--- title: "The Equalizer 3" year: 2023 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-equalizer-3" fi1m_id: "the-equalizer-3" imdb_id: "tt17024450" tmdb_id: 926393 wikidata_id: "Q114818951" fi1m_score: 60 critics_score: 62 critics_reviews: 12 published: "2026-09-10" updated: "2026-09-18T08:38:05.376830+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Equalizer 3 (2023) Directed by Antoine Fuqua · 1h 49m · MPA R · Action, Thriller, Crime ## Identity The Equalizer 3 - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/the-equalizer-3 - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** the-equalizer-3 - **IMDb ID:** tt17024450 - **TMDB ID:** 926393 - **Wikidata ID:** Q114818951 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17024450/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/926393, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114818951 **Fi1m score: 60** · Critics 62 from 12 reviews *In a sentence:* A tourist board film for southern Italy, interrupted every twenty minutes by a stabbing > Denzel Washington’s third turn as Robert McCall is a handsome, slow, savage holiday in a small Italian town. He is as watchable as ever; the film around him has run out of ideas and makes up the difference in blood. ## Synopsis Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) walks into a Sicilian vineyard and leaves nobody standing, but takes a bullet on the way out. A local man, Gio Bonucci (Eugenio Mastrandrea), drives him to a small town stacked up a cliff above the sea, where the doctor Enzo Arisio (Remo Girone) sews him up and tells him to rest. McCall stays. He learns the café owner’s name, climbs the steps to the market and considers stopping for good. The town is being squeezed by Vincent Quaranta (Andrea Scarduzio) and his brother Marco (Andrea Dodero), who want its land and its silence. McCall places a call to a CIA analyst, Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning), and begins, quietly, to count. Antoine Fuqua directs, from a script by Richard Wenk. ## Review Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington have made three of these now, and the third is the one in which Robert McCall would like to stop. *The Equalizer 3* opens in a Sicilian vineyard littered with the men he has just killed, puts a bullet in his back, and carries him to a small town stacked up a cliff above the sea, where an old doctor stitches him together. For its first half it is a film about a tired man deciding whether he is allowed a quiet life, and it is at its best there. Then the local gangsters do what gangsters in these films always do, and McCall does what he does. Washington plays him slower than before, in a flat cap and a knitted jumper, the walk stiff, the smile arriving late. He sits on the café terrace, drinks tea, learns the names of the fishmonger and the widow, and Fuqua has the nerve to let him do it. We liked these scenes more than we expected to. Nothing happens in them, and Washington fills them anyway: a look at a saint’s statue held a beat too long, a hand steadied on a railing. It is the one new thing the film has. Robert Richardson shoots the town in two lights. By day it is bleached and flat, whitewashed walls, hard shadows, the sea a wall of pale blue behind everything. By night faces are lit from one side by a bulb or a candle, and almost every killing happens in the dark. Naomi Shohan gives the place a church, a market, a café and a long stone stairway and makes them look used rather than dressed. Marcelo Zarvos keeps the score to low strings and single held notes and does not tell us when to be frightened. Giovanni Casalnuovo puts the gangsters in leather and gold and McCall in the clothes of a man who has stopped looking in mirrors. It is also a nasty film, and it means to be. The vineyard opening is the worst of it, a gun used in a way we will not describe and a body left on a table for someone to find. We watched one death through half-closed eyes. Conrad Buff IV cuts the fights fast and close, so we see the result more than the movement. McCall does not fight men. He finds them and finishes them, in seconds, with whatever is to hand. Fuqua plainly believes this is more honest than a ballet. By the end we had stopped feeling much about it at all. Richard Wenk has written all three films and he is writing the same one. The Quaranta brothers, Vincent (Andrea Scarduzio) and Marco (Andrea Dodero), want the town’s land and its shopkeepers frightened. They shout, they smash a fish stall, they set something alight. That is all we could tell you about either man, and there is no one on the other side worth the wait. Dakota Fanning’s CIA analyst is there so that Washington and Fanning can share a screen again, nineteen years after *Man on Fire*; the script gives her a laptop, a phone and a hospital corridor. Eugenio Mastrandrea’s Gio and Gaia Scodellaro’s Aminah are warm and specific and are sidelined the moment the shooting starts. The first *Equalizer* (2014) had a clean shape. The second (2018) lost its way. This one is simpler than either and, for an hour, calmer, and we kept waiting for the calm to pay off the way it does in the westerns the film is thinking of. Here the retired gunman’s reluctance lasts exactly as long as the plot needs it to. Once McCall picks up a gun the film forgets he ever put it down. It runs 109 minutes and carries a 15, and it earns the certificate inside its first ten. If you have seen the other two you know what you are getting, and Washington makes it worth having one more time. If you have not, start with the first. Watch this one at home with the lights low, where the town looks lovelier and the deaths are smaller. *Fi1m score 60, published 10 September 2026.* ## What the critics say The consensus on The Equalizer 3 is mild approval with a shrug. Most critics agree on one thing: Denzel Washington is the reason to watch, and nearly every review, favourable or not, credits his charisma and his evident enjoyment of the role. Praise otherwise clusters on the Italian coastal setting, on Fuqua’s staging of the action, and on the reunion with Dakota Fanning. The reservations cluster just as clearly: a thin, formulaic script, forgettable villains, a middle stretch that drags, and violence that several reviews find sadistic rather than exciting. The spread is wide. The Times gives it four stars and finds unexpected gravitas in the material; The Telegraph calls it pointlessly sadistic with an underwhelming climax, RogerEbert.com dismisses it outright for a weak script and unimaginative action, and The Hollywood Reporter finds it numbingly repetitive. Between those poles, most reviews land in the same place: it delivers what fans expect and little more. ## Straight answers **Is The Equalizer 3 worth watching?** *The Equalizer 3* is worth watching if you have seen the first two and want Denzel Washington's Robert McCall one more time, and we scored it 60. Washington is slower, quieter and better than the film around him, which spends an hour on a tired man in a cliffside Italian town and then runs out of ideas. Newcomers should start with the first film. **How long is The Equalizer 3, and what is it rated?** *The Equalizer 3* runs 1h 49m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is an action and thriller film. **Where can I watch The Equalizer 3 in the US?** *The Equalizer 3* is streaming on HBO Max, Hulu, Disney+, The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime Video in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is The Equalizer 3, and is it suitable for children?** *The Equalizer 3* is a 15 in the UK and R in the US, and it is a nasty film that means to be, so it is not for children. The killings are fast, close and bloody rather than choreographed, and the opening in a Sicilian vineyard is the worst of it; we watched one death through half-closed eyes. Squeamish adults should think twice. **How does The Equalizer 3 compare to Gomorrah?** *The Equalizer 3* and [*Gomorrah*](https://film.one/film/gomorrah) both set gangsters in southern Italy, but Matteo Garrone's film shows organised crime as dull, frightened and ordinary, while Fuqua's gives us leather-and-gold villains for Washington to dispatch. *Gomorrah* is the better and angrier film, though its crowded storytelling asks more of the viewer. Choose *The Equalizer 3* for a star vehicle, *Gomorrah* for the real thing. **What should I watch after The Equalizer 3?** After *The Equalizer 3*, try [*Le Samouraï*](https://film.one/film/le-samourai) (1967, Fi1m 88): The lone killer with rituals, done in silence and without a single wasted shot. Then [*Gomorrah*](https://film.one/film/gomorrah) (2008, Fi1m 84): Southern Italian gangsters as they actually are: dull, frightened, ordinary and lethal; and [*Unforgiven*](https://film.one/film/unforgiven) (1992, Fi1m 92): The retired gunman’s reluctance taken seriously, all the way to the end. ### Reviews we read (21) - **Slant Magazine**, Justin Clark (70/100, inferred): The change to Italy adds a giallo-like horror flavor to the violence, elevating the boilerplate plot. Washington’s subtle charisma and the cinematography stand out in the details. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-equalizer-3-review-denzel-washington/) - **The AV Club**, Timothy Cogshell (B-): The familiar formula of protecting the weak through brutal vengeance works effectively in the new Italian setting. Washington remains charismatic and the action delivers satisfying catharsis. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/review-of-denzel-washington-in-the-equalizer-3-1850782841) - **Vulture** (55/100, inferred): The installment feels tired and haphazard with little suspense, but Washington’s quirky, oddball performance and the graphic violence still deliver the goods. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/equalizer-3-review-denzel-brings-weird-uncle-energy.html) - **The Telegraph**, Tim Robey (2/5): Washington's scowling vigilante slaughters mafiosi in a bloody threequel set in Italy, but the pointlessly sadistic violence and thin characters make it hard to care about the underwhelming climax. It is an offer one can and probably should refuse. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2023/08/31/the-equaliser-3-review-denzel-washington/) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, Frank Scheck (35/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a numbingly violent, repetitive vengeance tale with little suspense or innovation. Washington’s charisma stands out amid the exploitative grindhouse fare. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-equalizer-3-review-denzel-washington-antoine-fuqua-1235576696/) - **Empire**, Amon Warmann: A solid conclusion to an unlikely trilogy and fitting end to Robert McCall’s character arc, with Washington still entertaining as a deliverer of slick justice. The film struggles at times to be as compelling as its protagonist and the adversaries are unmemorable. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-equalizer-3/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Katie Walsh: The critic praises the film's operatic style, pulp poetics, and visceral thrills in an Italian setting, noting Fuqua's visual flair with religious iconography and desaturated colors. Washington's charismatic, fun performance and the reunion with Dakota Fanning are highlighted as the main appeals, delivering enjoyable mayhem despite a floppy plot. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-09-01/the-equalizer-3-review-denzel-washington-antoine-fuqua-dakota-fanning) - **Radio Times**, Jeremy Aspinall: In the third outing, the vigilante McCall confronts Sicilian gangsters after finding temporary peace in an Italian coastal town, forcing a return to lethal action. Fuqua delivers tense stand-offs and bursts of mayhem, with Washington showing charisma and strong chemistry with Dakota Fanning. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-k04o3o/the-equalizer-3/) - **RogerEbert.com**, Robert Daniels: The critic calls the film hot garbage, criticizing its weak script, lack of emotional core or narrative continuity, unimaginative action, and reliance on gore over memorable choreography. Washington's evident enjoyment in the role is noted as the only saving grace in this failed attempt at a darker Western-style vigilante story. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-equalizer-3-movie-review-2023) - **The Guardian**, Wendy Ide: The film delivers more of the same extravagantly bloody vengeance from Denzel Washington's vigilante in a Sicilian town, with rigidly black-and-white morals and graphic violence. It offers visceral kicks through the efficient retribution and Washington's devilish glint, though without surprises. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/sep/02/the-equalizer-3-review-denzel-washington-dakota-fanning-one-in-the-eye-for-the-mob) - **The New York Times**, Manohla Dargis: The critic finds the film reliably watchable but ethically challenged and predictable, assuming viewers are there mainly for the entertaining ultraviolence. Washington is singled out as the primary reason to watch, delivering his signature smolder and swagger in an Italian setting that feels like a nostalgic farewell to the character. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/movies/the-equalizer-3-review-denzel-washington.html) - **The Times**, Kevin Maher (★★★★☆): The threequel treats its preposterous material with seriousness, finding unexpected gravitas in Washington's reluctant vigilante while Fuqua orchestrates the action with aplomb. It concludes the franchise satisfyingly with a door left open, despite an operatic finale. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/the-equalizer-3-review-denzel-s-washington-s-italian-job-leads-to-a-brutal-final-showdown-g3hc8kdrc) - **Total Film**, Emily Garbutt (***): Denzel Washington is compelling in Robert McCall's swan song, but the story often falls flat in an uneven send-off. The action is brutal but the film lurches awkwardly between graphic violence and stagnant scenes. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-equalizer-3-review/) - **Variety**, Murtada Elfadl: The critic highlights the seamless action and Washington's star charisma as the compelling force, making it easy to root for the vigilante even amid brutal violence. The familiar reteaming with Fuqua delivers exactly what's expected: entertaining, propulsive set pieces and a charming small-town community element without cloying earnestness. [Read](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/the-equalizer-3-review-denzel-washington-1235706766/) - **Collider**, Nate Richard (B): The film works thanks to Denzel Washington's committed performance as Robert McCall and delivers satisfying, gory action sequences in a new Italian setting. The thin story and familiar formula won't win over viewers who aren't already fans of the series. [Read](https://collider.com/the-equalizer-3-review/) - **Consequence** (B): The Equalizer 3 is accessible even to newcomers and provides plenty of fun, brutal action as Denzel Washington dispatches mafia threats in a small Italian town. It embraces Western-style tropes with strong visuals but lacks the choreography of other action franchises. [Read](https://consequence.net/2023/08/the-equalizer-3-review/) - **The Wrap** (75/100, inferred): The third film improves on its predecessors with a lighter, looser tone, beautiful Italian setting, gorier action, and strong chemistry between Washington and Fanning. It still suffers from weak villains and heavy-handed conservative themes. [Read](https://www.thewrap.com/the-equalizer-3-movie-review-denzel-washington/) - **Den of Geek**, David Crow (70/100, inferred): The critic views the film as a knowingly unpretentious and brutal action vehicle that delivers exactly what its target audience wants, with Denzel Washington's charm carrying the formulaic revenge plot set in Italy. It singles out the opening action sequence and the star's effortless appeal for praise while noting it feels like slumming for the actor. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-equalizer-3-perfect-movie-to-release-during-a-strike/) - **Deadline**, Valerie Complex (65/100, inferred): The film drags in the middle with repetitive contemplative scenes and underdeveloped themes, but rewards patience with superior third-act action. Denzel Washington's charm and wit elevate the proceedings despite narrative weaknesses. [Read](https://deadline.com/2023/08/the-equalizer-3-review-denzel-washingtons-charm-battles-scripted-lulls-1235526677/) - **/Film**, Witney Seibold (6.5/10): The review concludes that "The Equalizer 3" is a simpler, more straightforward action film that lacks the previous entries' ethical depth, making it feel less substantial overall. It singles out the exhilarating, brutal violence and Denzel Washington's assured performance for praise. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1379071/the-equalizer-3-review/) - **Digital Spy**, Mireia Mullor (60/100, inferred): The critic calls it an uneven yet brutal final chapter that stays true to the series' savage action style and offers a gratifying wrap-up for the character, though it adds little new. It praises the raw action sequences and Denzel's presence while complaining about the film's unoriginality and redundancy. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a44888993/equalizer-3-review/) ## Details - **Director:** Antoine Fuqua - **Director:** Antoine Fuqua - **Writer:** Richard Wenk - **Cinematography:** Robert Richardson - **Editor:** Conrad Buff IV - **Music:** Marcelo Zarvos - **Production design:** Naomi Shohan - **Costume design:** Giovanni Casalnuovo - **Producer:** Todd Black, Denzel Washington, Steve Tisch - **Cast:** Denzel Washington as Robert McCall; Dakota Fanning as Emma Collins; Eugenio Mastrandrea as Gio Bonucci; David Denman as Frank Conroy; Gaia Scodellaro as Aminah; Remo Girone as Enzo Arisio; Andrea Scarduzio as Vincent Quaranta; Andrea Dodero as Marco Quaranta - **Runtime:** 1h 49m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 1 September 2023 - **Genres:** Action, Thriller, Crime - **Budget:** $70 million - **Box office:** $191 million - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQfrzHFmVe8 ## Where to watch in the US - HBO Max: streaming - Hulu: streaming, uhd - Disney+: add-on, uhd - The Roku Channel: add-on, hd - Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, uhd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd *Checked 2026-09-10.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HR, ID, IE, IN, IT, JP, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, TH, TR, US, VN. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Man on Fire* (2004): Washington and Fanning the first time round, with a protector who is far angrier - *Le Samouraï* (1967), Fi1m 88: The lone killer with rituals, done in silence and without a single wasted shot — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/le-samourai.md) - *Gomorrah* (2008), Fi1m 84: Southern Italian gangsters as they actually are: dull, frightened, ordinary and lethal — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/gomorrah.md) - *Unforgiven* (1992), Fi1m 92: The retired gunman’s reluctance taken seriously, all the way to the end — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/unforgiven.md) - *Harry Brown* (2009): Michael Caine as the pensioner vigilante, on a London estate instead of a sunlit cliff --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/the-equalizer-3