The Equalizer

Name: The Equalizer
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: September 26, 2014
Duration: 132 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Bill Pullman, Chloë Grace Moretz, Chloe Moretz, David Harbour, Denzel Washington

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 41 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 452 Ratings

See All

7.0

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.0	Your Score
7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 452 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

The Equalizer

Now Playing: The Equalizer

Movie Details & Credits

Columbia Pictures | Release Date: September 26, 2014 | R

Starring: Bill Pullman, Chloë Grace Moretz, Chloe Moretz, David Harbour, Denzel Washington, Haley Bennett, Marton Csokas, Melissa Leo

Summary: McCall (Denzel Washington) is a former black ops commando who faked his death to live a quiet life in Boston. When he comes out of his self-imposed retirement to rescue a young girl, Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), he finds himself face to face with ultra-violent Russian gangsters. As he serves vengeance against those who brutalize theMcCall (Denzel Washington) is a former black ops commando who faked his death to live a quiet life in Boston. When he comes out of his self-imposed retirement to rescue a young girl, Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), he finds himself face to face with ultra-violent Russian gangsters. As he serves vengeance against those who brutalize the helpless, McCall’s desire for justice is reawakened. If someone has a problem, the odds are stacked against them, and they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.… Expand

Director: Antoine Fuqua

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 132 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Andrew O'Hehir

Sep 25, 2014

The Equalizer is gripping, mysterious and even sometimes moving, but it’s never pleasant, still less fun. If you decide to go, don’t claim you weren’t warned. If you skip it, you’re missing one of the year’s signal works of superior Hollywood craftsmanship. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Sep 25, 2014

The Equalizer is silly but irresistible, taking situations of inherent gut-level impact and exploiting them for every bit of emotion and tension. It could never have been a great movie. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Sep 26, 2014

Director Anton Fuqua has jettisoned almost everything related to the TV series except the title, the main character's name, and the bare-bones premise. Even the theme song is gone. For all intents and purposes, The Equalizer isn't so much a reboot as it is an entirely new entity. Read full review

Mike Scott

Sep 26, 2014

There's a soothing catharsis in the idea that good guys are every bit as capable as bad guys of raining hellfire down on their enemies. Read full review

David Edelstein

Sep 26, 2014

There’s a special kind of hell for artists who array vigilante revenge-porn in saintly garb, and Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua should go to the front of that damnable line after The Equalizer. Read full review

Scott Foundas

Sep 7, 2014

Ponderously overlong and not even half as much fun as it should have been, The Equalizer still gets a lot of mileage out of Washington’s unassailable star presence. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Sep 24, 2014

The Equalizer is a stone-dumb movie. Read full review

SEE ALL 41 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

ledaumas

Sep 28, 2014

I wish the world had a bunch of equalizers. Yes, sometimes you must do something bad for good to win. Very strong message, amazing how Denzel acts with his eyes and it looks like Chloe is building towards a strong future in acting.

11 of 26 users found this helpful1115

dark_wiz

Oct 1, 2014

I really enjoyed the movie, great acting, compelling story not super original, kept me engaged and wanting more, Denzel is a bad ass as usual. This is nothing like the expendables that's laughable. Go see it !

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

Puellaesti

Oct 2, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What did many of these negative reviewers think a movie with the “Equalizer” title would present? Of course, it would be about a totally indestructible hero settling scores - or rather - overwhelming an enemy preying on the helpless. Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, Jack Bower and the growing number of popular American assassins in print film and TV don’t go down easily, always rise and heal miraculously; Densel’s character is in character. It seems to me, we viewers who choose this fare put rationality on hold in order to enjoy the plot and especially the climax. Personally, I was glad the villain was international and not just the local pimp. I did think Densel’s character spent a bit too much time just thinking (implying, …feeling sorry for himself); however, the “down time” has to be used for something and sensitive assassins pay a price becoming friendly.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

jonslow

Jan 4, 2019

While the acting was very good, the action sequences were well made and quite violent and the plot was interesting, it was just way too over the top and unbelievable at times. The movie was also a little bit too long. But all in all, The Equalizer is a very watchable movie and a veryWhile the acting was very good, the action sequences were well made and quite violent and the plot was interesting, it was just way too over the top and unbelievable at times. The movie was also a little bit too long. But all in all, The Equalizer is a very watchable movie and a very welcomed addition to the action genre.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LamontRaymond

Oct 2, 2014

It's a super-entertaining flick, and Deznel is at the peak of his "less is more" powers here. Have we noticed that all these aging actors (Neeson, Denzel) are becoming Charles Bronson? Hey, give the people what they want.

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

skip260

Oct 18, 2014

This is a very cliche movie. The typical "I gave that life up years ago" action lone-wolf film. At least it puts a nice catch to it. And since this has to be 50 characters long I'm just typing this random stuff.

0 of 8 users found this helpful08

Jordan20

Sep 26, 2014

Chloe Moretz did so many remakes movies i lost count, maybe we see Liam Neeson in The Equalizer 2, and Denzel Washington in A Walk Among the Tombstones 2

6 of 21 users found this helpful615

SEE ALL 99 REVIEWS

51	#51 Most Discussed Movie of 2014
41	#41 Most Shared Movie of 2014