Boston.com’s guide to streaming, The Queue, has handpicked five must-see movies starring Denzel Washington that you can stream now.
When a big-name star or director from a top streaming company makes it to the big screen, their film usually gets a limited theatrical run before coming to the service. However, Apple TV+ is making an exception with its new movie “Highest 2 Lowest” (in theaters only for two weeks), directed by Spike Lee and starring Denzel Washington.
Although you can’t catch this highly anticipated collaboration on the big screen just yet, it’s worth a look when it arrives on Apple TV+ in September. If you miss it, you won’t have to go far to find another great movie: all five of Lee and Washington’s collaborations are worth watching.
Denzel Washington has had an incredible career spanning decades, with numerous iconic roles under his belt. For each decade he’s worked in Hollywood, one Denzel Washington film is streaming now on various services. Here are five highlights:
“Glory” (1989): This Civil War drama features Denzel as a soldier who steals the show alongside Matthew Broderick. Now streaming on The Roku Channel.
“Philadelphia” (1993): Washington won an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of a lawyer wrongfully dismissed from his firm, but Tom Hanks took home the award that year. Meanwhile, Washington’s character has plenty of memorable scenes to share. Available now on Pluto TV.
“Training Day” (2001): The Academy snubbed Denzel for Best Actor in 2000 and 2001, despite his incredible performance as corrupt LAPD cop Alonzo Harris. Don’t miss this intense thriller available on MGM+.
In addition to these movies, some notable TV shows are also worth your attention:
* “Alien: Earth” (Season 1): This sci-fi series is set two years before Ridley Scott’s original film and stars Timothy Olyphant as a trainer for the first synthetic being with human consciousness. Available now on Hulu.
* “Chief of War” (Season 1): Jason Momoa directs, stars in, and produces this historical drama about late-18th century Hawaii. Stream it now on Apple TV+.
To round out your viewing experience, be sure to check out the Akira Kurosawa classic that inspired Spike Lee’s new film: “High and Low” (1963). Watch it on HBO Max before seeing “Highest 2 Lowest”.
This week, skip these films:
* “Fixed”: A raunchy comedy about dogs with a big personality but little subtlety. Streaming on Netflix.
* “The Rainmaker”: A labored remake of the John Grisham novel that’s better rewatched than experienced for the first time. Find it streaming on Peacock.
Stay tuned for more great content recommendations from Boston.com, and don’t forget to share your favorite shows and movies with us!
Source: https://www.boston.com/culture/the-queue/2025/08/19/denzel-washington-movies