Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Dustin Rowles | News | August 27, 2025
Yesterday in a video interview with GQ Magazine, Denzel Washington — the greatest actor of his generation and, perhaps, any generation — made a stunning revelation about his movie-watching habits, in that he has none.
“I don’t watch movies, man. I really don’t,” Washington said. “I’m just being honest with you! I don’t watch movies! I don’t go to the movies. I don’t watch movies. … I’m tired of movies. Yeah.”
This may be a surprising comment from a man who has made around 50 movies in his career, but not for those who know him well. Exclusively here at Pajiba, we did secure the rest of the transcript from GQ pertaining to that conversation and gained some insights into his viewing habits.
(Transcript begins)
GQ: “You don’t watch any movies?”
Denzel: “That’s right. They don’t make them like they used to. It’s all grown adults flying around in superhero costumes now. I don’t have time for that. I’m a 70-year-old man. I am the most accomplished living actor on this planet. Do you think I give a good goddamn about The Fantastic Four?”
GQ: “But there’s more than just superhero movies. There’s ..”
Denzel: “Listen, son. All the real creativity these days is in horror movies. There’s some great talent in that space, because those filmmakers are forced to work within their limited budgets and sell their ideas. That’s why the two biggest original movies this year were Sinners and Weapons, whose combined budgets are a third of what they paid to coat that Fantastic Four guy in orange rock.””
GQ: “So, you watch horror movies?”
Denzel: “Absolutely not! Did you not hear me, son? I’m 70 years old. My ticker can’t take it. John David showed me that trailer for Weapons on his phone, and I had to take two of those baby aspirin and lie down because my chest started beating like King Kong was in there.”
GQ: “So, you just don’t watch anything?
Denzel: “No, I didn’t say that. Listen, son. With your ears. I said I don’t watch movies.”
GQ: “You watch TV?”
Denzel: “I’ve been known to, from time to time.”
GQ: “Do you watch anything in particular?”
Denzel: “Britbox.”
GQ: “Britbox?”
Denzel: “Did I stutter, man? Yes. I watch Britbox. Me and the missus like to crawl into bed around 9 o’clock, curl up under the blankets, and watch a good mystery.”
GQ: “Denzel Washington watches Britbox?”
Denzel: “Are you hard of hearing, son. That’s what I said. A little Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple before falling asleep takes the edge off a hard day.”
GQ: ‘Miss Marple?”
Denzel: “What, you got something against Agatha Christie? The Queen of Crime?”
GQ: “Oh, no sir. Agatha Christie is just fine.”
Denzel: “Just fine? Just fine?! See, this is what’s wrong with your generation. That woman wrote 66 detective novels, while y’all are running around with your phones and make your TikToks and your YouTubes.”
GQ: “So, you watch Agatha Christie mysteries?”
Denzel: “Well, not just Agatha Christie mysteries. Paulette and I like to explore, get the most out of our Britbox subscription. We watch a little Father Brown. There’s a great show called Karen Pirie that’s new to me. That one kept the wife and me up late. And Ludwig? The one where that British fella plays twins. It is a delight.”
GQ: “Ludwig? On Britbox?”
Denzel: “That’s what I said. Get yourself a subscription, son. Be in the know. And if you get a chance to talk to Brenda Blethyn from that show Vera, you jump at that opportunity. Class up the place a little. And who the hell needs movies when you’ve got four seasons of Sister Boniface?”
“Uh, OK. Sure. So, about Highest 2 Lowest … “
(end transcript)
See Also: 2 Guns Is The Denzeliest Goddamn Movie of the Year and In Fences, Viola Davis Out-Denzels The Denzelist Denzel that Ever Denzel’d
