I’m So Relieved By Denzel Washington’s The Equalizer 4 & 5 Update, After Previously Fearing For The $573.8M Franchise’s Future

After months of uncertainty, I couldn’t be happier about Denzel Washington’s recent The Equalizer update, not only because it means more movies for fans of the franchise, but also, more movies for Washington. Since 2014, Washington has starred as the skilled former Marine, Robert McCall, in The Equalizer movies. For three films now, Washington has proven that he still has what it takes to be an action hero. However, after the peaceful ending of 2023’s The Equalizer 3, the fate of the franchise became unclear. With McCall happily retired in the Italian countryside, many assumed it would end there.

Fortunately, Washington recently confirmed that McCall’s story is not ending there. In an interview with Esquire, Washington revealed two more Equalizer movies are currently in development. Of the upcoming films, Washington said, “I’ve come to realize that the Equalizer films are for me, too, because they’re for the people. They want me to go get the bad guys.” This sentiment could not be closer to the truth, at least for me. I am definitely eager to see Washington kick more butt as Robert McCall, and more than that, I think these movies could be great for the actor’s future.

I’m Very Glad The Equalizer Will Be Continuing For Multiple Movies

What The Equalizer Movies Bring To The Table

I couldn’t be happier that The Equalizer 4 and The Equalizer 5 are being developed. Although seeing McCall serene was definitely satisfying, it is even better to see him continue to take down bad guys. Thus far, The Equalizer films have not gotten old or boring, and as the saying goes, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. I believe having Washington return for two more The Equalizer movies is a solely positive endeavor as audiences will continue eating up these stories, and more importantly, every previous Equalizer film has done well at the box office and among critics.

The Equalizer movies also bring a unique change to Washington’s career. For the most part, Washington is known for his serious dramatic roles, playing powerful men in movies like American Gangster, Malcolm X, and even his most recent project, Gladiator II. While McCall is definitely a dramatic character, The Equalizer is much less serious than Washington’s other films. Audiences do not have to become too emotionally invested in The Equalizer, and instead, can simply enjoy Washington beating up faceless villains. This is a good switch-up for Washington, especially because these movies are so beloved.

The Equalizer 4 & 5 Will Be Guaranteed Hits For Denzel Washington

How The Next Equalizers Can Raise The Stakes

Another benefit of The Equalizer 4 and 5 is that these movies are almost guaranteed to do well at the box office. In 2014, The Equalizer grossed $192 million on a budget of $55-73 million. Four years later, The Equalizer 2 earned almost the same amount, $190 million on a similar budget. Most recently, The Equalizer 3 raked in $191 million on a strict budget of $70 million. It is incredibly rare for a franchise to gross the same amount of money with every movie, and if anything, I think The Equalizer should keep riding that box office success.

Even with The Equalizer’s consistent success, the new movies also have the chance to raise the stakes of the franchise. By this, I mean that The Equalizer 4 and 5 can bring in fresh elements to make them even more exciting to audiences. One way of doing this is by casting even bigger stars. So far, The Equalizer franchise has included stars like Chloë Grace Moretz, Pedro Pascal, David Harbour, and Dakota Fanning. Perhaps if the upcoming movies brought in some more stars to share the screen with Washington, they could surpass The Equalizer’s previous box office earnings.

The Equalizer Update Is Bigger For Denzel Washington Than Just Sequels

What Washington’s Acting Future Looks Like

As much as this recent Equalizer update is exciting for audiences, the news is also big for Washington himself. Earlier in 2024, Washington stated that he would be retiring after his upcoming projects. Soon after, Washington clarified his retirement statement, claiming that he would not retire, per se, but would be more choosy about which films he appeared in. Washington said, he is “more interested in getting behind the camera,” and “less interested in running and jumping.” Yet, with the announcement of The Equalizer 4 and 5, it is clear that Washington isn’t completely giving up his action hero status.

Ultimately, it seems as though Washington has a busy schedule ahead of him. Now that Gladiator II has finally premiered, the actor will be focusing on other projects such as a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s High and Low, various Shakespeare productions, and movies with famed directors like Steve McQueen and Ryan Coogler. Of course, there will also be The Equalizer 4 and 5. All in all, Washington has plenty to offer in the coming years, and The Equalizer franchise is just one of many projects on the horizon that I will be anticipating.