Denzel Washington continues to dominate the early months of 2025, as one of his standout action films achieves a surge in popularity on streaming platforms.
His 2018 film The Equalizer 2 has become a major hit on Amazon Prime Video, just a week after it was released on the platform for the holiday season.
The Equalizer 2 currently ranks seventh on Prime Video’s U.S. Top 10 films chart, following its Christmas debut.
The sequel is positioned just behind A Quiet Place: Day One, which stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, while the Christmas action comedy Red One, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, holds the top spot.
This marks a continued success for Washington in the action genre. His remake of The Magnificent Seven, co-starring Chris Pratt, is set to hit Peacock, adding another notable entry to his filmography.
The Equalizer series is the only franchise in Washington’s career, and it has seen consistent streaming success across its three films.
The first movie, along with The Equalizer 3, has performed well on Netflix, contributing to the franchise’s overall box office earnings of $192.4 million and $191.1 million worldwide, respectively.
The Equalizer 2 is the sole installment of the series currently available on Prime Video, with the original Equalizer now streaming on Paramount+, and The Equalizer 3 recently making its debut on Max after a successful run on Netflix.
The Equalizer 2
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, who previously collaborated with Washington on Training Day, The Equalizer 2 sees Washington reprise his role as Robert McCall, a former Marine and DIA officer who returns to his violent vigilante ways as a Lyft driver after his close friend is murdered.
The film also stars Pedro Pascal, Washington’s co-star from Gladiator II. The Equalizer 2 grossed $190.4 million worldwide against a $79 million budget.
While the sequel received mixed reviews (with a 52% critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes), it developed a cult following, which helped pave the way for the franchise’s biggest critical success, The Equalizer 3, which earned a 77% rating.
Following the success of The Equalizer 3, which was initially thought to be the final chapter for McCall, Sony Pictures has approved two more sequels to continue the action series. Washington has confirmed that these films will debut in the coming years.
Beyond The Equalizer series, Washington is also reuniting with Fuqua for an upcoming Netflix film, where he will portray the Carthaginian general Hannibal.
These projects, alongside the Equalizer sequels, mark some of the final roles in Washington’s career before he retires from Hollywood.
The actor is also set to make his debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the upcoming, as-yet-untitled Black Panther 3. Fans can now stream The Equalizer 2 on Prime Video.
