https://screenrant.com/video/equalizer-denzel-washington-edward-woodward-robert-mccall-comparison/

Denzel Washington and Edward Woodward's portrayals of The Equalizer's Robert McCall were both well-received, but which version is better?

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Latest video detailing 5 reasons why I prefer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSc5KOka-PM) the original 1980s Equalizer with Edward Woodward to the remake with Denzel Washington. I must confess that I haven't seen the TV reboot with Queen Latifah.

For those who didn't know, The Equalizer originally ran from 1985 to 1989 and starred Edward Woodward (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gCXnEC4Kck) as the iconic Robert McCall.

Review: The Equalizer (dir. by Antoine Fuqua) (https://unobtainium13.com/2026/07/10/review-the-equalizer-dir-by-antoine-fuqua/)

Where Woodward’s McCall was a more cerebral, world-weary ex-intelligence officer who relied on wit and strategy as much as physical force, Denzel’s version is a man of few words who lets his actions do the talking. Woodward brought a melancholic, almost philosophical edge to the role, giving the original series a more introspective, morally ambiguous tone. Denzel, though, brings a quiet intensity that’s all about controlled fury, shifting the film’s tone toward something more visceral and immediate. It’s less about the internal struggle and more about the sheer efficiency of justice being delivered, which makes Fuqua’s version feel like a high-octane action thriller rather than a brooding character study. This difference in approach is key to why the movie works so well as a modern reboot—it keeps the spirit of the original while amping up the energy to match today’s action standards.