Denzel Washington vs. Wesley Snipes: Who had the better '90s filmography? Strictly 90s, between them two who was the bigger star? Explain why 🤔.

[Unbothered]

So that Training Day thread had me thinking...was Denzel as big of a star in the 90s in comparison to his run during the 2000s all the way up till now, mid 2020s. While I consider Denzel to be the GOAT, his 90s outing is a bit underwhelming. Maybe it's the scripts or the offers of the time but a lot of his movies during the 90s are either duds, relatively unknown, or forgettable.

Whereas another actor, Wesley Snipes, who is arguably my second favorite, was a big star in Hollywood during the 90s featuring in soo many memorable movies, and at times was considered a top 5 actor during that era and very sought out by Hollywood directors. When you think of '90s movies, Wesley Snipes is a name I'm willing to bet comes to mind for most people than Denzel's would.

Ironically he also appeared in far more movies.

I feel like Denzel, despite classic performances in Malcolm X, Philadelphia, and He Got Game, didn't really hit his stride in becoming the star he is today until his run at the start of the 2000s, beginning with Training Day. Honorable mention for Crimson Tide and Courage Under Fire but those feel like forgettable movies.

Denzel's 90s movies:
'90 • Heart Condition, Mo' Better Blues
'91 • Mississippi Masala, Ricochet
'92 • Malcolm X
'93 • Much Ado About Nothing, The Pelican Brief, Philadelphia
'94 • N/A
'95 • Crimson Tide, Virtuosity, Devil In A Blue Dress
'96 • Courage Under Fire, The Preacher's Wife
'97 • N/A
'98 • Fallen, He Got Game, The Siege
'99 • The Bone Collector, Hurricane

Wesley's 90s movies:
'90 • King Of New York, Mo' Better Blues
'91 • New Jack City, Jungle Fever
'92 • The Waterdance, White Men Can't Jump, Passenger '57
'93 • Boiling Point, Rising Sun, Demolition Man, Sugar Hill
'94 • Drop Zone
'95 • To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar, Money Train, Waiting To Exhale
'96 • The Fan
'97 • Murder At 1600, One Night Stand
'98 • U.S. Marshals, Down In The Delta, Blade
'99 • N/A

 

[Luke Cage]

Denzel, his movies had more critical respect. he had a wide audience from multiple demographics
Wesley was more of an action star. was more popular with the younger audience.

 

[GilSho]

If we're being 100% honest here, not only did more of Wesley's films penetrate the culture but they had way more lasting power.

There was just a trending Demolition Man thread with 1k comments on Reddit the other day

 

[RedBull]

Damn, this isn’t easy. Can’t call it, don’t wanna spoil it.

 

[010101]

wesley started stronger

denzel launched into a different stratosphere heading into the 00's

..........

*

 

[The Pledge]

Blade, Demolition Man, white men can’t jump, mother fukking money train!?

Snipes owned the 90s

 

[feelosofer]

Denzel Washington was really a prestige actor be catered really to late boomers. He did do action movies like Ricochet, Virtuosity etc. But Wesley was a hitmaker/star, sure he did some comedies and dramas but action was his draw. So it really comes down to what you value more in in actor. Prestige or Marketability/Box Office. It's close though.

 

[Vandelay]

I got Denzel, because that's Unc... He legit reminds of my real Uncle. But this is a lot closer than I wanted to admit.

X, Crimson Tide, He Got Game, The Siege, Bone Collector, amongst everything else listed is worthy of all-time consideration... and although Wesley never pops up on best actor lists, he GENERALLY kills everything he signs up for. It's usually the project itself that isn't that good, not him.

Wesley in the 90's has had almost a good of an acting career as anyone, EVER. The range is crazy. Drop Zone, White Man Can't Jump, Money Train and New Jack City are personal faves.

Don't look at the movie, look at his performance... he's literally NEVER mailed it in. Even Coming 2 America 2, he was the only one that didn't sleep thru the movie.

This actually brings up my criticism of Unc... I could easier see Wesley in Denzel movies, before I could see Denzel in Wesley movies. It's the range. You know what you're gonna get in a Denzel movie, and we like HIM in that movie... Wesley occasionally does some shyt that's in left field. I can't see Denzel doing that. But that's why the occasional gem; Flight/Fences... is so truly underrated. It's not the Denzel we know. I don't always want to like the actor in the role. Sometimes I want them to be a piece of shyt like Alonzo.

 

[VegetasHairline]

Most people are gonna ignore the "strictly 90s" part of the thread.

 

[Problematic Pat]

Denzel, his movies had more critical respect. he had a wide audience from multiple demographics
Wesley was more of an action star. was more popular with the younger audience.

People of all races around the world are more familiar with Snipes 90s movies. Snipes went through a tear during that time period.

Only Black people really talk about Denzels 90s movies. Not saying they were bad movies but Snipes was an action star.

 

[The Pledge]

Most people are gonna ignore the "strictly 90s" part of the thread.

Shame really. Was a dope thread concept.

 

[Problematic Pat]

wesley started stronger

denzel launched into a different stratosphere heading into the 00's

..........

*

After Training Day he was showing out.

 

[Da King]

Malcolm X is one the GOAT performances, can’t ignore that

 

[Wig Twistin Season]

Glory
Malcolm X
Devil In A Blue Dress

ALONE washes Wesley’s entire 90s catalog and I’m a fan of both and watched pretty much all of their movies when they released back then.

 

[young3000]

Malcom X >>> than anything Wesley has done.

I like Wesley as well. Idk how he got the role for White Men can't jump...he can barely dribble a basketball, yet along shoot one