Harrison Ford’s 10 Best Roles
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The post Harrison Ford’s 10 Best Roles appeared first on Consequence.
Some Hollywood actors are lucky enough to be remembered for an iconic role, whether that’s via their remarkable skills on camera or via a cultural breakout. Harrison Ford has achieved this numerous times. Now celebrating his 81st birthday today, July 13th, Ford left his native midwest for California in 1964, but it wasn’t until a decade later that he assumed his role as a titan of leading men in film. At the height of his powers, Ford became a true powerhouse film star, whose longevity and status has never really been threatened across his 50+ year career.
It’s safe to say those nine years of bit parts and failed auditions paid off for Ford in his early Hollywood days — after turning to carpentry to support his acting career, Ford was introduced to George Lucas, who quickly recognized Ford’s charming star power.
Lucas cast him in his first major role in 1973 with American Graffiti, and from there, his ascent was cemented. Both Star Wars and Indiana Jones became celebrated franchises, with Ford’s effortless personality — and, of course, his undeniable good looks — coming to the fore. He continued his action hero streak throughout the ’80s and ’90s, with films like Blade Runner, The Fugitive, Clear and Present Danger, and Air Force One becoming oft-quoted successes.
As the 21st century rolled around, Ford took more time in between roles and enjoyed some much-needed rest — that being said, he did reprise his iconic roles in Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Blade Runner‘s long-awaited revivals in the 2000s and 2010s. And now, in the streaming era, Ford has delved into a couple of main roles in television for the first time in his career, appearing in Paramount Plus’ Yellowstone prequel 1923 and Apple TV+’s much lauded dramedy, Shrinking.
As he wraps up his final turn as Indiana Jones in Dial of Destiny this summer, it’s clear that Ford’s beloved legacy will be worth celebrating for years to come. Whether he’s telling remarkably funny on-set stories in interviews, flying his airplanes and helicopters for leisure, or (allegedly) sharing joints with other elite celebrities, Harrison Ford is simply one of a kind. We’d say we love him, but of course, he knows that already.
— Paolo Ragusa
Associate Editor
10. Norman Spencer, What Lies Beneath (2000)
What Lies Beneath (Dreamworks)
Ford’s played plenty of characters more rogue-ish than Han Solo, but he might be at his most genuinely terrifying as Michelle Pfeiffer’s not-so-trustworthy husband. Director Robert Zemekis used this film to pay tribute to the legacy of Alfred Hitchcock, and Ford proves he’s on the level of Hitchcock favorites like Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant, while bringing his own grounded energy to the story’s twists and turns. No spoilers for the ending, but part of what makes it so shocking is Ford’s own legacy of being the bad boy you can trust. — Liz Shannon Miller
09. Jack Trainer, Working Girl (1988)
Working Girl (20th Century Fox)
The ’80s really were a great time for Harrison Ford. This 1988 film, in which Ford co-starred opposite Melanie Griffith and Sigourney Weaver, isn’t just the kind of romantic comedy we feel like we’re sorely lacking in these days. It was also a chance for Ford to step into a space that looked different from the gruffer action hero roles that had made him a household name, and instead slip into full-on movie star heartthrob mode. His star power and charisma is off the charts as Jack Trainer, a businessman falling for Griffith’s Tess. — Mary Siroky
08. President James Marshall, Air Force One (1997)
Air Force One (Columbia)
At the time of Air Force One‘s release in 1997, Harrison Ford was on a streak of roles that seemed to suggest “I dare you to fuck with me.” Air Force One is perhaps the pinnacle of his action hero swagger, and rather than play a Secret Service agent protecting the President from a hijacking, they wisely cast Ford himself as President James Marshall. It’s a treat to see a desperate Ford attempt to reclaim control of the plane, especially opposite a typically villainous Gary Oldman. Even more memorable is its climactic scene, where Ford’s demand of “Get off my plane!” rings out like the firing of a shotgun. Not only is it giddy action fun in the film, it’s a line that continues to be quoted as the years go by. — P. Ragusa
07. Henry Turner, Regarding Henry (1991)
Regarding Henry (Paramount)
Like all the great movie stars, Ford has a very distinctive persona, which often tends to the basis for most of his roles. However, his 1991 collaboration with director Mike Nichols (and, fun fact, writer J.J. Abrams) represents a complete departure, as he plays a lawyer who sustains a traumatic brain injury that renders him almost child-like. The role requires a deeper level of vulnerability than Ford usually is called upon to deliver, and his commitment to Henry’s journey through recovery is essential to the film’s power. — L.S. Miller
06. Jack Ryan, Patriot Games/Clear and Present Danger (1992/1994)
Patriot Games (Paramount)
Tom Clancy’s character Jack Ryan is a conservative fever dream — a loyal veteran who loves his country, hates terrorists, and possesses a preternatural feel for the stock market. He’s a pile of admirable traits in search of a personality, which has made him a trap for some of the biggest names in Hollywood. But not Ford. He oozes charisma, adding a cool sheen to even the most melodramatic dialogue and looking great doing it. Lots of leading men can pull off quippy dialogue, but only a rarefied few can turn so much nothing into such a charming something. — Wren Graves
05. John Book, Witness (1985)
Witness (Paramount)
This artfully made thriller by Peter Weir features Ford as a man you’d trust with your life — at least if you’re a little Amish boy who just witnessed (get it?) a murder. As a cop protecting a widow (Kelly McGinnis) and her son (baby Lukas Haas!) from a posse of crooked cops, Ford delivers a textbook perfect movie star performance, even getting to show off some of his real-life carpentry skills and sing a little Sam Cooke. Also, his connection with McGinnis’s Rachel is downright sizzling. — L.S. Miller
04. Dr. Richard Kimble, The Fugitive (1993)
The Fugitive (Warner Bros.)
If there’s one thing Harrison Ford consistently nails, it’s juxtaposition. He’s at once a believable everyman and a compelling, “chosen-one” style protagonist; he’s a man backed into a corner who’s also in complete control of the situation; he’s both a college professor and Nazi-punching world adventurer – it’s just what he does. His work in The Fugitive is no different, as Ford manages to come across as a clever but aging doctor who just so happens to have the physical ability to outrun swarms of police — a role perfectly suited for his particular mastery of the brains/brawn combo. Tommy Lee Jones might have been the one to walk away from The Fugitive with an Academy Award, but there’s little doubt that Harrison Ford’s portrayal of the wrongfully-accused Dr. Richard Kimble is just as essential to the film’s lasting cultural impact. – Jonah Krueger
03. Rick Deckard, Blade Runner/Blade Runner 2047 (1982/2017)
Blade Runner (Warner Bros.)
Apparently, playing one iconic, gun-toting, morally ambiguous sci-fi badass wasn’t enough for him because, in 1982, Harrison Ford took up the mantle of Rick Deckard, a burnt-out cop coerced into one last job hunting down replicants. Unlike the effortless, devil-may-care charisma that oozes from a character like Han Solo, however, Ford showcases a different side of his dramatic chops, delivering a truly moving performance of a broken, confused man living in a world he doesn’t truly understand (studio-mandated voice over notwithstanding). Only further bolstered by a legacy-honoring appearance in Blade Runner 2049, Deckard remains one of the most fascinating, emotionally-rich characters of Ford’s impressive career, one that remains a topic of discussion in film circles to this day. – J. Krueger
02. Han Solo, Star Wars (1977-2019)
Star Wars: A New Hope (Lucasfilm)
Not every Harrison Ford role has swagger, but Han Solo is swagger personified. A bad boy smuggler with a cool vintage vehicle, Han’s just trying to make a buck when he gets caught up in an intergalactic conflict he wants no part of. Offering up both comedic relief and romantic tension, which added an essential human element to the original trilogy, Han also might have had the most coherent character arc from his first appearance to his last. He might not have the Force in his fingertips, but his presence is essential to the success of the world’s most successful sci-fi franchise. — L.S. Miller
01. Indiana Jones, Indiana Jones and the… (1981-2023)
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (Lucasfilm)
It’s one of the most iconic roles in all of film, and for good reason. The whip-wielding historian by day and adventurer by night has remained a pop culture staple thanks to a solid original trilogy that brought together the creative powers of two titans: Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Harrison Ford perfectly embodies the often flawed hero of the story, from his passion in the field to his focus on historical justice. Ford’s willingness to return to the character twice now since the release of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989 is proof that he loves Indiana Jones as much as the rest of us. — M. Siroky
Harrison Ford’s 10 Best Roles
Consequence Staff
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