(Photo by © Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection)
Unless you had tremendous recall of all the bit roles in American Grafitti or The Conversation, the first time the world at large set their eyes on Harrison Ford was in the little indie that could: Star Wars. With no previous acting reference points for most audiences, Ford WAS Han Solo, the glumly debonair and seductive space rogue who gave a dash of modern cynicism to Star Wars’ populist mysticism, singing aliens, and laser swords.
Ford returned for The Empire Strikes Back, jumpstarting the best run of movies anybody had in the ’80s. None of his films this decade were Rotten, and nine of them are Certified Fresh — utter classics and masterpieces like Blade Runner, Return of the Jedi, and all three Indiana Jones movies. 1985’s Witness, in which Ford plays a steely detective protecting an Amish boy who’s seen a murder, garnered him his only Best Actor Academy Award nomination.
Ford’s ’90s highlights include The Fugitive (another box office smash and a Best Picture nominee), taking on the CIA analyst Jack Ryan role created by Tom Clancy in Patriot Games and Clear and Present Danger, and kicking off unruly passengers as the freaking President of the United States of America in Air Force One.
After a 19-year absence from the big screen, he, Steven Spielberg, and George Lucas brought Indy back for The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The movie would go on to be designated Certified Fresh by critics, though it’s no secret critical and audience appreciation for the movie remains weak.
Since them, Ford has gamely returned to the roles that made him famous: Han in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens and Deckard in Blade Runner 2049. Both movies would also be Certified Fresh, the first time Ford would have two consecutive CF films since the ’80s. And now we’re taking a look back we rank all Harrison Ford movies by Tomatometer! —Alex Vo
#1
Adjusted Score: 104099%
Critics Consensus: Exhilarating and intense, this high-impact chase thriller is a model of taut and efficient formula filmmaking, and it features Harrison Ford at his frantic best.
#2
Adjusted Score: 107172%
Critics Consensus: Dark, sinister, but ultimately even more involving than A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back defies viewer expectations and takes the series to heightened emotional levels.
#3
Adjusted Score: 115676%
Critics Consensus: Packed with action and populated by both familiar faces and fresh blood, The Force Awakens successfully recalls the series’ former glory while injecting it with renewed energy.
#4
Adjusted Score: 108655%
Critics Consensus: Featuring bravura set pieces, sly humor, and white-knuckle action, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most consummately entertaining adventure pictures of all time.
#5
Adjusted Score: 109286%
Critics Consensus: A legendarily expansive and ambitious start to the sci-fi saga, George Lucas opened our eyes to the possibilities of blockbuster filmmaking and things have never been the same.
#6
Adjusted Score: 96875%
Critics Consensus: A wonderfully entertaining thriller within an unusual setting, with Harrison Ford delivering a surprisingly emotive and sympathetic performance.
#7
Adjusted Score: 102860%
Critics Consensus: Misunderstood when it first hit theaters, the influence of Ridley Scott’s mysterious, neo-noir Blade Runner has deepened with time. A visually remarkable, achingly human sci-fi masterpiece.
#8
Adjusted Score: 112942%
Critics Consensus: Visually stunning and narratively satisfying, Blade Runner 2049 deepens and expands its predecessor’s story while standing as an impressive filmmaking achievement in its own right.
#9
Adjusted Score: 90353%
Critics Consensus: Thanks to an outstanding script, focused direction by Alan Pakula, and a riveting performance from Harrison Ford, Presumed Innocent is the kind of effective courtroom thriller most others aspire to be.
#10
Adjusted Score: 96820%
Critics Consensus: Lighter and more comedic than its predecessor, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade returns the series to the brisk serial adventure of Raiders, while adding a dynamite double act between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery.
#11
Adjusted Score: 86855%
Critics Consensus: A buoyant corporate Cinderella story, Working Girl has the right cast, right story, and right director to make it all come together.
#12
Adjusted Score: 93077%
Critics Consensus: Though failing to reach the cinematic heights of its predecessors, Return of the Jedi remains an entertaining sci-fi adventure and a fitting end to the classic trilogy.
#13
Adjusted Score: 89702%
Critics Consensus: 42 is an earnest, inspirational, and respectfully told biography of an influential American sports icon, though it might be a little too safe and old-fashioned for some.
#14
Adjusted Score: 84003%
Critics Consensus: Perfecting the formula established in earlier installments, Clear and Present Danger reunites its predecessor’s creative core to solidly entertaining effect.
#15
Adjusted Score: 83148%
Critics Consensus: This late-period Harrison Ford actioner is full of palpable, if not entirely seamless, thrills.
#16
Adjusted Score: 89912%
Critics Consensus: Though the plot elements are certainly familiar, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull still delivers the thrills and Harrison Ford’s return in the title role is more than welcome.
#17
Adjusted Score: 90114%
Critics Consensus: It may be too “dark” for some, but Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom remains an ingenious adventure spectacle that showcases one of Hollywood’s finest filmmaking teams in vintage form.
#18
Adjusted Score: 80350%
Critics Consensus: A tense, on-point thriller in the vein of Polanski’s earlier work.
#19
Adjusted Score: 77884%
Critics Consensus: Harrison Ford capably tackles a tough, unlikable role, producing a fascinating and strange character study.
#20
Adjusted Score: 81395%
Critics Consensus: Patriot Games doesn’t win many points for verisimilitude, but some entertaining set pieces — and Harrison Ford in the central role — more than compensate for its flaws.
#21
Adjusted Score: 94774%
Critics Consensus: It isn’t as thrilling as earlier adventures, but the nostalgic rush of seeing Harrison Ford back in action helps Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny find a few final bits of cinematic treasure.
#22
Adjusted Score: 70128%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#23
Adjusted Score: 68516%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#24
Adjusted Score: 75064%
Critics Consensus: It’s undermined by distracting and unnecessary CGI, but this heartwarming Call of the Wild remains a classic story, affectionately retold.
#25
Adjusted Score: 72361%
Critics Consensus: If it isn’t quite as thought-provoking as the book, Ender’s Game still manages to offer a commendable number of well-acted, solidly written sci-fi thrills.
#26
Adjusted Score: 65614%
Critics Consensus: A gripping drama even though the filmmakers have taken liberties with the facts.
#27
Adjusted Score: 63497%
Critics Consensus: Sydney Pollack’s Sabrina doesn’t do anything the original didn’t do better, but assured direction and a cast of seasoned stars make this a pleasant enough diversion.
#28
Adjusted Score: 63254%
Critics Consensus: It’s lifted by affable performances from its impeccable cast, and it’s often charming — but Morning Glory is also inconsistent and derivative.
#29
Adjusted Score: 62936%
Critics Consensus: The Age of Adaline ruminates on mortality less compellingly than similarly themed films, but is set apart by memorable performances from Blake Lively and Harrison Ford.
#30
Adjusted Score: 51486%
Critics Consensus: Although Harrison Ford makes the most of an opportunity to dig into a serious role, Regarding Henry is undermined by cheap sentiment and clichés.
#31
Adjusted Score: 51842%
Critics Consensus: Robert Zemeckis is unable to salvage an uncompelling and unoriginal film.
#32
Adjusted Score: 54423%
Critics Consensus: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford are as dependably appealing as ever, but they’re let down by director Jon Favreau’s inability to smooth Cowboys & Aliens‘ jarring tonal shifts.
#33
Adjusted Score: 39940%
Critics Consensus: A generally enjoyable, if completely forgettable piece of Hollywood fluff.
#34
Adjusted Score: 39198%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#35
Adjusted Score: 40094%
Critics Consensus: Like its predecessors, Expendables 3 offers a modicum of all-star thrills for old-school action thriller aficionados — but given all the talent assembled, it should have been a lot more fun.
#36
Adjusted Score: 35493%
Critics Consensus: Hollywood Homicide suffers from too many subplots and not enough laughs.
#37
Adjusted Score: 34415%
Critics Consensus: Despite a timely topic and a pair of heavyweight leads, Extraordinary Measures never feels like much more than a made-for-TV tearjerker.
#38
Adjusted Score: 25917%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.
#39
Adjusted Score: 25281%
Critics Consensus: Harrison Ford’s rote performance brings little to this uninspired techno-heist film whose formulaic plot is befuddled with tedious and improbable twists.
#40
Adjusted Score: 22215%
Critics Consensus: Even Harrison Ford could not save the dull plot and the slow pacing of the movie.
#41
Adjusted Score: 11379%
Critics Consensus: Clichéd and unoriginal, Paranoia is a middling techno-thriller with indifferent performances and a shortage of thrills.
#42
Adjusted Score: -1%
Critics Consensus: No consensus yet.