Denzel Washington has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and his latest comments during an interview promoting Gladiator II have set the internet ablaze. Asked about his favorite Stanley Kubrick film, the legendary actor offered an unfiltered response that has fans and critics fiercely debating.
During an interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub earlier this week, Washington, 69, was asked to name his favorite film
by Kubrick, the celebrated director of classics like 2001: A Space Odyssey and A Clockwork Orange. Weintraub, who wore a shirt with Kubrick’s face on it, described the question as a “curveball.”But Washington’s answer was direct and unexpected: “None of them.”
Instead of praising Kubrick, Washington shifted the conversation to the movies that shaped his cinematic world—Blaxploitation classics like Shaft and Superfly.
He explained, “I’m not a movie buff—no, I’m not a big movie fan. I was in the street when Kubrick was making movies. I’d be the one outside looking to rob you when you came out of a Kubrick movie, OK?”
anner ampforwp-incontent-ad2">The response, delivered with Washington’s signature candor, immediately went viral. On social media, fans were divided, with some applauding his focus on Black cinema and others criticizing what they saw as dismissing Kubrick’s legacy.
Many users on X took aim at Weintraub for asking what they viewed as an insensitive question.
“I’M SO GLAD DENZEL DID THIS!” one person wrote. “What he was really saying was why this man thought he could ask someone like Denzel, who champions Black films, to speak about a white director instead of a Black one.”
Others accused Weintraub of setting up a “gotcha” moment. “They should have known better than to try it on with Denzel,” one user wrote. “He never puts up with c—.”
By the way, Denzel has been a huge Kubrick fan for years. He was just playing this guy because he knew they weren't in the same league. https://t.co/teYRd2YVaT pic.twitter.com/fOw77SJcKZ
— Heidi N. Moore (@moorehn) December 17, 2024
Washington’s explanation vividly depicts his younger years, when he grew up in a world far removed from Kubrick’s quiet dramas and sci-fi epics.
“I didn’t start acting until I was 20 years old and didn’t start really going to the movies until I was 20, 22, 23,” he explained. For him, the films that mattered were the ones that resonated with his community—the stories of Black heroes and antiheroes that defined the Blaxploitation era.
While some critics saw Washington’s comments as dismissive, others praised him for shifting the focus to Black cinema.
“Denzel is reminding everyone that Black stories matter too,” one supporter wrote. “It’s not always about the white ‘legends.’”
The exchange has sparked a larger conversation about representation in film criticism and the persistent dominance of white voices in shaping the narrative of what constitutes “great” cinema.
For the accomplished actor and director, the moment was less about tearing down Kubrick and more about championing the films and stories about his own experiences.
As the debate continues to rage online, one thing remains clear: Washington knows precisely who he is and the world he represents. And he isn’t about to conform to anyone else’s narrative.
RELATED CONTENT: Mississippi Governor Sings Praises Of Ole Miss Counterprotesters After ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ Shenanigans