The Best Antoine Fuqua Movies And Where To Watch Them
Warner Bros. Pictures By Collier Jennings/Feb. 2, 2022 12:38 pm EST
Antoine Fuqua is one of the most underrated directors working in Hollywood today — and in this writer’s humble opinion, he definitely deserves more credit than he gets. Fuqua rose to fame shooting music videos, including the video for Coolio’s “Gangster’s Paradise” which was used to promote Michelle Pfeiffer’s “Dangerous Minds.” From there he dove headfirst into filmmaking, mainly delving into action and crime thrillers.
Fuqua’s films share more than a few things in common; not only do they feature a wide range of talented collaborators (including the likes of Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal) but they often center on a character with a strong sense of justice, and who will often go outside the law to achieve that justice. In the pursuit of justice, the protagonist will often form bonds with like-minded individuals. With that in mind, here’s where you can watch the best films from Fuqua’s filmography and how their protagonists often end up on a quest for justice.
The Best Antoine Fuqua Movies And Where To Watch Them
Warner Bros. Pictures
By Collier Jennings/Feb. 2, 2022 12:38 pm EST
Antoine Fuqua is one of the most underrated directors working in Hollywood today — and in this writer’s humble opinion, he definitely deserves more credit than he gets. Fuqua rose to fame shooting music videos, including the video for Coolio’s “Gangster’s Paradise” which was used to promote Michelle Pfeiffer’s “Dangerous Minds.” From there he dove headfirst into filmmaking, mainly delving into action and crime thrillers.
Fuqua’s films share more than a few things in common; not only do they feature a wide range of talented collaborators (including the likes of Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal) but they often center on a character with a strong sense of justice, and who will often go outside the law to achieve that justice. In the pursuit of justice, the protagonist will often form bonds with like-minded individuals. With that in mind, here’s where you can watch the best films from Fuqua’s filmography and how their protagonists often end up on a quest for justice.
Fuqua’s films share more than a few things in common; not only do they feature a wide range of talented collaborators (including the likes of Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal) but they often center on a character with a strong sense of justice, and who will often go outside the law to achieve that justice. In the pursuit of justice, the protagonist will often form bonds with like-minded individuals. With that in mind, here’s where you can watch the best films from Fuqua’s filmography and how their protagonists often end up on a quest for justice.
Training Day
The Equalizer
Sony Pictures
“The Equalizer” boasts enough bone-crunching violence to rival “John Wick,” and cemented Washington as a bonafide action star. It also features what may be one of the coolest gimmicks I’ve seen in an action movie: before each fight, McCall sets a timer on his watch and attempts to defeat his enemies before the clock runs out. “The Equalizer” spawned a sequel in 2018, and Washington plans to reunite with Fuqua for a third film.
King Arthur
Touchstone Pictures
Though the theatrical version of “King Arthur” was critically panned, as were the liberties Fuqua and screenwriter David Frazoni took with the legend, I feel the director’s cut is definitely worth a watch. Not only does it flow better, but its tone and material — especially in the fight scenes — fits the more adult vision that Fuqua was going for. Fuqua has also expressed his admiration for the work of Akira Kurosawa, and “King Arthur” lifts visually and structurally from Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai.”
The Magnificent Seven
Columbia Pictures
And keeping in line with the theme of justice, this version of the Seven finds themselves battling land baron Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard). Bogue turns out to have hurt both Washington’s Sam Chisolm and the widow Emma (Hayley Bennett); it’s only fitting that both of them are the ones who bring him to his end.
Olympus Has Fallen
Millenium Films
“Olympus Has Fallen” drew unfavorable comparisons to the Roland Emmerich-helmed “White House Down,” as both released in the same year and had similar premises. However, “Olympus” would spawn two sequels, “London Has Fallen” and “Angel Has Fallen” — all thanks to Fuqua. Banning is also the classic Fuqua protagonist: he seeks justice against the terrorists and redemption for a past mistake, and achieves both by film’s end.
