The Equalizer - Watch Order: Release Order
The Equalizer trilogy follows Robert McCall, a retired black ops operative trying to live a quiet life while being drawn into helping those who can't help themselves. Denzel Washington's portrayal of the character creates a modern take on the vigilante hero, combining brutal efficiency with a moral code.
The films progress chronologically, showing McCall's evolution from someone attempting to stay hidden to accepting his role as a protector of the innocent. Each movie tells a largely self-contained story while building on the character's journey.
Linear Timeline: Release Order = Story Order
The Equalizer
McCall believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets Teri, a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by – he has to help her. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of his self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened. If someone has a problem, if the odds are stacked against them, if they have nowhere else to turn, McCall will help. He is The Equalizer.
The Equalizer 2
Robert McCall, who serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, embarks on a relentless, globe-trotting quest for vengeance when his former partner is murdered.
The Equalizer 3
Robert McCall finds himself at home in Southern Italy but he discovers his friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends' protector by taking on the mafia.
Other Film Series
Death Wish
An architect turned vigilante seeks justice after criminals attack his family in this urban crime thriller series.
Grindhouse
An exploitation cinema tribute that began as a 2007 double feature and spawned multiple spin-off films from its fake trailers.
John Wick
A retired assassin's quest for vengeance evolves into a battle for survival in a stylized underworld of continental hotels and deadly contracts.
Ocean's
A heist franchise spanning from the Rat Pack era to modern ensemble capers.
Taken
A retired CIA operative uses his particular set of skills to protect his family from increasingly dangerous threats across three action-packed films.
The Transporter
A professional driver with strict rules repeatedly finds himself in dangerous situations across high-octane adventures.