The Equalizer 2 is a 2018 action thriller film that stars Denzel Washington as Robert McCall, a former CIA agent who uses his skills and resources to help people in need. It is the sequel to the 2014 film The Equalizer, which was based on the TV series of the same name. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, who also directed the first film and collaborated with Washington on several other projects, such as Training Day and The Magnificent Seven.

The plot of the film follows McCall as he works as a Lyft driver in Boston, while secretly helping his clients with their personal problems. He also assists his old friend and colleague Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo), who works for the DIA. When Susan is killed in a staged suicide while investigating a murder case in Brussels, McCall sets out to find her killers and avenge her death. Along the way, he discovers that one of the assassins is his former partner Dave York (Pedro Pascal), who betrayed him and faked his death years ago. McCall also forms a bond with his young neighbor Miles Whittaker (Ashton Sanders), an aspiring artist who is involved with a local gang.

The Equalizer 2 was released in the United States on July 20, 2018, by Sony Pictures Releasing. It received mixed reviews from critics, who praised Washington’s performance and the action sequences, but criticized the pacing and number of subplots. The film was a commercial success, grossing $190 million worldwide on a budget of $62 million. It also marked the first time that Washington starred in a sequel to one of his films.

The Equalizer 2 is available to watch on Netflix. A third installment, titled The Equalizer 3, is scheduled to be released on September 1, 2023, with Washington reprising his role and Fuqua returning to direct.

The Equalizer 2 features several action scenes that showcase McCall’s skills and resourcefulness. For example, in the opening scene, he disguises himself as a Muslim passenger on a train in Istanbul, where he rescues a kidnapped girl from her abusive father. He also uses various objects and weapons, such as books, knives, harpoons, and guns, to fight his enemies. In the climactic scene, he lures York and his team to his seaside hometown, where he uses the elements of a storm to his advantage.

The film also explores McCall’s character and backstory, revealing more about his past and his motivations. He is shown to be a compassionate and generous person, who helps people with various issues, such as recovering stolen property, finding missing relatives, or escaping abusive situations. He also has a sense of humor and a love for literature, often quoting famous authors and books. He is haunted by the death of his wife Vivian, who died of cancer before the events of the first film. He also regrets his involvement in a covert operation that resulted in the death of innocent civilians.

The Equalizer 2 also introduces new characters and relationships that affect McCall’s life. One of them is Miles Whittaker, a talented but troubled teenager who lives in the same apartment building as McCall. McCall sees potential in Miles and tries to mentor him and steer him away from the gang life. He also teaches him how to paint and encourages him to pursue his dreams. Another character is Sam Rubinstein (Orson Bean), an elderly Holocaust survivor who is looking for a painting of his sister who died in the Nazi camps. McCall helps him find the painting and reunites him with his sister’s descendants.