For most of the year, almost every word that came out of Denzel Washington’s mouth was not only undeniably quotable, but so much so that the headlines really (and rightfully) piled up. This is especially true given the continued box office success of Gladiator IIin which the two-time Oscar winner delivers a breathtaking performance as Macrinus.

Speaking to Steven Weintraub for Collider, Washington began the conversation by asking him to name his favorite film directed by the late cinema legend Stanley Kubrick. Washington avoided giving a specific answer, instead reflecting on his younger life and pointing out that it wasn’t until early adulthood that he became a regular moviegoer.

“I’m not a movie buff,” Washington said. “No, I’m not a big film fan. I was on the street when he was making films. …I’d be the one out there trying to rob you if you came out of a Kubrick movie, okay? So I wasn’t really a film fan. I only started acting when I was 20 and didn’t really go to the cinema until I was 22 or 23.”

Washington continued: “That’s not true. As a teenager I watched films like Wave And Great flyYou know.”

The clip is from a longer interview originally published in November (see below).

This fits in nicely with the litany of other Denzel delights we’ve gotten over the past few months. In fact, Complex recently asked you to write a roundup of such moments, which led to this article announcing the 2025 Golden Globes nominees Gladiator II Press run “really one for the ages.”

Washington’s widely acclaimed Macrinus performance is competing in the best supporting actor category at next year’s Globes. Anorais Yura Borisov, A real painis Kieran Culkin, A complete unknownis Edward Norton, The brutalistis Guy Pearce and The apprenticeThis is Jeremy Strong.

Should Washington ultimately win the trophy, it would be his fourth Globes honor and first since receiving the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2016.