Denzel Washington remains one of the most prodigious and influential actors working in Hollywood. Every decade since Washington began acting in the '80s sees him reaching new heights in his career, heights he always exceeds in subsequent generations.
The '90s proved to be a fruitful time for Washington. Not only did he give audiences some of his powerful character studies to date; he established himself as a star of thrillers and neo-noir detective flicks. From Spike Lee to Tony Scott, Washington worked with some of the best directors of the times. In each of his best performances from the era, Washington displays his classic charm, a charm undercut with hints at the darker, more nuanced figure hiding below the surface.
The Pelican Brief (1993) - 6.6
The Pelican Brief is one of the many legal dramas based on John Grisham novels that took movie theaters by storm in the '90s. In the film, Washington stars alongside Julia Roberts as a Washington Herald reporter looking into the assassinations of two Supreme Court Justices.
His character, Gray Grantham, follows the leads established by Roberts' character, a young law student named Darby Shaw. Together, the pair get in over their heads, resulting in intrigue and conspiracy-laden thrills.
Devil In A Blue Dress (1995) - 6.7
Based on Walter Moseley's neo-noir mystery novel of the same name, Devil in a Blue Dress sees Washington sharing the screen with Tom Sizemore, Jennifer Beals, and Don Cheadle. Set in 1948 LA, Washington plays a WWII vet named Easy Rawlins who is propositioned by a man (Sizemore) to track down a mysterious woman (Beals) who has gone missing.
Rawlins, in need of money, accepts the job. As he wanders the streets of post-war LA, a world defined by jazz clubs, foggy streets, and lust bursts into life.
The Bone Collector (1999) - 6.7
While it may not be the best serial killer film ever made, The Bone Collector was a box office success that strengthened the careers of both Washington and his co-star Angelina Jolie. Washington plays Lincoln Rhyme, a homicide detective and forensics expert in NYC who is paralyzed from the neck down after an accident.
From his hospital bed, Rhyme is visited by a rookie cop, Jolie's character Amelia Donaghy, who needs his help finding a grisly serial killer. As the crimes continue, the culprit engages in a cat-and-mouse game with Donaghy that involves leaving morbid clues behind at his crime scenes.
He Got Game (1998) - 6.9
One of Washington's many collaborations with Spike Lee, He Got Game is an engrossing sports drama imbued with some potent social messages — making it a quintessential Spike Lee joint. Washington plays Jake Shuttlesworth, who is serving time at Attica for accidentally killing his wife.
Jake's son Jesus is the top-ranked basketball prospect in the country, but he has no interest in going to college and pursuing a professional career. The New York governor decides to release Jake for one week in order to give him time to persuade Jesus to play for Big State college; if he succeeds, Jake's sentence will be commuted.
Fallen (1998) - 7.0
In Fallen, Washington and John Goodman play Philadelphia homicide detectives looking into heinous murders committed by an apparent copycat killer. The crimes are in the style of serial killer Edgar Reese, a man who was executed by the state of Pennsylvania.
As the detectives dig deeper into the new cases, they come to realize something much more devilish and supernatural is transpiring. Fallen's plot gets quite convoluted, but Washington's acting prowess holds it all together.
Crimson Tide (1995) - 7.3
Washington engages in a battle of wills against Gene Hackman in Tony Scott's submarine film Crimson Tide. Set during the ongoing conflict in Chechnya, it follows the crew of a U.S. nuclear missile submarine responding to political turmoil in the Russian Federal.
Washington plays the sub's new executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter, while Hackman co-stars as his trigger-happy boss, Captain Frank Ramsey. Hunter stages a mutiny on board in order to prevent Ramsey from launching missiles that may trigger World War III.
Much Ado About Nothing (1993) - 7.3
Kenneth Branagh's adaption of Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing features performances from some of the '90s most beloved actors, from Keanu Reeves to Michael Keaton to Kate Beckinsale. Washington plays Don Pedro, the Prince of Aragon, who visits his friend Leonato (Richard Briers) in Italy after a successful military conquest.
Much Ado About Nothing is a delightful ensemble rom-com in which a group of characters flirt and date to varying levels of success. Branagh's adaptation stays true to its source material, exploring what happens when people try to tamper with the forces of love.
The Hurricane (1999) - 7.6
One of the most impactful biopics of the '90s, The Hurricane tells the harrowing story of middleweight boxer Rubin "The Hurricane" Carter. In 1966, Carter was wrongly convicted for triple murder at a bar in Paterson, New Jersey.
While The Hurricane takes some liberties with Carter's story, Washington's stunning performance as Carter focuses the narrative on his quest to survive his ordeal. The movie dramatizes Carter's 20-year prison stint, which is how long it took him to prove his innocence.
Philadelphia (1993) - 7.7
The Silence of the Lambs director Jonathan Demme tackles the HIV/AIDS crisis in Philadelphia. Tom Hanks stars as Andrew Beckett, a closeted gay man who is fired from his law firm after his bosses discover his sexuality, as well as his HIV-positive status.
Washington plays Joe Miller, a lawyer who eventually decides to represent Beckett in a civil case against his former employers after coming to terms with his own discriminatory ideas about gay men. Philadelphia is one of the first mainstream films to highlight the plights of HIV/AIDS patients and LGBTQ+ Americans.
Malcolm X (1992) - 7.7
Spike Lee's tribute to Black activist and Muslim minister Malcolm X solidifies so many things about Washington. Malcolm X showcases Washington's ability to immerse himself in his characters, his penchant for commanding a scene, and his desire to bring the Black experience into mainstream cinemas as much as possible.
Malcolm X proceeds like an epic drama, as it follows its title character from his youth in rural Michigan to his assassination in 1965. This sweeping examination of this often misunderstood historical icon remains unparalleled.