Before there was John Wick or Jason Bourne, there was Robert McCall in The Equalizer. Arguably even deadlier than Wick or Bourne, McCall has delighted audiences since 1985 as the people’s hero who helps everyday citizens get justice. For viewers who love a good vigilante story, this guide will explain how and where to stream all The Equalizer movies and TV shows in order.
The franchise kicked off in 1985 with the TV series titled The Equalizer. The series saw Edward Woodward in the lead role of McCall, a retired and disillusioned covert operative, who puts out an ad urging anyone in need of help to call him. Across four seasons, viewers see McCall help people by standing up to bullies, straightening out unruly teenagers, confronting stalkers, locating missing people, or offering protection. Not only was he deadly, intelligent, and classy, but his story had a layer of realism as he helped ordinary people deal with relatable problems.
25 years after the show concluded, a new Equalizer arrived on the big screen. The Equalizer premiered in 2014, with Denzel Washington taking over as McCall alongside a star-studded cast including Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour, and Bill Pullman. It gave viewers a bit of McCall’s origin story, depicting how his quest to free a sex trafficking victim inspired him to help others. Meanwhile, Washington embodied the role of McCall perfectly with his stylish but deadly persona.
Washington rarely makes sequels to his films, but he made an exception for The Equalizer 2. The film follows a standard revenge plot as McCall seeks vengeance for the murder of his friend. It received mixed reviews since it didn’t differ much from the original or other revenge thrillers. Fortunately, the trilogy ended on a high note seven years later with The Equalizer 3. Arguably the best film in the franchise, it ramped up the stakes, thrills, and bloody action for a mesmerizing conclusion to Washington’s McCall story.
In between The Equalizer 2 and 3, the 1985 TV series was rebooted. However, this time, McCall is a woman. Queen Latifah shines as a single mother, Robyn McCall, who acts as a guardian angel to those in need. The show is in its fourth season, and more may be coming, considering its positive reception.
Since the movies and shows aren’t connected, the best order to watch the franchise is by release date. However, it’s not necessary to watch the 1985 and 2021 shows to understand the film trilogy. Here is where and how to watch The Equalizer movies and TV shows in release date order.
