Denzel Washington shares his stance on the Oscars and his future win potential after taking home two for past roles. Though Washington appears regularly in popcorn entertainment, such as last year’s divisive Gladiator 2 or The Equalizer franchise, he also frequently lends his talents to more serious awards fare.

The actor won his first Oscar for Glory (1989) and his second for Training Day (2001). Though he has scored numerous nominations since, he hasn’t yet secured a third win.

Washington continues to be nominated, but he makes clear in an interview with Jake’s Takes that he’s not in the habit of chasing awards with his roles. According to Washington, that’s not why he’s an actor. Check out his comment below:

“I don’t do it for Oscars. I really don’t care about that kind of stuff. I’ve been at this a long time, and there’s times when I’ve won, shouldn’t have won, didn’t win, should have won. Man gives the award, God gives the reward. I’m not that interested in Oscars. People say, ‘Well, where do you keep it?’ I say, ‘Next to the other one.’”

What This Means For Denzel Washington

Since winning his second Oscar for Training Day, Washington has been nominated five times, most recently for The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021). Reviews for Highest 2 Lowest (2025), his most recent film, have been generally very positive from critics, but it’s not clear what kind of awards potential the movie has.

Washington making clear that he isn’t pursuing Oscars could speak to how he approaches the next years of his career. He’s currently attached to a film called Here Comes the Flood, an action heist movie, and he also recently announced that The Equalizer 4 and 5 are in development. None of these movies are likely to be major awards contenders.

On top of those films, Washington is also poised to collaborate with director Ryan Coogler on the upcoming Black Panther 3. MCU movies, similarly, do not tend to have much of an impact at the Academy Awards.

The only project potentially in Washington’s near future that could put him in contention for an Oscar is a movie about Carthaginian general Hannibal Barca from director Antoine Fuqua. The status of this project, though, is unclear. When Washington says he’s not chasing Oscars, his upcoming projects reinforce that awards recognition is not a major factor in his decision-making process.

Our Take On Denzel Washington’s Oscars Thoughts

Though there are no movies on his horizon that seem like obvious Oscar films, it seems likely that Washington will win or be nominated at the awards ceremony at least once more before he retires. Even in movies that don’t necessarily work, Washington’s performances are often singled out as highlights, speaking to just how talented he is as an actor.

For younger actors, winning an Oscar could represent a chance to solidify their names in Hollywood. For actors who primarily make popcorn flicks, winning an Oscar could be seen as a way to legitimize their talents or indicate a change in direction.

At 70, Washington doesn’t need to worry about this, and he is certain to remain highly respected and successful until he chooses to step away from the profession. It’s unclear exactly what the future holds for Washington in terms of acting roles, but it’s clear he won’t be chasing a third Oscar win.