Today,Denzel Washingtonis considered to be a certified movie star, yet some opinions may differ on when exactly the actor became so famous. Washington’s career began in the 1980s, when he earned a recurring role in the medical drama,St. Elsewhere.Just a few years later,he started taking on movie roles in major projects likeGlory, Malcolm X,andTraining Day.Nowadays, Washington is also known fortheEqualizerfranchiseand his upcoming historical epic,Gladiator II.However, not many people are able to pinpoint the moment when Washington became a household name.
Many different arguments could be made about when Washington became a true movie star. Some may say thatWashington’s first Academy Award-nominated rolefor 1987’sCry Freedomwas the turning point for the actor. Others may cite his highest-grossing movie,American Gangster,as a particularly notable time in his career. His most memorable roles as Malcolm X or Herman Boone inRemember the Titanscould also be contenders. However,famous film critic Roger Ebert cites Washington’s 1989 movie,The Mighty Quinn,as Washington’s true rise to famedue to his perfect portrayal of heroic softness.
What Roger Ebert Said About Denzel Washington’s The Mighty Quinn Role
What Is The Mighty Quinn About
Despite all the arguments one could make about which movie made Washington a star,Ebertseems to pickThe Mighty Quinnas his top choice. He says, “The film stars Denzel Washington in one of those roles that creates a movie star overnight.” He goes on to compare his performance inThe Mighty Quinnto his powerful role inCry Freedom,and explains that the latter “didn’t even begin to hint at his reserves of charm, sexiness and offbeat humor.“Ebert concludes by putting Washington alongside greats like Sean Conneryand Michael Caine.
Every Upcoming Denzel Washington Movie
Denzel Washington has been called the best actor of the 21st century so far, and has generated a lot of excitement for his upcoming roles.
The Mighty Quinnis a mystery comedy thriller based on a novel calledFinding Maubeeby A.H.Z. Carr.The story follows police chief Xavier Quinn, played by Washington, as he helps his childhood friend, Maubee, who has become a murder suspect. Alongside Washington, the movie also stars Robert Townsend, James Fox, Mimi Rogers, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. ThoughThe Mighty Quinnmay be not be the most obvious pick ofWashington’s best movies, it was a well-received film that has a solid 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Washington’s performance is most definitely a highlight.
1989 Was A Very Good Year For Denzel Washington
Washington’s Best Rated Movies Explained
Notably,The Mighty Quinncame out in a year that was particularly strong for Washington. Aside from this movie, he also appeared in the Civil War drama,Glory, in 1989. This movie earned an astonishing 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, and also, earned Washington his very first Academy Award win for Best Supporting Actor. Only two years prior, he received his first nomination ever forCry Freedom.In this way,The Mighty Quinncame at a time of increasing success for Washington, though the movie itself doesn’t stand out as much as those released before and after it.
1989
1995
2016
1991
The Tragedy of Macbeth
2021
Generally, the late 1980s and 1990s were a very strong time for Washington. Though his highest-rated movies vary in terms of release year, a number of them coincidentally premiered within this time frame. For example,Gloryis Washington’s highest-rated feature film of all time, according toRotten Tomatoes. It is closely followed by 1995’sDevil in a Blue Dressand 1991’sMississippi Masala.The Mighty Quinnranks 10th among Washington’s highest-rated movies, which is not outstanding, but definitely says something about the importance that film had on his career.
When Did Denzel Washington Truly Become A Movie Star?
Washington’s Critical Success Vs His Financial Success
There is no solid answer for when Washington became a movie star, but a solid guess would be around the early 1990s. By this time,Washington had already established a name for himself after earning Oscar nominations in the late 1980s, so his name only got bigger and bigger with every movie he made. Furthermore,Washington was being offered characterswith incredible importance, including the titular character inMalcolm Xand Joe Miller inPhiladelphia.This is likely when Washington transitioned from being an up-and-coming actor to a true Hollywood star.
Another element that puts Washington’s success in the 1990s is the fact that his movies began to be successful both critically and financially. While many of Washington’s early movies earned the praise of critics, they didn’t do particularly well at the box office. However, around this time,the reception of Washington’s movies began to even out.The Pelican Briefearned $195 million andPhiladelphiaearned $206 million. Thus,Denzel Washingtoncemented himself as a great actor.
