Washington is one of the few actors with multiple great thrillers in his filmography

December 28 marks the birthday of Hollywood actor Denzel Washington, one of the finest actors ever to grace the big screen. The actor who turns 71 this December is also one of the few who has starred in multiple great thrillers throughout his career. As we celebrate the actor’s birthday, here is a list of Washington thrillers that people should watch on his birthday, in case they haven’t.

Inside Man

(Credit- Prime Video)

A robbery takes place in a bank in Manhattan, and Denzel Washington is called in to negotiate with the robbers, deal with the hostage situation, and catch the crim*nals. All of a sudden, the hostages are released, and the bank is found empty. Where did the criminals go? The film revolves around this question that leaves Washington scratching his head. He finally gets his answer but lets the crim*nals walk away. Why? That’s another twist in the plot. By the way, the film is also special for using SRK’s Chhaiyya-Chhaiyya as a track at the very beginning.

Déjà Vu

((Credit- Collider)

Are you aware of the concept of déjà vu? It is one of those moments when you feel you have already lived it, as if you just saw a replay of it from life. Déjà Vu is a science fiction thriller movie that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats. Although the film has only 56 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, in our book of thoughts, it is one of the best thrillers ever made.

Man on Fire

(Credit- Netflix)

In case you have ever watched Amitabh Bachchan and Arjun Rampal’s Ek Ajnabee, it is a straightforward copy of Washington’s Man on Fire. However, Man on Fire is much more intense and graphic than the Hindi remake. Not to forget, action sequences are on a different level, and Ek Ajnabee was no match for Man on Fire despite the acting prowess of Big B and Rampal. Dakota Fanning also stars in Man on Fire as the kid who gets kidn*pped.

The Taking of Pelham 123

This is, hands down, the best thriller in Denzel Washington’s filmography. Imagine you are an average train dispatcher, working at a desk behind a mic. Suddenly, a train gets hij*cked and the hij*ckers want to speak only to you, not the police or anyone from the government—how do you handle the situation? In this cat-and-mouse chase, Washington is forced to become a negotiator and chases down the negotiators, including John Travolta, who did a brilliant job as the film’s protagonist.

The Bone Collector

(Credit- Letterboxd)

Based on the 1997 novel The Bone Collector, Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie team up in this hunt for a serial k*iller. Washington’s acting is impeccable, given that his character is shown to be in a paralyzed state, spending all the time in a bed. Therefore, all Washington could do was deliver his dialogue and act with his eyes to express himself.