Summary

• McCall finds peace in a seaside village after facing mafia threats in The Equalizer 3.
• A subplot involves aiding CIA agent Emma Collins in exposing terrorists and drug shipments.
• Despite a dark opening massacre, McCall ultimately chooses to retire and stay in the village.

Warning: Major spoilers for The Equalizer 3 below!

mafia outfit The Camorra; after they push the violence too far, McCall is forced to push back with equal effect.

A subplot also sees McCall aiding CIA agent Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning), giving her information about designer drugs that were being shipped from the mob base he raided. It turns out The Camorra themselves are in league with terrorists, and after McCall kills the brother of mafia chief Vincent (Andrea Scarduzio), the two men are set for a final showdown. In the end, McCall kills Vincent and his men in a violent home invasion, an injured Collins gets a promotion, and McCall appears to have finally found peace as he decides to stay in the village.

Does Robert McCall Die In The Equalizer 3?

The Equalizer 3 teased McCall's death, but went no further

Denzel Washington's character is put in harm's way throughout the entire action movie, but Robert McCall does not die in The Equalizer 3 by the time the credits roll. The movie initially looks like this could be a possibility by having him be shot in the back after the opening sequence, which leaves his health in a critical state. It is only after being operated on by a local that McCall proves to be stable. The film ultimately elects to leave Washington's hero alive to give him a happy ending or leave the door open for a sequel instead of counting him among everyone who dies in The Equalizer 3.

Is Denzel Washington's Robert McCall Really Retired?

It looks like McCall really has settled down this time

A big theme of The Equalizer 3 is the idea that people end up where they're supposed to be, and by the end of the third entry, McCall appears to have found where he belongs. The sequel presents a darker take on the character, who is seemingly still reeling from the death of best friend Susan (Melissa Leo) during the second film and his betrayal by former colleagues. McCall is more sadistic and brutal in the way he dispatches foes, and seems intent on inflicting pain first.

However, he finds his humanity once again when the village takes him in and treats him with kindness. After killing Vincent, he heads back to Altamonte and is last seen beaming as he takes part in a village celebration. Having just gifted his black book to Collins, it appears McCall has truly given up the vigilante life. The Equalizer 3's ending gives no hint of a further sequel, and if it truly is the last installment, it's a nice note to leave the character on.

Why McCall Committed The Equalizer 3's Opening Massacre

McCall's tactics were surprisingly ruthless, even for him

The opening of the threequel feels like something of a slasher film, as a mob boss comes home to his vineyard and discovers the bodies of his men littering his home. His remaining henchmen confront McCall in a cellar, but of course, the latter easily comes out on top and kills them all. Before this, McCall hints the reason he's there is because they took something that didn't belong to them, and afterward, he's seen with a mystery backpack. It's only in the final scenes that he reveals to Collins what's inside.

McCall explains that this mob stronghold also took part in cybercrime and that they stole the pension of a retired man in Boston. McCall gave the pension guy, Greg Dyer, a ride in a Lyft one time - a nod to his Equalizer 2 side gig - and he came to Italy with the sole intent of giving the man his $360,000 back. Collins doesn't understand why McCall would go to such lengths to help a total stranger, but when she later hands over the bag and watches the joy the recovered money brings to the man and his wife, she gets it.

What The Camorra Want With The Village

Vincent thrives off protection money

The Equalizer 3 doesn't give much depth to its antagonists, who are depicted as almost cartoonish evil. Their various crimes include hanging an old man from a window and later cutting off the hand of a subordinate. They collect protection money from many of the stores in Altamonte, but Vincent has larger plans in mind for this little paradise. He wants to build resorts and casinos for tourists, and that will involve pushing the population out. Given the kindness with which he's been treated by the people, McCall makes it clear that isn't going to happen.

The "Jihad Drug" Explained

The Jihad Drug was the key to The Equalizer 3's villain plot

Another major subplot in Equalizer 3 involves Collins looking into shipments of drugs that were being sent from inside wine bottles at the vineyard McCall raided. This is an amphetamine dubbed the "Jihad drug," which is being sold by Syrian terrorists to fund their activities. Of course, it turns out The Camorra is buying the drug, and thus directly funding terrorism, which is why McCall gets the CIA involved. McCall gives Vincent a taste of his own medicine in the ending and forces him a fatal dose of these pills. He then walks with the fleeing Camorra chief into the village and waits until he dies from his overdose.

Collins Is Susan Plummer's Daughter

Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning's characters share a surprising connection

Another lingering mystery running throughout the film is why McCall is helping a random CIA agent. He and Collins form a nice bond, but he always avoids answering why he ed her. The final scene in Collins' office - following her recovery from a car bomb planted by the Camorra that nearly killed her - answers this question. She finds that McCall has gifted her his black book with a message stating her mother would be proud.

Collins then looks at a graduation picture on her desk, revealing she's the daughter of McCalls' old friends Susan and Brian (Bill Pullman). In acting as something of a mentor to Collins and then imparting his little book of names and secrets, he's setting her on a path toward becoming a great agent like Susan was. It's another sign that McCall himself is ready to hang up his equalizing ways and retire too.

What Director Antoine Fuqua Has Said About The Equalizer 3's Ending & Robert McCall's Fate

Fuqua would direct The Equalizer 4 (with Washington), but doesn't expect to

The third film in The Equalizer series is being tipped as the final outing for both Washington and Fuqua. Fuqua is open to directing The Equalizer 4, but he too will walk away from the franchise if Washington isn't on board. With Fuqua's return to the director's chair being dependent on Washington's return, a fourth installment is looking increasingly unlikely.

Will The Equalizer 4 Happen? How A Sequel Can Work

Story-wise, there's still room for The Equalizer 4

Director Antoine Fuqua previously entertained the notion of Equalizer 4 could feature a digitally de-aged McCall even star Denzel's son John David. The former option seems to have been ruled out by Washington, and the latter scenario, while technically possible, probably won't occur either unless Fuqua changes his mind. In the event that Washington and Fuqua do reteam for a fourth film, it would be relatively easy for the story to continue. While some theorized that the third outing would see McCall himself die, this isn't the case. Instead, the sequel ends with McCall finding some inner peace. The Equalizer 3 very much serves as an ending - but it doesn't negate a fourth entry at all.

Another sequel could simply pick up with McCall on another mission of vengeance, and simply explain that retirement didn't suit him. Now that Collins has been established as his new ally, she could also come to him for help on an operation that needs his unconventional methods. Of course, heading in this direction could risk The Equalizer 4 having to repeat The Eqaulizer 3's ending by retiring McCall yet again.