What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Equalizer
Richard Lindheim · Series · 1985
If you loved The Equalizer, start with The Equalizer (Antoine Fuqua, 2014) — a film from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 films and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Equalizer across media.
If you loved The Equalizer, you crave stories where a lone, highly skilled individual takes justice into their own hands.
Start with the source
Adaptation
The Equalizer
Antoine Fuqua · Film · 2014
Adaptation
The Equalizer 2
Antoine Fuqua · Film · 2018
Adaptation
The Equalizer 3
Antoine Fuqua · Film · 2023
Books on the same thread
Jack Reacher
Lee Child, Andrew Child · Book · 1997
Shares 2 threads with The Equalizer: Vigilante Justice, Action Thriller.
Like Robert McCall in The Equalizer, Jack Reacher is a drifter who uses his specialized military background to deliver vigilante justice to those who have no other recourse.
One Shot
Lee Child · Book
Shares a thread with The Equalizer: Vigilante Justice.
Reacher mirrors the tactical precision found in The Equalizer, providing a methodical and uncompromising approach to clearing the streets of criminals who believe they are above the law.
Reacher: Persuader
Lee Child · Book
Explores: undercover operations, lone wolf protagonist, ruthless justice.
You will recognize the lone wolf archetype from The Equalizer in Reacher as he infiltrates dangerous territory to rescue victims, proving that one man can be an entire army.
Rogue Lawyer
John Grisham · Book
Shares 2 threads with The Equalizer: moral ambiguity, vigilante justice.
Sebastian Rudd shares the moral ambiguity of The Equalizer, acting as an anti-establishment force who fights for the underdog against a system that consistently fails to provide justice.
Films on the same thread
Léon: The Professional
Film · 1994
Shares a thread with The Equalizer: Redemption.
Léon shares the professional efficiency of Robert McCall in The Equalizer, using his lethal skills to intervene and protect the vulnerable when society offers them no safety at all.
Taxi Driver
Film · 1976
Shares a thread with The Equalizer: Moral ambiguity.
Travis Bickle reflects the darker side of the vigilante impulse seen in The Equalizer, showing a man driven by alienation to clean up the urban decay of the city.
Lethal Weapon
Richard Donner · Film · 1987
Shares a thread with The Equalizer: Redemption.
While the scale is different, this film echoes the redemption arcs and high-stakes crime fighting of The Equalizer, focusing on protagonists who operate outside traditional boundaries to stop criminals.
The Untouchables
Brian De Palma · Film · 1987
Explores: Good vs Evil, Corruption, Justice.
The Untouchables captures the same pursuit of justice against overwhelming systemic corruption that defines The Equalizer, focusing on a dedicated group determined to even the odds against untouchable foes.
Podcasts on the same thread
48 Hours
Podcast
Explores: Criminal Justice, Wrongful Conviction, Exoneration.
This series explores the complex realities of the criminal justice system that victims in The Equalizer often find themselves trapped in, highlighting the true cost of seeking final resolution.
Forensic Files
Podcast
Explores: crime scene investigation, scientific analysis, evidence-based analysis.
The procedural focus on unraveling complicated cases mirrors the investigative precision Robert McCall employs in The Equalizer to ensure that the guilty are finally held accountable for their actions.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch The Equalizer movies in?
To follow the narrative timeline of the films starring Denzel Washington, you should watch them in the order of release: The Equalizer, released in 2014, followed by The Equalizer 2 in 2018, and concluding with The Equalizer 3, which was released in 2023.
Is The Equalizer TV series related to the films?
The Equalizer TV series from 1985 and the film franchise are both based on the same core concept of a former secret agent acting as a private investigator for those who have exhausted all other means of seeking justice.
How does the plot of the 1985 The Equalizer compare to the movies?
In the 1985 The Equalizer, Robert McCall establishes a private operation to help victims of the system. The 2014, 2018, and 2023 films adapt this premise, focusing on a former government agent who continues to even the odds for those with nowhere else to turn.
Should I watch the original 1985 The Equalizer before the movie trilogy?
You do not need to watch the 1985 The Equalizer to understand the 2014, 2018, or 2023 films. While the TV series and the movies share the title and the central premise of a vigilante agent, each adaptation functions as a distinct take on the character.