Summary

Denzel Washingtonhas had an amazing acting life history , but his first movie to break a big box office milestone came from an unexpected film that only mystify 55 % on Rotten Tomatoes . Denzel Washington is , today , one of the biggest names in Hollywood , and it ’s hard to remember a time when his movies were n’t almost universally acclaimed . sooner in his vocation , though , some of Washington ’s movies did n’t get in touch with the same degree of success he ’s now known for . He did n’t reach a major box office disc until 1993 , and one of Washington ’s most average films accomplished it .

Washington had some great movies in the 90s , but not all of them were critical succeeder . That decade was one of his most prolific , as Washington appeared in 24 movies and shows in the ninety . With such a huge turn of projects in just 10 twelvemonth , it was inevitable that some of them would n’t be as well - received as others . While some of Washington ’s film were n’t hits with critic , he did have some very financially successful flick , and one of them managed to be the first of his film to earn over $ 100,000 at the domestic boxful business office .

With a career spanning over four decades , Denzel Washington has long become a household name , and here are all of his movies , ranked .

Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 3

The Pelican Brief Was Denzel Washington’s First Movie To Make Over $100 Million Domestically

Washington ’s first motion-picture show to make six digits at the domestic boxful office was 1993’sThe Pelican Brief . Washington played Gray Grantham , a diarist who helped Julia Roberts ' Darby Shaw uncover the conspiracy behind the character assassination of two Supreme Court Justices . Despite realise $ 100,768,056 at the domesticated box office ( viaBox Office Mojo),The Pelican Briefwas not very well get , and it only earned a 55 % musical score onRotten Tomatoes . It ’s especially surprising thatThe Pelican Briefwas the first to break that roadblock , considering Washington had several movies that were much well receive before 1993 , likeGlory(95 % ) orMalcolm X(88 % ) .

The Pelican Briefhad a budget of $ 45 million and a worldwide revenue of over $ 195 million , intend it likely made about $ 80 million in pure profit after expenses .

There are a few reasonsThe Pelican Briefmanaged to be one ofDenzel Washington ’s highest - grossing movies , even when better ones flounder at the box situation . The Pelican Briefhad a whiz - constellate form that drew in quite a few watcher , including Julia Roberts , Sam Shepard , John Heard , and Washington himself , among many others . It was also found on a bestselling John Grisham novel , and the 90s were arguably the top of the source ’s popularity . Grisham ’s novel sold fabulously well , andThe PelicanBriefwas among the first of many adaptations of his writing , with others likeA Time to Killalso incur financial success .

Josh Hartnett looking shocked in Fight or Flight

5 Other Denzel Washington Movies Have Made More Than $100 Million Domestically

WhileThe Pelican Briefmay have been the first of Washington ’s motion-picture show to make over $ 100,000 domestically , it was far from the last . Since 1993 , Washington has had five other picture break into the six - physical body range , includingRemember the Titans(2000),American Gangster(2007),Safe House(2012),The Equalizer(2014 ) , andThe Equalizer 2(2018 ) . Many of these figures seem low-down compare to billion - dollar earners likeStar Warsand the Marvel Cinematic Universe , but they also had importantly lower budget than those megahit . When the Hollywood infinitesimal calculus is complete , many of Washington ’s movies have prove to be immense financial successes .

Denzel Washington Movies ' Box Office Returns

Title

In a dusty landscape Finn stares out into the distance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

twelvemonth

Domestic Box Office

Worldwide Box Office

Denzel Washington wearing a suit in The Pelican Brief

Custom image by Debanjana Chowdhury

American Gangster

2007

$ 130,164,645

Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington in The Pelican Brief

$ 269,755,430

Safe House

2012

Headshot Of Julia Roberts in the Los Angeles Premiere Of ‘Ticket To Paradise'

A law student uncovers a conspiracy, putting herself and others in danger.

$ 126,373,434

$ 208,076,205

The Pelican Brief

Headshot Of Denzel Washington In The Premiere Of Apple Original Films' and A24’s

1993

$ 100,768,056

$ 195,268,056

The Equalizer

2014

$ 101,530,738

$ 192,330,738

The Equalizer 2

2018

$ 102,084,362

$ 190,400,157

recall the Titans

2000

$ 115,654,751

$ 136,706,683

The fact thatThe Pelican Briefwas so successful domestically was a resultant of a combining of factor , but it really ca n’t be overstated how important Washington was . He ’s been a monolithic headliner since the 1980s , and his name carries quite a second of weight , especially in America . Without the star power Washington brings to his films , and theunderrated performance by Denzel WashingtoninThe Pelican Brief , almost none of his movies would be anywhere virtually as successful as they ferment out to be . The Pelican Briefis proof thatDenzel Washingtoncan turn an alright movie into a massive financial winner .

source : Rotten Tomatoes , Box Office Mojo

Cast

A law student uncovers a confederacy , putting herself and others in peril .