Harrison Fordis an American actor who has become a household name thanks to his variety of leading roles. With a careerspanning the last six decades, Ford has built up such an impressive career that his name is immediately recognizable. Starring in popular hits like theStar Warsfranchise while also taking on more obscure pictureslikeBlade Runner, he brings his all to every role he is given, which makes him more than deserving of the reputation he has built over the years.
Considering he’s been an active actor for such a long time, Ford has a long filmography to go through. His great talent to act well in any genre is part of what makes him such an admirable actor. Ford’s variety of films also adds to the watchability of said films as variety and quality are bound to keep viewers coming back again and again. Here are Harrison Ford’s 10 most rewatchable movies, ranked.
10The Mosquito Coast
Ford stars as idealist investor Allie Fox inThe Mosquito Coast, who uproots his family and moves them to the jungle to escape the overwhelming consumerism that is overtaking America. As the family adapts to their new way of living, Allie alienates himself from them as his plan to escape consumerism quickly turns sour and Allie’s behavior becomes increasingly unhinged. Starringalongside River Phoenix, Rebecca Gordon, and Helen Mirren, Ford’s phenomenal performance went wildly overlooked by critics, and many felt the film was treated poorly despite its original premise and outstanding execution.
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9Jack Ryan Franchise
Ford starred in two of the originalJack Ryanfilms:Patriot GamesandClear and Present Danger. TheJack Ryanfranchise revolves around the titular former U.S. Marine, who joins the CIA. Jack has been portrayed by a number of actors, including Alec Baldwin and Chris Pine, but no actor is as synonymous with the character as Ford. BothPatriot GamesandClear and Present Dangerbrought a whole new action aspect to theJack Ryanfranchise that is reminiscent of Ford’s iconicIndiana Jonesfranchise.
Witnesstells the story of the young Amish boy who witnesses a murder and seeks protection from John Book, a local police officer. John eventually uncovers some deep-seated police corruption and takes Samuel and his mother, Rachel, to the Amish countryside, where an unexpected romance begins between John and Rachel.Witnesswas nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Ford. Ford’s performance inWitnessis unlike any other as love goes beyond simply boundaries of religion and tradition.
7American Graffiti
Directed byStar Warscreator George Lucas,American Graffitifollows the lives of teens Steve, John, and Terry as they cruise the California streets, enjoying what’s left of their adolescence while they encounter a pair of girls who provide all the entertainment they need. This coming of age comedy received widespread critical acclaim and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Ford stars as Bob Falfa, a talented drag racer and showcases his acting skills in this classic film about teenage freedom.
As one of Ford’s more recent films,42revolves around baseball manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers Branch Rickey, who causes a stir when he chooses to sign Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team. This decision makes Rickey and Robinson easy targets for the public to attack them with overt racism and discrimination. While Robinson must fight off the harsh treatment, at least Rickey is by his side, so he doesn’t suffer alone. The film is based on the true story of Jackie Robinson and his struggle to be recognized as one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Ford shines in this underrated piece of cinema that shows the realities of racism during the 1940s and 50s.
5Blade Runner
Set in a dystopian future featuring flying cars and deep levels of pollution,Blade Runnertells the story of ex-Blade Runner Rick Deckerd (Ford), who is brought on to hunt down and retire AKA kill some advanced replicants who escaped. Set in 2019, this bleak, futuristic look at how Earth turned out as a result of capitalism and over-consumption was far ahead of its time. WhileBlade Runnerwas a box-office flop at the time of its release, it quickly became a cult classic and eventually earned status as one of the best sci-fi films of all time. The film even spawned a sequelBlade Runner 2049,which also stars Ford.
Related:Why Harrison Ford Wanted Han Solo to Die
4The Fugitive
Arguably one of Ford’s most memorable performances is as Richard Kimble inThe Fugitive. After being wrongfully accused of murdering his wife, Kimble managed to evade capture by a team of U.S. Marshals and works the case to find his wife’s real killer to clear his name and get justice for his wife before it’s too late. The film involves a series of cat and mouse chases as Kimble always manages to escape capture.The Fugitivewas nominated for a total of seven Academy Awards including Best Picture. The film’s popularity spawned the creation of a spin-off calledU.S. Marshals,which featured Tommy Lee Jones, reprising his role as Marshal Gerard.
3Working Girl
Working Girlhas made its way to becoming one of the quintessential 80s movies that everyone must see. Hard-working Tess makes a suggestion to her conniving boss Katherine who steals Tess' idea without giving her any of the credit. When Katherine winds up in hospital, Tess gets revenge by pretending to be Katherine and carrying out business that doesn’t go according to plan. Ford plays the role of Jack Trainer who Tess begins a romantic relationship with after the pair works together. WhileWorking Girlis not a typical action flick that we are used to seeing Ford in, it is a nice change of pace that we can watch over and over again.
2Star Wars Franchise
While it might seem unrealistic to place the entireStar Warsoriginal trilogy on this list, Ford’s performance is partly what makesEmpire Strikes Backone of the best films of all time. Ford plays the role of space cowboy Han Solo, who is fierce in a shootout and an outstanding pilot. While other actors had the opportunity to play the part, none other than Ford could bring such an arrogant character to life while also portraying the character development throughout the franchise. Ford reprises his role as Solo in the original trilogy and inForce Awakenswhich many have argued is the best part of the film.
1Indiana Jones Franchise
While some would consider it a tie betweenStar WarsandIndiana Jones, due to Ford’s more important role in the latter, that’s the franchise that tops our list. Ford stars as Henry “Indiana” Jones jr., an archeology professor who goes on a variety of dangerous adventures all in the name of preserving artifacts and saving them from being exploited for monetary gain. With a total of four films, Ford’s action franchise is one of the most iconic thanks to Indie’s trademark whip and hat. Due to the popularity of the existing franchise, Ford is set to end his run as Indiana Jones in the final installmentIndiana Jones & the Dial of Destiny,which is set to be released June 2023.
