest-Grossing Movies (1)

Denzel Washington is one of the greatest actors in movie history. Even in films that are just average, his performances are always unforgettable. If someone tells you they’re not a Denzel fan, you should stop talking to them, because they clearly have horrible taste.

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With upcoming films “Gladiator II” releasing Nov. 22 and new Spike Lee Joint “High and Low” in production, it doesn’t look like his streak is ending anytime soon.

While Washington’s award-winning filmography is unquestioned, his lack of appearances in major sci-fi or comic book franchises means he doesn’t have a big time billion-dollar blockbuster on his resume. But that doesn’t mean his roster isn’t chock full of box office hits.

In case you’re curious about where his movies rank, we’ve done the work for you. According to BoxOfficeMojo, these are Denzel Washington’s top 20 films, per worldwide gross.

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‘American Gangster’ - $269,755,430

‘American Gangster’ - $269,755,430

The amazing thing about “American Gangster” is that it has so many quotable moments and everyone has their favorite. It’s why we keep coming back to it over and over.

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‘Safe House’ - $208,076,205

‘Safe House’ - $208,076,205

Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds isn’t a team we were expecting, but somehow their two different styles work in this fun, good vs. evil action film.

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‘Philadelphia’ - $206,678,440

‘Philadelphia’ - $206,678,440

What makes Washington so fantastic in “Philadelphia” is how you can still discover something new in his performance all these years later. He and Tom Hanks are perfection here.

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‘The Pelican Brief’ - $195,268,056

‘The Pelican Brief’ - $195,268,056

If you like government conspiracy thrillers and major movie stars, this ‘90s hit is probably one of your favorites. If we’re being honest, we weren’t expecting it to be this high.

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‘The Equalizer’ - $192,330,738

In his first outing as “The Equalizer,” Denzel entered the action hero conversation with a brutal, violent trip to a big box hardware store. We’ll never look at Home Depot or Lowe’s the same way again.

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‘The Equalizer 3’ - 191,067,560

‘The Equalizer 3’ - 191,067,560

This was meant to feel like a final chapter, but we’ll watch Washington “equalize” problems forever if he keeps making these awesome movies.

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‘The Equalizer 2’ - $190,400,157

‘The Equalizer 2’ - $190,400,157

Just in case you’re wondering, that’s a franchise total of $573,798,455. Half a billion dollars for an action franchise led by a Black actor is a major deal.

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‘Inside Man’ - $186,003,591

‘Inside Man’ - $186,003,591

Every time Spike Lee and Washington team up, it’s magic. The way “Inside Man” unravels its complicated web is beautiful and even more fun on subsequent viewings. And of course, in a ridiculously star-studded cast, Denzel is a spectacular anchor.

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‘Déjà Vu’ - $180,557,550

‘Déjà Vu’ - $180,557,550

Spoiler alert for a movie from 2006: the time travel plot is a lot. Don’t think too hard about it or you’ll get a headache.

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‘Unstoppable’ - $167,805,466

Not only were we not expecting this runaway train epic to crack the top 10, it’s also surprising to see how evenly split the box office is between domestic and international numbers. It brought in $81.5 million domestic and $86.2 million globally.

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‘The Magnificent Seven’ - $162,360,695

‘The Magnificent Seven’ - $162,360,695

Despite a cast that includes Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke, we’re giving all the credit for this western’s success to Washington.

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‘Flight’ - $161,772,375

‘Flight’ - $161,772,375

Washington delivers another classic performance in “Flight,” but we’re still not happy about his character’s fate.

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‘Crimson Tide’ - $157,387,195

‘Crimson Tide’ - $157,387,195

Washington and Gene Hackman go toe to toe in this thriller that somehow feels relevant again.

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‘The Book of Eli’ - $157,107,755

‘The Book of Eli’ - $157,107,755

Word on the street is we’re getting “Book of Eli” prequel series starring John Boyega. He’s an amazing actor who can definitely bring the emotional weight required for the role. But that doesn’t mean we don’t want a Washington cameo if possible.

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‘The Bone Collector’ - $151,493,655

‘The Bone Collector’ - $151,493,655

As quadriplegic forensics investigator Lincoln Rhyme, Washington brilliantly conveys his character’s emotional upheaval without venturing into pity or mockery.

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‘The Taking of Pelham 123’ - $150,166,126

‘The Taking of Pelham 123’ - $150,166,126

We’re not claiming this is one of his instant classics, but clearly some people enjoyed it. Even amongst John Travolta’s overacting, Washington is rock solid.

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‘Remember the Titans’ - $136,771,683

‘Remember the Titans’ - $136,771,683

If you don’t like “Remember the Titans” we have serious questions about all your life choices.

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‘2 Guns’ - $131,940,411

‘2 Guns’ - $131,940,411

Even when you’re a legend, they won’t all be winners. We’re totally blaming Mark Wahlberg for the lower box office total.

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‘Man on Fire’ - $130,834,852

‘Man on Fire’ - $130,834,852

If this were a list of Washington’s best action movies, “Man on Fire” would definitely be in the top five. It’s his unmatched ability to draw you in and make you truly feel every single one of Creasy’s emotions that makes him so great.

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‘The Siege’ - $116,672,912

‘The Siege’ - $116,672,912

Denzel Washington’s Top 20 Highest-Grossing Movies (2)

Following the Sept. 11 attacks, this 1998 film about similar attacks in NYC leading to martial law sort of faded away, as it was a little too real in how it portrayed the United States’ response to the situation.

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Denzel Washington’s Top 20 Highest-Grossing Movies (2024)

FAQs

What actor has the highest box office gross? ›

As of June 2024, Samuel L. Jackson was the highest-grossing leading actor in the United States and Canada, which combined are known as the North American movie market. Movies featuring Jackson as a protagonist collectively amassed 5.85 billion U.S. dollars domestically.

Which movie holds the record for the highest-grossing film in history? ›

With a worldwide box-office gross of over $2.9 billion, Avatar is proclaimed to be the "highest-grossing" film, but such claims usually refer to theatrical revenues only and do not take into account home video and television income, which can form a significant portion of a film's earnings.

What is the highest-grossing film of all time without taking inflation into account? ›

Blockbusters Ignoring Inflation

While "Avatar" and "Titanic," director James Cameron can lay claim to the two highest grossing movies of all time worldwide with $2.7 billion and $2.1 billion, Domestically, the films brought in roughly $760 million and $659 million, respectively.

What is the #1 best movie of all time? ›

Citizen Kane (1941), starring and directed by Orson Welles, has topped several international polls, including five consecutive decades at number 1 in the British Film Institute's Sight and Sound decennial poll of critics.

Who is the highest-paid actor in the world of all time? ›

In 2023, Dwayne Johnson, also known as “The Rock,” claimed the title of the highest-paid actor, amassing an impressive $87.5 million. Discover more about the projects that contributed to his financial success and the diverse sources of his income.

Who is the biggest Hollywood star of all time? ›

Top 25 Biggest Movie Stars of All Time
  • John Wayne. Actor. Producer. ...
  • Humphrey Bogart. Actor. Producer. ...
  • Tom Cruise. Actor. Producer. ...
  • Cary Grant. Actor. Producer. ...
  • Clint Eastwood. Actor. Producer. ...
  • Marilyn Monroe. Actress. Writer. ...
  • Charles Chaplin. Writer. Actor. ...
  • Paul Newman. Actor. Producer. Director The Hustler (1961)

Who is the most famous actor of all time? ›

fame is defined by the % of people who have heard of a all-time actor/actress. Find out more
  1. 1 Tom Cruise98%
  2. 2 Sylvester Stallone98%
  3. 3 Will Smith98%
  4. 4 Morgan Freeman98%
  5. 5 Marilyn Monroe98%
  6. 6 Leonardo DiCaprio98%
  7. 7 Bill Cosby97%
  8. Robert Downey Jr. 97%

What is the #1 movie in US history? ›

Gone with the Wind” (1939)

Yes, to this day, “Gone with the Wind” remains the highest-grossing movie when adjusted for inflation.

Who made the greatest movie ever sold? ›

POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold is a 2011 documentary film about product placement, marketing and advertising directed by Morgan Spurlock. The premise behind the production is that the documentary itself would be entirely paid for by sponsors, thus being a form of metacinema.

What movie was #1 the longest? ›

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial held the record for the biggest box office haul of all time, spending a whopping 16 weeks at number one. Spielberg's Jaws paved the way for summer blockbuster releases, proving that people still go to theaters during the summer. E.T.

What is the most successful film of all time? ›

Most successful movies of all time at the international box office as of 2024. As of March 2024, "Avatar" (2009) was the most commercially successful movie of all time, grossing about 2.92 billion U.S. dollars at box offices across the globe.

What movie lost the most money of all time? ›

While John Carter is far from a poorly made movie and, in fact, does quite a few things well, it will forever remain one of the biggest box office bombs in history. At over $250 million in loss of revenue, John Carter rules both the red planet and the leaderboard of feature picture commercial catastrophes.

What is the most viewed movie of all time? ›

The Jesus Film

According to The New York Times, this film is likely the most-watched motion picture of all time. The Jesus Film Project states that the film has been viewed more than 6 billion times (including repeat viewings).

What is the 1st grossing movie of all time? ›

1. Avatar (Worldwide: $2.93 Billion, Domestic: $785.22 Million)

Who is the highest paid actor? ›

Adam Sandler's four film projects of 2023 propelled him to an annual salary of $73m (£57m), making him the highest-paid performer in Hollywood, according to Forbes magazine.

How many movies grossed $1 billion dollars? ›

Among the elite list of 54 billion-dollar grossing films are sequels, Disney remakes and iconic franchises such as Star Wars, Avatar, James Bond, The Lord of the Rings, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter, The Fast & The Furious Jurassic Park, The Dark Knight, Transformers and Disney and Pixar toons.

How many movies have made $2 billion dollars? ›

The Techloy chart below shows the other films that have crossed the $2 billion mark. For context, 50 films have passed the $1 billion benchmark, and only 6 have hit $2 billion in gross revenue.

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