The Equalizer

The script originally had no back story about Robert, so Denzel Washington contributed much to the character's background and back story, including McCall having obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In addition to his daily physical and fight training before filming, Washington met and interviewed several real-life OCD sufferers in order to gain insights on how to play that disorder correctly.

The quote shown at the start of the movie, "The two most important days of your life are the day you're born and the day you find out why." is attributed to Mark Twain whereas the source of this quote is actually unknown.

The UK cinema, DVD and Blu-ray versions are cut for violence to secure a 15 rating, removing or reducing the following:

• The closeup of the corkscrew being pushed further into Tevi's mouth, and the final shot of his face right before it's withdrawn.
• The first shot of the mercenary bleeding and choking on the barbed wire noose.

Columbia made additional cuts in two more scenes, which appear not to have been requested by the BBFC:

• A closeup of Teddy beating Little John's bloodied face twice, and a shot from behind that shows him readying another punch.
• The gangster being impaled through the neck was shortened at the start and end.

The six cuts total approximately 15 seconds. The UK Ultra HD Blu-ray is uncut and rated 18.

Featured in Inside 'The Equalizer' (2014)