57
Metascore
41 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80The Hollywood ReporterTodd McCarthyThe Hollywood ReporterTodd McCarthyRamping up his style to a more dynamic and elegant level than he’s achieved previously, Fuqua socks over the suspense and action but also takes the time for some quiet, even spare moments to emphasize the hero’s calm and apartness.
- 80TheWrapJames RocchiTheWrapJames RocchiWillfully empty but wildly entertaining, The Equalizer stands out from its peers like a wolf among lapdogs, as Fuqua and Washington bring out the best in each other for the benefit of the audience.
- 63McClatchy-Tribune News ServiceRoger MooreMcClatchy-Tribune News ServiceRoger MooreThrough it all, Washington’s stillness is emphasized, so much so that the film slows down just to make sure we appreciate the presence and the talent behind it.
- 60EmpireKim NewmanEmpireKim NewmanThough overstretched and a trifle ponderous, this is a solidly acceptable star vehicle with more than enough righteous vengeance for an evening of classy thrills.
- 60Village VoiceAlan ScherstuhlVillage VoiceAlan ScherstuhlFuqua steadily parades his big moments, and the movie works as unhinged spectacle. As a thriller it's less certain.
- 50VarietyScott FoundasVarietyScott FoundasPonderously 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.
- 50The PlaylistRodrigo PerezThe PlaylistRodrigo PerezNot particularly sophisticated, the searing intensity of revenge in The Equalizer is still occasionally arresting (and even entertaining) in its stylish hard-R violence.
- 42HitfixDrew McWeenyHitfixDrew McWeenyIt's a dull film.
- 40The GuardianPaul MacInnesThe GuardianPaul MacInnesDenzel is so cool, so made of pure nails he can make even the most preposterous action scene feel thrilling. But Denzel's strength is also his weakness.
- 25Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyIt's the sign of an empty, depressing experience when the only tension is over Bob's choice to use a power drill or a weed whacker for his next kill.