10 Underrated Ernie Hudson Movies You Must See

Ernie Hudson has built a career that stretches across genres and decades, from supernatural comedy to tense thrillers and grounded drama. His film work includes lead roles and key supporting turns that add texture to stories set in city streets, courtrooms, classrooms, and far below the ocean surface. Many viewers know him from hits like ‘Ghostbusters’ and long running television work such as ‘Oz’, yet his range shows up just as clearly in lesser discussed projects.

This list gathers ten films that highlight how reliably he anchors a scene and supports a story. You will find character pieces, ensemble adventures, and action driven entries where he makes the most of every moment. Each entry notes the premise, creative team, and the specific place he holds in the plot so you can jump in with context already in hand.

‘Penitentiary II’ (1982)

In ‘Penitentiary II’ Hudson plays Half Dead Johnson, a violent figure whose actions shape the path of boxer Martel Gordone after release from prison. The film continues the saga launched by the earlier chapter and follows Martel as he trains for bouts while trying to rebuild a life on the outside.

The production is written and directed by Jamaa Fanaka and features boxing set pieces that move between gyms and fight venues. Hudson’s character functions as a central obstacle within the story of rehabilitation and retaliation, which places him in several of the film’s pivotal confrontations.

‘Leviathan’ (1989)

‘Leviathan’ places Hudson among a deep sea mining crew working at a corporate outpost on the ocean floor. After the team retrieves a mysterious cargo from a wreck, a biological threat spreads through the station and forces tense decisions about containment and survival.

The film is directed by George P Cosmatos with creature effects created by the Stan Winston team and music by Jerry Goldsmith. Hudson portrays a crew member whose responsibilities sit close to the daily operations of the station, which puts him in the middle of emergency protocols once the situation turns hazardous.

‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ (1992)

In ‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ Hudson plays Solomon, a trusted handyman who becomes entangled in a family’s domestic turmoil when a new nanny enters their home. His presence in the household intersects with a series of incidents that escalate from small disruptions to police involvement.

The film is directed by Curtis Hanson and stars Annabella Sciorra and Rebecca De Mornay. Hudson’s character is written as a quiet and hardworking figure whose interactions with the children and the mother anchor several key scenes that turn on trust and false accusations.

‘Airheads’ (1994)

‘Airheads’ follows a struggling rock trio who take a radio station hostage to force the airing of their demo. Hudson appears as the ranking police sergeant coordinating the response outside the building while negotiations and band antics unfold inside.

The film is directed by Michael Lehmann and features Brendan Fraser, Steve Buscemi, and Adam Sandler as the band with Christopher McDonald and Michael McKean inside the station. Hudson’s scenes track the tactical pressure placed on the situation and show how the authorities attempt to keep the standoff contained in a crowded city block.

‘Congo’ (1995)

In ‘Congo’ Hudson plays Monroe Kelly, a professional guide hired to lead an expedition into Central Africa. The group sets out to locate a missing team and a rare diamond source while transporting a gorilla trained to communicate through sign language and a voice device.

Frank Marshall directs the film from the Michael Crichton novel and stages the journey through dense jungle terrain, volcanic zones, and ruins guarded by aggressive primates. Hudson’s character manages logistics, local clearances, and the movement of the convoy through conflict areas, which places him at the center of every major trek and camp setup.

‘The Basketball Diaries’ (1995)

‘The Basketball Diaries’ adapts the memoir by poet and musician Jim Carroll and charts the descent of a talented high school athlete into addiction. Hudson plays Reggie, a neighborhood figure who offers shelter and straight talk when the young lead begins to spiral away from family and team.

Scott Kalvert directs with Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead and a cast that includes Lorraine Bracco and Mark Wahlberg. Hudson’s role connects the gritty street level scenes to a path toward recovery, and his apartment and storefront visits serve as recurring checkpoints in the story.

‘The Substitute’ (1996)

‘The Substitute’ centers on an undercover mission at a troubled public school after a group of criminals targets a teacher. Hudson appears as Principal Claude Rolle, the administrator who faces pressure from parents, staff, and outside forces while the new substitute begins to investigate campus crime.

Directed by Robert Mandel and led by Tom Berenger, the film mixes classroom sequences with surveillance and firefights that spill beyond school grounds. The title launched a series of follow ups with different leads, and Hudson’s character is the figure who must balance community expectations with safety plans as the investigation closes in on the gang.

‘Miss Congeniality’ (2000)

‘Miss Congeniality’ follows an FBI operation that plants an agent inside a national beauty pageant after a threat arrives. Hudson plays Harry McDonald, the bureau director supervising the case and signing off on the undercover strategy that sends a field agent onto the pageant stage.

Donald Petrie directs with Sandra Bullock as the undercover agent and Michael Caine coaching her transformation for the competition. Hudson appears in briefing rooms and command posts that track the investigation, and he returned to the role in the follow up that continues the character’s oversight of complex field assignments.

‘Everything’s Jake’ (2000)

‘Everything’s Jake’ gives Hudson the lead as Jake, a resourceful New Yorker who lives without a permanent home and mentors a newcomer through the routines of the city. The story observes how he navigates meals, shelters, work, and friendships across Manhattan blocks that most pass without seeing.

Directed by Matthew Miele, the production filmed extensively on location with scenes that use real sidewalks, parks, and subway platforms. The film focuses on day to day problem solving and highlights the network of people who trade information and favors to get through each week.

‘God’s Not Dead 2’ (2016)

In ‘God’s Not Dead 2’ Hudson plays the judge who presides over a case involving a public school teacher who answers a student question with a citation from a religious text. The court must determine whether classroom speech crossed a legal boundary, and the judge manages motions, objections, and jury instructions throughout the trial.

Harold Cronk directs with Melissa Joan Hart as the teacher and Jesse Metcalfe as her attorney. Hudson’s role covers pretrial hearings, the main courtroom sessions, and the verdict phase, which places him at the center of the procedural beats that drive the narrative.

Share your favorite lesser known Ernie Hudson roles in the comments and let everyone know which titles you would add.