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Cinema · Crime Drama

Training Day (2001 Film)

Reference entry · last updated October 10, 2026

Training Day is a 2001 crime drama starring Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. Antoine Fuqua directed it from a screenplay by David Ayer.[1][2] It opened in U.S. theaters on October 5, 2001.[1][2]

1. First Principles: Film and Premise

The film takes place in Los Angeles and follows a day in an undercover LAPD narcotics unit. New officer Jake Hoyt (Hawke) joins veteran detective Alonzo Harris (Washington) for an evaluation. Harris pressures Hoyt to accept illegal police methods.[1][2]

2. Release

Warner Bros. distributed the film. AFI lists a running time of 122 minutes and an R rating. Its Los Angeles and New York openings took place on October 5, 2001.[1]

ABC News reported on September 14, 2001 that the planned September 21 release had moved to October 5. The report placed the change among film delays following the September 11 attacks.[3]

3. Cast and Production Credits

The AFI catalog lists these roles and production credits.[1]

4. Academy Awards

At the 74th Academy Awards on March 24, 2002, Denzel Washington won Actor in a Leading Role for Training Day. Ethan Hawke was nominated for Actor in a Supporting Role. That category's winner was Jim Broadbent for Iris.[4]

The ceremony honored films released in 2001.[4]

5. See Also

• Reference Index

6. References

1. ↑ American Film Institute, “Training Day (2001),” AFI Catalog. Secondary catalog record for release details, credits, and synopsis.
2. ↑ Box Office Mojo, “Training Day.” Secondary release and film-data record.
3. ↑ ABC News, “Training Day, More Movies Rescheduled,” September 14, 2001. Contemporary reporting; Reuters/Variety contributed.
4. ↑ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, “The 74th Academy Awards | 2002.” Official ceremony record.