Denzel Washington's First Film To Turn Over $100 Million Domestically Was The Pelican Brief
The Pelican Brief from 1993 was Washington's first movie to surpass six-figure domestic Box Office performance. Washington portrayed Gray Grantham, a journalist helping Julia Roberts' Darby Shaw to expose the plot behind the murder of two Supreme Court justices. The Pelican Brief has a 55% score on Rotten Tomatoes, but making $100,768,056 at the domestic box office (per Box Office Mojo). Given Washington had multiple films with far greater reception before to 1993, such as Glory (95%) or Malcolm X (88%), it is especially odd that The Pelican Brief broke that trend first.
With a budget of $45 million and a worldwide income of around $195 million, the Pelican Brief most certainly produced about $80 million in pure profit after expenses. Though superior films floundered at the box office, there are a few reasons The Pelican Brief managed to be among Denzel Washington's highest-grossing films. Among many others, Julia Roberts, Sam Shepard, John Heard, and Washington himself were among the star-studded cast of The Pelican Brief that attracted rather many people. It also drew on a best-selling John Grisham book; the 90s were maybe the height of the author's popularity. Though others like A Time to Kill also found financial success, Grisham's books sold remarkably well and The Pelican Brief was among the first of numerous adaptations of his literature.
Five More Denzel Washington Films Made More Than $100 Million Domestically
Though it was far from the last, The Pelican Brief was the first of Washington's films to generate over $100,000 domestically. Washington has had five more films break into the six-figure area since 1993: Remember the Titans (2000), American Gangster (2007), Safe House (2012), The Equalizer (2014), and The Equalizer 2 (2018). Though many of these numbers look paltry in comparison to billion-dollar earners like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they also had far smaller budgets than comparable blockbusters. Many of Washington's films have shown to be rather profitable when the Hollywood calculus is finished.
Box Office Returns for Denzel Washington Movies
Title; Year; Domestic Box Office; Worldwide Box Office
■ | ■ | ■ | ■
American Gangster 2007 | $130,164,645 | $269,506,430
Safe House 2012 | $126,373,434 | $208,076,205
The Pelican Brief 1993 | $100,768,056 | $195,268,056
The Equalizer 2014 | $101,530,738 | $192,330,738
The Equalizer 2 | 2018 | $102,084,362 | $190,400,157
Remember the Titans | 2000 | $115,654,751 | $136,706,683.
Although there were other reasons why The Pelican Brief was so popular locally, it is impossible to overestimate Washington's importance. Since the 1980s, he has been a huge star, and in America particularly, his name has great weight. Almost none of Washington's films would be anywhere near as successful as they turned out without the star power he brings to them and his underappreciated performance in The Pelican Brief. The Pelican Brief is evidence that Denzel Washington can make an okay film a huge financial triumph.
55% Disappointment Was Denzel Washington's First Movie To Reach A Major Box Office Milestone
Although Denzel Washington has had an incredible performing career, his first movie to challenge a big box office record came from an improbable picture with just 55% on Rotten Tomatoes. One finds it difficult to recall a period when Denzel Washington, today one of Hollywood's most well-known celebrities, was not almost unanimously praised. Early in his career, though, some of Washington's films failed to garner the same kind of popularity for which he is now known. He did not reach a significant box office record until 1993, and one of Washington's most ordinary pictures attained it.
Though not all of Washington's 90s films were critical successes, he had some decent ones. Washington's most active decade was the 90s when he starred in 24 films and series. Given the volume of projects in just ten years, some would inevitably be less successful than others. Although several of Washington's films failed with critics, he had some financially successful ones; one of them was the first of his to make over $100,000 at the domestic box office.
Examining Denzel Washington's Career from Backstage
Denzel Washington has long since been a household figure with a more than four-decade career; these are all his films, ranked. Denzel Washington has had somewhat the remarkable career.
Many performers in the profession have been around for a long time and still get accolades. Being relevant for multiple years is quite an achievement. Washington's career reveals his aptitude and will to be successful.
Starting a Milestone
Although Washington produced some decent movies in the 1990s, not all of them were critical hits. Washington's most active decade was the 90s when he starred in 24 films and series. Given the volume of projects in just ten years, some would inevitably be less successful than others. Although several of Washington's films failed with critics, he had some financially successful ones; one of them was the first of his to make over $100,000 at the domestic box office.
Skilled actor Denzel Washington has charmed the big screen for decades with his appearance. One cannot emphasize the success of Washington's movies. The actor has developed really remarkably.
The Washington Future
Though it was far from the last, The Pelican Brief was the first of Washington's films to gross more than $100,000 locally. Washington has had five more films break into the six-figure area since 1993: Remember the Titans (2000), American Gangster (2007), Safe House (2012), The Equalizer (2014), and The Equalizer 2 (2018). Though many of these numbers look paltry in comparison to billion-dollar earners like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they also had far smaller budgets than comparable blockbusters. Many of Washington's films have shown to be great financial successes once the Hollywood calculus is finished.
Discovering a plot, a law student endangers others as well as herself.
