BET Awards 2025: 20 Denzel Washington Performances That Will Never Stop Being Great
With another Best Actor nod under his belt, we look back at Denzel’s most iconic performances that shaped film, culture, and a generation of actors.
Denzel Washington is the gold standard. With another BET Awards Best Actor nomination in 2025, it’s time to revisit the moments that made him legendary. These 20 performances have aged like fine wine.
Glory (1989) – Oscar-winning, tear-jerking, unforgettable.
Malcolm X (1992) – Spike Lee + Denzel = iconic.
Training Day (2001) – He made crooked cops terrifying—and cool.
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Fences (2016) – A masterclass in monologue.
Mo’ Better Blues (1990) – Smooth and tortured.
The Equalizer series (2014–2023) – Retired killer energy.
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He Got Game (1998) – The ultimate basketball dad.
Remember the Titans (2000) – Motivation personified.
American Gangster (2007) – Swagger in a three-piece suit.
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Philadelphia (1993) – The ally story done right.
Inside Man (2006) – Cat-and-mouse perfection.
Antwone Fisher (2002) – Directorial debut with emotional payoff.
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Flight (2012) – A complicated, grounded performance.
Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) – One of his most slept-on roles.
Out of Time (2003) – Noir with a twist.
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John Q (2002) – Every parent’s worst fear, every actor’s dream role.
Déjà Vu (2006) – Sci-fi with soul.
The Book of Eli (2010) – Post-apocalyptic but biblical.
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The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021) – Shakespeare, but make it Black brilliance.
Crimson Tide (1995) – Tense, commanding, classic.
