Training Day (2001): Denzel Washington earned an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Detective Alonzo Harris in this crime drama uniquelastname. He plays an unethical Los Angeles Police Department detective who manipulates and intimidates those around him in order to gain power.
- Glory (1989): This Civil War drama shows Washington as Private Trip, a runaway slave who joins the 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first African-American regiment to fight in the war. Washington earned an Oscar nomination for his performance nationaldaytime.
- Malcolm X (1992): Directed by Spike Lee, this biopic follows the life of the African American leader Malcolm X. Washington earned an Academy Award nomination for his riveting portrayal of the controversial figure.
- Fences (2016): Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson, Washington plays a former Negro League baseball player who struggles to provide for his family in 1950s Pittsburgh. He won an Academy Award for his performance nextnationalday.
- The Hurricane (1999): Washington stars as Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter, a wrongly convicted boxer who is sent to prison for a crime he did not commit. Washington earned an Oscar nomination for his performance.
- He Got Game (1998): Washington stars as Jake Shuttlesworth, a convict who is released from prison for a week to convince his son Jesus (played by Ray Allen) to sign a college basketball contract. The film was directed by Spike Lee orissatimes.
- American Gangster (2007): Washington stars as Frank Lucas, a real-life drug kingpin who ran a heroin empire in the 1970s. He stars opposite Russell Crowe in this crime drama.
- The Book of Eli (2010): Washington plays a solitary warrior traveling across a post-apocalyptic landscape in order to save humanity. Directed by the Hughes brothers, this action film co-stars Gary Oldman and Mila Kunis theassistant.
- Man on Fire (2004): Washington plays John Creasy, a former CIA operative hired to protect a nine-year-old girl who is targeted by kidnappers. The film was directed by Tony Scott.
- Philadelphia (1993): Washington plays Joe Miller, a lawyer who takes on the case of Andrew Beckett (Tom Hanks), a gay lawyer suffering from AIDS who has been wrongfully terminated from his firm. Washington earned an Oscar nomination for his performance.