He’s one of the most beloved actors of his generation, and has taken on some of the most iconic roles in the history of cinema, but there’s more to this man than franchise work. So, we’ve compiled a list of the best Harrison Ford movies, ranked them, and can tell you where to watch them online, too.
Let’s be honest, the man is a living legend. He’s Indiana Jones. He’s Han Solo. He’s Rick Deckard. He’s even a big, red, angry Hulk in Captain America: Brave New World – but we’re not here to talk about that.
No, we only want the best of the best at JustWatch, and luckily, Harrison Ford has put together a brilliant body of work over the years. So, here’s his top ten, plus five honourable mentions that we simply couldn’t ignore.
10. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Of the original trilogy, you’re likely to see the general consensus swing away from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but it’s criminally underrated. The highlight of this threequel is Sean Connery’s scene-stealing turn as Indy’s dad, Henry Jones Sr. The James Bond actor brings all his natural charm and is clearly having so much fun with the role, and it rubs off on Harrison Ford, too.
While the first two movies in the franchise are pure adventure-thrillers, this is almost more of a buddy-cop comedy, and the playful tone works perfectly. But, there’s still a strong emotional undercurrent to this one, as father and son reconnect.
9. Patriot Games
Harrison Ford took on another high-profile role when he stepped into Alec Baldwin’s shoes to become Jack Ryan. Patriot Games is a taut thriller filled with epic action, shocking twists and turns, and some killer one-liners from Ford, and it’s all packaged up in a neat sub-two hour story, which is always a bonus.
As Ryan intervenes in an IRA assassination plot, he and his family become the target of a deadly revenge mission. But, does he take it lying down? No, of course he doesn’t. With Ford’s effortless gravitas and the gritty determination of Tom Clancy’s character, Patriot Games becomes yet another classic heroic display to add to the actor’s catalogue.
8. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
Has there ever been a more exciting time than that brief period of unbridled joy leading up to the release of The Force Awakens? After a decade of no Star Wars movies at all, and a huge 32 years since the last outing for the original trio of Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, and Han Solo, the tease of their return in this new trilogy opener was immense.
Harrison Ford could easily have phoned in his reprise as Han Solo, but he gave it his everything, and ended up delivering one of his most nuanced and poignant performances of all time.
7. Blade Runner
There are many who would proclaim Blade Runner to be the ultimate sci-fi movie, or at the very least, a genre-defining film of its time. And frankly, they’d be correct. From the neon-soaked visuals to the cerebral themes at play in Ridley Scott’s epic ‘80s thriller, it’s hard not to be in awe of this iconic picture.
Ford once again bagged a timeless role as Rick Deckard, the suave, ruthless replicant hunter. But, as the mystery at the heart of this story unravels, Deckard’s machinations do, too, and it’s fascinating to watch it all unfold as he questions everything he believed to be true.
6. The Fugitive
Harrison Ford’s trademark run – second only to Tom Cruise’s impressive sprint – is at its very best in 1993’s The Fugitive. When Richard Kimble (Ford) is wrongly accused of murdering his wife, he must flee the authorities hunting him and find a way to prove his innocence before the relentless Samuel Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) puts him away for life.
The Fugitive harks back to a more ambitious and adventurous period of filmmaking, where stunts and huge set-pieces were done for real, rather than relying on green screens and digital effects. It’s a raw, rugged thriller, and is Ford’s finest work as a leading man away from the big franchises.
5. The Conversation
OK, look, Harrison Ford can’t always be the main man in every film he does, and it just so happens that in The Conversation, Gene Hackman does a rather good job of leading the line. But, Ford is there, and his role is a pretty significant one all the same. In fact, say it quietly, but we believe he stole the show a little bit in this Francis Ford Coppola flick.
Whether that’s true or not, there’s no denying that The Conversation is an understated masterpiece of the thriller genre. It’s not overly violent, loud, or bombastic, but it’s dripping with tension throughout, and will have you on the edge of your seat, listening just as intently as Harry Caul.
4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
While The Last Crusade is uber-fun and plucky, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom carries a far greater sense of dread and is actually a pretty heavy, traumatic experience for younger viewers who were following Indy’s adventures at the time. Seriously, that melting face and Mola Ram ripping out that guy’s heart were enough to scar an entire generation (in a good way).
In one of the finest movie trilogies of all time, The Temple of Doom stands out as the strongest of the trio, thanks to its enthralling, delightfully dark story, and the fact that Ford had well and truly embraced the titular role by that point.
3. Apocalypse Now
This one almost feels like cheating, but we couldn’t ignore the fact that Apocalypse Now is one of the greatest movies ever made, and Harrison Ford is technically a part of it. Yes, it may be a fleeting appearance at the start of the epic war movie, but Ford’s role as Colonel Lucas is an important one, as he is the man to assign Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) his daunting mission.
What can we say about Apocalypse Now that hasn’t been said already? It’s a brutal, visceral depiction of the horrors of war, and is one of the most important, impactful, and impressive films of its kind.
2. Blade Runner 2049
Controversial, perhaps, but Blade Runner 2049 is actually superior to its predecessor. While Ridley Scott’s original movie deserves respect for what it achieved and how it paved the way for so many others to follow, Denis Villeneuve’s legacy sequel deserves something far greater: reverence.
The follow-up improves on the original in just about every single way. Blade Runner 2049 not only looks impeccable, it’s also got a far more coherent narrative, without sacrificing any of the complexities and ambiguities of Scott’s effort. It’s mighty impressive that this film is not only spectacular in its own right, but actually manages to elevate its predecessor, too.
1. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
It had to be, didn’t it? When Star Wars is at its best – as it is with The Empire Strikes Back – there is simply nothing more exhilarating and awe-inspiring than this franchise. The core characters may be separated for most of this sequel, but that only serves to showcase just how big George Lucas’ galaxy is, and it allows each of our heroes to prove their individual merit, too.
While The Empire Strikes Back will forever be known for delivering one of the greatest plot twists of all time, there’s a special place in our heart for another legendary moment in this film. We love Han Solo. And guess, what? He knows.
Honourable mentions
- Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Clear and Present Danger
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
- 42
- American Graffiti
Where to watch the best Harrison Ford movies streaming online
Check out the list below on where to watch all these Harrison Ford movies streaming on services like Netflix, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video and more.
