It is Thursday night, January 15, 2026, and if you have your TV tuned to the FX channel right now, you are likely staring at the grizzled, calculated face of Denzel Washington. Specifically, you’re watching The Equalizer 3, which is currently anchoring the primetime slot.
Honestly, there is something about the way FX programs their movie marathons that just works. Today has been a total "action hero" gauntlet. They spent the entire afternoon running through the Die Hard franchise—everything from the 1988 original to that weird one in Russia—before pivoting straight into Robert McCall’s violent retirement in Southern Italy.
If you just jumped in, you’re catching the 8:00 PM ET showing, or perhaps you’re settled in for the 10:30 PM ET repeat. Either way, it’s a fascinating pick for a Thursday night. While the world is buzzing about new January premieres like The Beauty or The Copenhagen Test, there's a reason a 2023 action flick is pulling the numbers it is on basic cable.
Why The Equalizer 3 is the perfect "right now" movie
Movies on the FX channel usually follow a specific vibe. They want something high-stakes but grounded. They want a protagonist who doesn't just win but dominates. Robert McCall fits that to a T.
In this third installment, we find McCall in a small town in Sicily. He’s trying to find peace, but the local Camorra mafia decides to make things difficult. Big mistake. Huge. The movie feels different from the first two because it almost leans into horror territory. McCall is basically a slasher villain for the bad guys. He’s the monster under the bed for people who think they’re the baddest guys in the room.
✨ Don't miss: Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett: Why Fans Are Still Divided Over the Daimyo of Tatooine
The pacing is surprisingly slow for an action movie, but it builds this incredible tension. You know the explosion is coming. You’re just waiting for the match to strike.
The Denzel Factor (and that Man on Fire reunion)
A lot of people watching tonight might not realize that this movie served as a massive reunion. Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning hadn't shared a screen since Man on Fire back in 2004. Seeing them together again—even with the age gap—feels like a full-circle moment for cinema nerds.
Fanning plays Emma Collins, a CIA analyst, and while she isn't the one doing the bone-breaking, her chemistry with Denzel is the emotional anchor the movie needs. Without that, it’s just a guy killing people with a wine cork. (Yes, he actually does that.)
What else is happening on FX today?
If you missed the start of the movie on FX channel right now, you actually missed a pretty massive Bruce Willis marathon. FX leaned hard into the nostalgia earlier today:
🔗 Read more: Why Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Actors Still Define the Modern Spy Thriller
- 7:00 AM: Die Hard (The original Nakatomi Plaza heist)
- 9:30 AM: Die Hard 2 (The airport one)
- 12:00 PM: Die Hard With a Vengeance (Samuel L. Jackson brings the best energy to this franchise, period)
- 3:00 PM: Live Free or Die Hard (The digital-terrorist era)
- 6:00 PM: A Good Day to Die Hard (The one in Russia we usually don't talk about)
By the time they hit The Equalizer 3 at 8:00 PM, the audience has been primed for high-octane justice for over twelve hours. It's a smart programming move. It keeps the "dad cinema" demographic locked in while waiting for the late-night repeat.
Is it worth staying up for the 10:30 PM showing?
Kinda depends on how much you like watching a man use a stopwatch to time his own efficiency at dismantling a room full of mobsters.
Most people agree that The Equalizer 3 is a more "complete" film than the second one. The setting in Italy is gorgeous. Director Antoine Fuqua uses the narrow, winding streets of Atrani to create a claustrophobic feel that makes the action beats feel even more visceral. It's not just a movie; it's a mood.
If you’re watching on the West Coast or just catching the late-night air, the movie is followed by The Darkest Minds at 1:00 AM. That is a hard pivot into YA sci-fi, so honestly, The Equalizer is the peak of the night.
💡 You might also like: The Entire History of You: What Most People Get Wrong About the Grain
How to get the most out of your FX viewing
If you're watching the movie on FX channel right now, you’re probably dealing with the standard commercial breaks. It’s the trade-off for not paying for a standalone streaming rental. Here is how to make the experience better:
- Check the FXNow App: If you have a cable login, you can often watch these movies "on demand" without the same rigid schedule, though the live feed is where the "collective viewing" magic happens.
- Look for the "FX Movie Channel" (FXM) Alternative: Don't confuse the main FX channel with FXM. While FX is playing The Equalizer 3, FXM is currently deep into a 1960s marathon with movies like The Flight of the Phoenix and The Lion.
- DVR the "The Beauty" Sneak Peeks: FX is currently heavy on the promotion for their new Ryan Murphy series, The Beauty, starring Bella Hadid. They’ve been dropping teasers during the commercial breaks of The Equalizer. If you're a fan of American Horror Story or Nip/Tuck, you’ll want to pay attention to those.
The takeaway? FX knows their audience. They know that on a cold January Thursday in 2026, people want to see a man with a moral code clean up a messy world. Robert McCall isn't just a character; he's a vibe.
Go grab some snacks and settle in for the second half. Or, if you’re just joining, wait for the 10:30 PM reset. It’s the best thing on the "big four" cable networks tonight by a long shot.
To keep up with the schedule, check the official FX Networks site or your local TV Guide listings, as they often swap the late-night slots based on sports preemptions or news breaks. If you're looking for what's coming tomorrow, get ready for a Marvel marathon—Iron Man and Captain America are taking over the Friday block starting at 7:00 AM.