Denzel Washington’s Secret Masterpiece Is Also a Better Revenge Movie Than Taken

When you think of powerhouse performers, Denzel Washington's name inevitably comes to mind. The Magnificent Seven, Malcolm X, Training Day – you name it, Washington has proven time and time again that he's one of Hollywood's talented actors.

But there's one gem in his career that critics seemed to misunderstand completely. A film that, despite its commercial success and overwhelming audience appreciation, was unfairly scrutinized by critics.

With just 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, Man on Fire became one of those rare cases where critical reception and audience response couldn't be further apart. With the latter being a whopping 89%.

Man on Fire (2004) Is a True Underappreciated Gem

Man on Fire tells the story of John Creasy (Washington), a former CIA operative who takes a job as a bodyguard for a young girl.

In Mexico City, where he's assigned to protect Lupita Ramos (Dakota Fanning), Creasy initially keeps his emotional walls up high. But man, the way this kid breaks through his defenses is so precious! And, of course, when things go south, Creasy goes full beast mode.

Tony Scott's direction might be a bit extra with those wild camera moves and flashy edits, but it works in its own weird way. It captures the chaos in Creasy's world perfectly, especially when he's turning Mexico City upside down looking for answers.

But the fact that this epic revenge story holds at an awful 38% critic score feels like a cruel joke.

Fans Are Obsessed With Man on Fire

The audience tells a completely different story, though.

One particularly interesting take comes from Redditor BenGrahamButler, who claims it surpasses even the widely acclaimed Taken (2008):

“First time watch, I love a good revenge film and I would say this a notch above Taken. Anyone else get a big emotional impact from this one? Might be because I’m a dad, but this really hits me.”

And we can see it. Taken is a solid revenge movie, but Man on Fire digs deeper into the emotional core of its story. Every confrontation feels personal and carries real weight.

The film's ability to evoke strong emotions is another part of why we love it so much. As Redditor Syn0ne wrote:

“This my number 1 film. Just, perfection. The shot of the volcano plus the song makes me cry every time.”

Another fan pointed out the film's rewatchability, saying:

“I absolutely love this movie. Always will. And I cry every damn time.”

So the critics might have missed the mark on this one, but audiences got it right. The real measure of a film's worth isn't in its Rotten Tomatoes score, it's in how it makes us feel. And Man on Fire still hits different.

You can watch Man on Fire on Apple TV+. And we think it's a great time to judge this classic for yourself.