--- title: Denzel Washington: His Most Badass Action Roles of the Last Decade description: The two-time Oscar winner can't stop making the same Liam Neeson-style action movie. His latest, The Equalizer, arrives in theaters today canonical: https://time.com/3430073/denzel-washingtons-carbon-copy-action-films-a-retrospective/ author: Eric Dodds article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-09-26T17:46:02.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:07:40.566Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Denzel Washington: His Most Badass Action Roles of the Last Decade og:description: The two-time Oscar winner can't stop making the same Liam Neeson-style action movie og:url: https://time.com/3430073/denzel-washingtons-carbon-copy-action-films-a-retrospective/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc9d64a0a3dcf74ee/6986a55f55a8592e18a82cc7/deja-vu.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: Deja Vu og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Denzel Washington: His Most Badass Action Roles of the Last Decade twitter:description: The two-time Oscar winner can't stop making the same Liam Neeson-style action movie twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltc9d64a0a3dcf74ee/6986a55f55a8592e18a82cc7/deja-vu.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Denzel Washington's Carbon Copy Action Films: A Retrospective > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. by [Eric Dodds](https://time.com/author/eric-dodds/) ## Eric Dodds Sep 26, 2014 5:46 PM UTC  Deja Vu (2006) began Washington's trend toward less inspired action roles that might have been better suited for a less talented actor. Deja Vu (2006) began Washington's trend toward less inspired action roles that might have been better suited for a less talented actor.Touchstone Pictures by [Eric Dodds](https://time.com/author/eric-dodds/) ## Eric Dodds Sep 26, 2014 5:46 PM UTC This might sound bold, but consider it: No one has sought out cookie-cutter roles in the last decade with quite the same gusto as Denzel Washington. The two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor has appeared in no fewer than eight bona fide [Liam Neeson-style movies](http://time.com/3399575/liam-neeson-movies-most-badass/) (that is, action thrillers typically driven by motives of revenge or preventing a calamity). Liam Neeson appearing movies like this is one thing — it’s provided the Oscar nominee with a career renaissance and given the world the gift of _Taken_. Washington is a different case, though. When he made his first pure action movie of this millennium, _Out of Time_, in 2003, he was just a year removed from his second Oscar win (for _Training Day_) and was, by all accounts, one of the most coveted actors in the world. His next straight-up action role was 2004’s excellent _Man on Fire_, and in the following few years, Washington took just one such job (_Deja Vu_ in 2006). After 2007, marked by the respectable (if somewhat disappointing) _American Gangster_ and _The Great Debaters_, Washington devoted himself fully to action/thriller films designed to do little other than grab some money at the box office, make him look like a badass, and be forgotten the instant they left theaters. Think they were all nuanced and special in their own way? Consider this: Washington made two movies (_The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3_ and _Unstoppable_) about saving trains in an 18-month span. It’s not as though Washington isn’t still an exceptional actor. He earned a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his role in last year’s _Flight_ — a role that could have won him another Academy Award in a year that wasn’t so stacked with remarkable performances. It just seems like immersing himself in a challenging role isn’t something that holds much interest for Washington these days, which is a shame — there are few better at doing so. Today, Washington’s latest action movie hits theaters. There’s always the chance that _The Equalizer_ will rival _Man on Fire_ and redeem a decade’s worth of mostly unambitious career choices, but if recent history is any indication, you shouldn’t hold your breath — just relax and enjoy the action.  Out of Time (2003) marked Denzel Washington's first 21st century foray into the pure action genre. MGM  Man on Fire (2004) was an excellent movie. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. 20th Century Fox  Deja Vu (2006) began Washington's trend toward less inspired action roles that might have been better suited for a less talented actor. Touchstone Pictures  The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) marked the first time that Washington would have to stop a train-related crisis. Regrettably, it would not be the last. Columbia  The Book of Eli (2010) looked like it had some potential and co-starred Mila Kunis. It was not very good. Warner Bros.  Unstoppable (2010) was Washington's second train movie in as many years, but also provided us with a wonderful SNL parody starring Jay Pharoah and Taran Killam. 20th Century Fox  In theory a movie starring Washington and Ryan Reynolds could have been a major hit. Safe House (2012) was not. Universal  2 Guns (2013) starred Washington and Mark Wahlberg. It might be worth watching the next time you're on a plane if you like action films and/or Washington and/or Wahlberg. 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