Denzel Washington's Star-Studded 146-Minute Thriller Jumps Into Action On Free Streaming

Image via Instar Images Published Nov 1, 2026, 11:02 AM EST Rianna is the Movie News Editor for ScreenRant. After earning her BA in Film Studies, she began her career as an entertainment writer, contributing to several publications before joining ScreenRant. Her dissertation on the impact of streaming on traditional cinema sharpened her focus on the ever-evolving world of film and media. With 10 years in the industry, Rianna continues to cover the stories she loves while also advocating for awareness and representation of rare disabilities, such as Moebius Syndrome, which she lives with. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The action genre has been led by some Hollywood royalty, and that includes Denzel Washington. With movies such as Taken and John Wick, the genre continues to evolve, but there are some movies that have paved the way for what is known as action in 2026. Washington has had a lengthy career spanning over five decades, winning two Academy Awards, a Tony Award, and box office earnings surpassing $5.1 billion. With Washington's extensive and impressive career, the actor has a long list of impressive and award-winning movies under his belt. One of those includes the star-studded action thriller Man on Fire released in 2004. The movie follows John Creasy, an assassin in Mexico, who is hired as a bodyguard, a job he does not want to accept. However, he agrees and promises to take revenge on the kidnapper of the child from the family he is protecting. The cast includes Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken, Radha Mitchell, Mickey Rourke, Marc Anthony, and many more. Denzel Washington's Man On Fire Is Now Free To Stream Choose the movie with the higher Rotten Tomatoes score. Man on Fire, directed by Tony Scott, is based on the 1980 novel written by A.J. Quinnell. The original was set in Italy and highlighted the area, which was a major hotspot for kidnappings at the time. Washington's adaptation is the second to stem from Quinnell's novel, and the first was released in 1987. The first movie was directed by Élie Chouraqui and starring Scott Glenn as John Creasy and Joe Pesci. After seemingly being unavailable to stream on any of the major streaming giants, Man on Fire is back in action. The action thriller is now available on Pluto TV and is available to watch for free with ads. Pluto TV has 100s of free live TV channels and 1000s of free popular movies and shows that you can stream at any time, making it the perfect home for those who want to watch Washington's movies again and again. Man On Fire's Reboot Proves It's An Action Worth Remembering The story of Man on Fire didn't end with Washington's adaptation as Netflix recently revisited the action movie in a seven-episode series starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as John Creasy. The Netflix series was created and showrun by Kyle Killen and does not serve as a direct remake of the 2004 movie, and is simply a third adaptation of Quinnell's novel that has generated an entire franchise. The series was set in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and focuses on local politics, class divides, and criminal conspiracies. Netflix's Man on Fire became a global streaming success and reached over 11 million views within its first four days on the streaming giant and was the top most-watched TV series on Netflix across 22 countries. Washington's Man on Fire is available to stream for free now on Pluto TV. Release Date April 23, 2004 Runtime 146 minutes Director Tony Scott Cast Dakota Fanning Lupita Ramos Man on Fire follows John Creasy, an ex-CIA operative turned bodyguard, who is hired to protect a young girl in Mexico City. Initially struggling to connect, they form a bond, and when she is abducted, Creasy embarks on a relentless mission to ensure her safety.