Denzel Washington is one of the most respected and talented actors in Hollywood, and for good reason. From intense dramas to inspiring stories, his work has always stood out for its level of character depth and authenticity. Consequently, Denzel Washington’s movies have earned him an impressive legacy and a record as the most-nominated Black actor at the Oscars ever.

Over the years, he’s given us some memorable performances, from Malcolm X to Devil in a Blue Dress to Training Day. In fact, Denzel Washington has even starred as an action movie hero on more than one occasion. As a result, his impressive range of roles has only elevated his career, building the actor a loyal following since the 1980s.

With such a wide range of genres explored, it is interesting to discover what has influenced Denzel Washington’s prolific career, sparking his pᴀssion for cinema. In an interview in 2007, Washington opened up about some of his favorite movies of all time, recalling three movies that had affected him throughout his life, including the 53-year-old masterpiece that is The Godfather.

Denzel Washington Named The Godfather Among His 3 Favorite Movies

“Films Affect You Differently During Various Periods Of Your Life”

In an interview for Cindy Pearlman’s You Gotta See This – a book by a veteran entertainment reporter collecting the top movie picks of various Hollywood actors, writers, and directors – Denzel Washington named The Godfather among his three favorite movies of all time. Washington said, “I’ll never forget the first time I saw The Godfather,” briefly talking of its impact.

While the actor doesn’t go into much detail about his reasoning, Washington does state that “It affected me because I remember thinking, ‘Now this is a good picture from start to finish.’” Of course, Washington isn’t the only person in Hollywood to praise the film, as Steven Spielberg recently stated The Godfather is the “greatest American film ever made.”

The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, was released in 1972 and follows the influential Italian-American crime family, the Corleones, under the patriarch Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). With the first movie following the rise of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) within his family’s criminal empire, The Godfather’s astonishing critical and commercial success expanded the well-loved film into an award-winning trilogy.

Coppola’s storytelling, unforgettable characters, and iconic performances made The Godfather a cultural touchstone for over 50 years. Therefore, it makes sense why Denzel Washington named the film as one of his favorites, especially as his own movies have clearly been influenced by the film. Luckily, The Godfather is currently streaming on Paramount+ for those who want to revisit it.

It’s Easy To See How The Godfather Influenced Some Of Washington’s Best Performances

Washington’s Characters Are Often Morally Ambiguous

Denzel Washington is known for his bad guy characters, who often operate in morally ambiguous territory – like in Training Day, American Gangster, or Fences. With the actor naming Coppola’s The Godfather as one of his favorite movies, it is easy to see that Washington’s ability to embody such layered characters was clearly somewhat influenced by those in The Godfather.

Marlon Brando’s portrayal of Don Vito Corleone made his character feel real, human, and multidimensional, even when he is caught in tough situations. As a result, The Godfather has earned a lot of praise for the actors’ performances in playing real-life gangsters in the film. However, Washington is no different, as he also plays Frank Lucas in Ridley Scott’s American Gangster.

American Gangster is probably the prime example of how Denzel Washington has been influenced by The Godfather, after naming it one of his favorite movies. Beyond both films being based on real-life criminals, Washington’s performance as Frank Lucas is a fascinating character study with echoes of The Godfather seeping through, as part of the genre which Coppola’s film helped define.

Furthermore, Denzel Washington’s penchant for playing movie villains may have stemmed from The Godfather. The actor has previously stated that “Good guys don’t have any fun.” Although the Corleones are the protagonists in The Godfather, they are far from good. With Denzel Washington declaring The Godfather as one of his favorite movies, it’s clear where this view might have originated.

Sources: You Gotta See This by Cindy Pearlman

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  Denzel Washington

  Birthdate

  
  December 28, 1954
  

  Birthplace

  Mount Vernon, New York, USA

  
  

  
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