The 10 Best Harrison Ford Movies, Ranked

Of the original trilogy, you’re likely to see the general critical and audience consensus swing away from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, making it criminally underrated (I’d even go as far as to say it’s my personal favourite of them all). 

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 that it rubs off on Harrison Ford, too. While the first two movies in the franchise are pure adventure-thrillers, Last Crusade is almost more of a buddy comedy, and the playful tone works perfectly. But there’s still a strong emotional undercurrent as father and son reconnect. 

Best of all, if you are looking to dive into the Indiana Jones franchise, this movie is on Netflix, Prime Video, Sky Cinema, and even free on Channel 4 Plus, so there’s really no excuse!

Harrison Ford took on another high-profile role when he stepped into Alec Baldwin’s shoes to become Jack Ryan (and did a far better job than his predecessor, I should add). Patriot Games is a taut thriller filled with epic action, shocking twists and turns, and some killer one-liners from Ford – all packaged into a neat sub-two-hour story; always a bonus.

As Ryan intervenes in an IRA assassination plot, he and his family become the target of a deadly revenge mission. 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 is yet another classic display of heroism to add to the actor’s catalogue. 

If you’ve already watched all the Bond movies and want a new espionage thriller franchise to sink your teeth into, Jack Ryan is the man for the mission.

Has there ever been a more exciting time than that brief period of unbridled joy leading up to the release of Star Wars: 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, their teased return in this new trilogy opener was immense. I remember watching the trailer pretty much every day until the film came out, and then I proceeded to watch the movie in cinemas four times.

Harrison Ford could easily have phoned in his reprisal as Han Solo, but instead, he gave it his all to deliver one of his most nuanced and poignant performances of all time. The whole film is a brilliant balance of nostalgic vibes and fresh energy for the franchise, but that moment between Han and Kylo Ren on the bridge (you know the one) might just be one of the most emotionally intense scenes Star Wars has ever produced.

Many would proclaim Blade Runner to be the ultimate sci-fi movie, or at the very least, a genre-defining film of its time. And they’d be correct: From the neon-soaked visuals to the cerebral themes – man’s place in the future, the threat of technological advancements, and simply what it means to be human – in Ridley Scott’s epic ‘80s noir thriller, it’s hard not to be in awe of this iconic picture.

Ford once again bagged a timeless role as Rick Deckard, a suave, ruthless replicant hunter. But as the mystery at the heart of this story unravels, so too do Deckard’s machinations, and it’s fascinating to watch him question everything he believed to be true. 

If you’re able to, you should specifically watch the Final Cut version of Blade Runner (from 2007), which Scott views as the definitive, interference-free version of his work. Not only is it vastly improved on a technical level thanks to the visual effects upgrades, but it also delves deeper into those challenging themes mentioned earlier.

Harrison Ford’s trademark running – second only to Tom Cruise’s impressive sprints – is at its very best in 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 (played superbly by 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 entirely for real rather than relying on green screens and digital effects. Fun fact: the chaotic St. Patrick’s Day parade scene was filmed during actual celebrations taking place in Chicago. 

If you’re looking for a raw, rugged thrill ride, this is Ford’s finest work as a leading man away from the big franchises. You can easily catch him (and the film) on Netflix or Prime Video.

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 still there, and his role in the film is a pretty significant one. In fact, and I’ll say it quietly, but I believe he stole the show a little bit in this Francis Ford Coppola flick.

Whether you agree with me 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 drips with tension throughout. It’ll have you on the edge of your seat, listening just as intently as Harry Caul himself. 

The Conversation is so good, in fact, that the Academy nominated it for the Best Picture Oscar even though Coppola already got the nod for The Godfather Part II. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, it’s not as widely streamable as others on this list – you’ll have to be signed up to the Studio Canal channel to watch it.

While The Last Crusade is uber-fun and plucky, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom carries a far greater sense of dread. It may actually be a pretty heavy experience for younger viewers following Indy’s adventures. In particular, the scenes of a melting face and Mola Ram ripping out a guy’s heart scarred an entire generation (in a good way). Still, if you’re thinking of showing it to your kids now, I will say my rather boisterous nephews are obsessed with this film, and they don’t mind the gore at all (they are 11 and eight, if that helps).

In one of the finest movie trilogies of all time, The Temple of Doom stands out as the strongest of the trio for me, thanks to its delightfully dark story, and the fact that Ford had well and truly embraced the titular role by this point: he serves up so much swagger here, it’s practically oozing out of the screen.

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.

As a brutal, visceral depiction of the horrors of war, Apocalypse Now is one of the most important, impactful, and impressive films of its kind. For that reason, it’s not for the faint of heart, with some pretty gnarly moments throughout, but if you can stomach that, you’re going to have a truly life-changing cinematic experience here. 

Like Blade Runner, there are also multiple cuts of this film. Of them all, we’d advise avoiding the Redux Cut and sticking with either the theatrical or final cuts – those two are far more accessible and coherent, while the Redux muddies the waters a little with unnecessary extra scenes.

Controversial, perhaps, but Blade Runner 2049 might actually be superior to its predecessor. While Ridley Scott’s original movie deserves to be acknowledged and respected for what it achieved, especially in 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. 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 mightily impressive that this film is not only spectacular in its own right, but actually manages to elevate the original, too. 

2049 may have been a box-office flop, but don’t let that put you off. For my money, this is one of the very best films of the 21st century, excelling on both a technical and thematic level. It’s also available as part of a Netflix subscription, so subscribers can quickly and easily judge for themselves.

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. From the snowy battleground of Hoth to the murky swamps of Dagobah and the decadent city in the sky, Bespin, this film is pure moviemaking magic from start to finish with immersive set designs, iconic set-pieces, and truly impeccable storytelling. 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 my heart for another legendary moment in this film, spotlighting Harrison Ford: We all love Han Solo. And guess what? He knows. 

There’s never a bad time to watch the Original Trilogy, whether it be your 100th rewatch or your first foray into the galaxy far, far away (and the best part is, you’ll have to watch A New Hope and Return of the Jedi if you’re going to hit play on The Empire Strikes Back, so it’s a three-for-one deal). I wouldn’t be the sci-fi-obsessed geek I am today without this incredibly special movie, and I can’t wait to show it to my kids when they’re old enough.