The Movies Denzel Washington Hates Most—And The Roles He Took For the Wrong Reasons

Denzel Washington’s name is synonymous with excellence — a two-time Academy Award winner, a box office powerhouse, and one of the greatest actors of the 21st century, according to The New York Times. Yet even Washington, whose career is filled with towering performances, admits he’s made some “clunkers.” And while he’s too diplomatic to call them out directly, a closer look at his 1990s filmography offers strong clues about the movies he’d rather forget.

Denzel’s Own Words: A Clue to His Discontent

In a revealing 2025 interview with EL PAÍS English, Washington reflected on his post-Malcolm X choices: “After Malcolm X I made some real clunkers. Look them up — I won’t say their names. They are all in the 1990s. But I was earning. I had responsibilities.” The admission hints at a period when financial necessity occasionally outweighed artistic satisfaction, leading to projects he now seems reluctant to even discuss.

He reinforced this sentiment in a 2024 interview with TheWrap, stating he doesn’t rewatch his own films, not even Malcolm X, because, “All you see is what you did wrong.” It’s a telling comment from an actor known for his relentless pursuit of perfection.

The Likely “Clunkers”

Based on critical reception and box office performance, three films from the 1990s stand out as likely candidates for Washington’s personal blacklist:

• Heart Condition (1990) — Rotten Tomatoes Score: 10%
  Often cited as the worst film of Washington’s career, this buddy-cop comedy — where Washington plays a ghost haunting a racist cop — was panned for its tone-deaf handling of racial themes and lackluster humor. It flopped at the box office, earning just $4 million. According to Far Out Magazine, it’s the project that may have briefly derailed Washington’s momentum after his Oscar-winning performance in Glory.

• Virtuosity (1995) — Rotten Tomatoes Score: 31%
  A futuristic action thriller co-starring Russell Crowe, Virtuosity floundered with critics who dismissed its cyberpunk stylings as derivative. While Washington brings his usual charisma, the film’s clunky script and confused tone didn’t do him any favors — making it a likely regret.

• Fallen (1998) and The Siege (1998) — Rotten Tomatoes Scores: 40% and 44%, respectively
  Though Fallen has since earned cult status, at the time of its release it was met with lukewarm reviews. The Siege, meanwhile, was criticized for its handling of terrorism and Middle Eastern stereotypes — a politically fraught subject that may not have aged well in Washington’s eyes.

Heart Condition: The Biggest Regret?

Among these, Heart Condition remains the strongest contender for Washington’s personal disdain. The movie’s critical failure and uncomfortable subject matter contrast sharply with the thoughtful, dignified roles Washington would pursue in later years. Some rumors even suggest that Heart Condition discouraged him from taking on comedic roles for nearly two decades — a notion Washington’s publicist has denied, but one the film’s director James D. Parriott once hinted at by admitting, “The movie definitely didn’t help him.“

A Career of Lessons and Integrity

Regardless of early missteps, Denzel Washington’s career arc reflects an extraordinary commitment to craft and character. By the late 1990s and 2000s, Washington aligned himself with auteurs like Spike Lee, Tony Scott, and Antoine Fuqua, choosing complex, meaningful roles that reinforced his towering reputation.

The so-called “clunkers” of the 1990s may have been brief detours, but they also provided hard lessons — and ultimately, they sharpened Washington’s focus on projects that match his immense talent and unyielding standards. In a career as brilliant as his, even the mistakes have contributed to the masterpiece.