We’re lucky enough to be alive at the same time as two of the best actors ever. The Little Things’ Denzel Washington and King RichardWill Smith stars have both given us so many unforgettable performances that it’s hard to know where to begin when you talk about either of their careers. Although it may seem unfair to compare the two actors, the Internet will help you do so. A recent debate over who is the better actor recently unfolded on Twitter, and according to fans there, it’s not even really a debate.
In the last few years, Will Smith and Denzel Washington have put on some of their best performances. Will Smith was the most recent to be recognized. He received rave reviews for his performance in King Richard, a biographical drama about Serena and Venus Williams’ father. Soon after the film was released, one Twitter user asked a bold question of his followers:
Who are you going to choose? pic.twitter.com/lJ7YYW2MTFNovember 21, 2021
This debate could be controversial. After all, the trajectory of both actors’ careers has been very different. Will Smith started his career as a hip hop artist, then he transitioned to acting as a sitcom star and finally became a major blockbuster actor. Denzel Washington started his career in theater and then he got his big break on television while also laying the foundations for a successful film career.
Despite the differences, fans on Twitter didn’t have a difficult time determining who they believed was the more legendary of the two actors:
Listen, I’m a fan of both, but this is not even really a legitimate discussion because one is Denzel Washington and the other is not. pic.twitter.com/LTDChm5hZWNovember 21, 2021
Let’s take a step back and examine why it’s important that Denzel is Denzel: he has delivered some of The most powerful performances available on-screen in our lifetimes. He is the recipient of nine Academy Award nominations and two Academy Award wins, one for Best Supporting actor. GloryThe other is for Best Actor in The crime thriller Training Day. He’s the kind of actor who can be just as convincing as a football coach. Shakespeare is what he’s doingIt is rare for actors to say this.
Twitter user Another fan approached the debate from another angle:
Just finished King Richard. When I watch Will Smith in movies I catch myself thinking it’s Will Smith *as* so-and-so. When I watch Denzel Washington, I see whoever he’s portraying. I’ve never seen the actor who plays the character. Respect for both.November 21, 2021
While this may seem like it’s downplaying Will Smith’s talent, it’s also a testament to his overall star power that he is so recognizable to us. Smith’s own career achievements are nothing to scoff at, either — he has two Academy Award nominations for Best Actor to his name — one for AliAnd one for The pursuit of happiness. He has also been nominated for nine Grammys and won three, which speaks volumes about his versatility.
Maybe this fan put it best when they tried to size up the two actors’ irreplaceable contributions to Hollywood:
Given that neither Denzel Washington or Will Smith seem to be slowing down any time soon, it’s not impossible to imagine them teaming up in the future. We have more from both actors in the future. Denzel Washington will appear in Joel Coen’s The Tragedy of MacbethWill Smith will appear in Antoine Fuqua’s Emancipation.