15 Underrated Films by Harrison Ford You Must See

Harrison Ford is known around the world for headlining franchises like ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Indiana Jones’. Beyond those blockbusters, he has built a deep filmography that includes character driven dramas, thrillers, romances, and offbeat comedies where he takes on very different kinds of roles.

This list gathers films that many viewers miss when they look past the famous hits. You will find projects based on acclaimed novels, collaborations with celebrated directors, and performances that show how versatile he is across genres and eras of his career.

‘The Frisco Kid’ (1979)

This comedy western pairs Gene Wilder with Harrison Ford in a cross country story about a Polish rabbi who must reach San Francisco. Ford plays Tommy Lillard, an American outlaw who becomes the rabbi’s reluctant guide across the frontier as they navigate river crossings, bandits, and culture clashes along the way.

Directed by Robert Aldrich and released by a major studio, the film filmed largely in the American West to capture classic frontier landscapes. It mixes Yiddish dialogue with English in several scenes and features practical stunt work that reflects the period setting and old school production methods.

‘The Mosquito Coast’ (1986)

Based on Paul Theroux’s novel, this drama follows inventor Allie Fox as he relocates his family from the United States to a remote jungle settlement to build an ice making machine and create a new life. Ford leads the cast alongside River Phoenix and Helen Mirren in a story that explores the consequences of one man’s uncompromising ideals.

Peter Weir directed the film and emphasized on location shooting in Central America to ground the family’s struggle in real environments. The production staged extensive river and village sets and relied on practical effects for the machine builds, giving the survivalist details a lived in texture.

‘Frantic’ (1988)

Set in Paris, this thriller centers on American surgeon Richard Walker who arrives for a medical conference and discovers that his wife has vanished from their hotel. The search pulls him into a tangle of mistaken identity and smuggling as he teams with a young woman named Michelle to track down a missing suitcase.

Roman Polanski directed and shot extensively on location around the city, using airports, riverbanks, and residential streets rather than soundstages for key sequences. The film highlights bilingual exchanges and cultural miscues as plot elements, and it builds its mystery around a MacGuffin hidden inside an everyday object.

‘Presumed Innocent’ (1990)

Adapted from Scott Turow’s bestseller, this courtroom drama follows prosecutor Rusty Sabich after he is assigned to investigate the murder of a colleague and becomes the primary suspect. The story traces evidentiary procedures, forensic details, and office politics as the case moves from investigation to trial.

Alan J Pakula directed and co wrote the screenplay and assembled a cast that includes Raul Julia, Greta Scacchi, Bonnie Bedelia, and Brian Dennehy. The production uses real courthouse interiors and methodical legal pacing that mirrors the novel’s focus on case strategy, chain of custody, and prosecutorial ethics.

‘Regarding Henry’ (1991)

In this character study, powerful attorney Henry Turner survives a shooting and must rebuild his memory, speech, and motor skills through rehabilitation. The plot follows his work with therapists and his family as he relearns daily routines, reassesses past choices, and adapts to lasting cognitive changes.

Mike Nichols directed from an early screenplay by Jeffrey Abrams and centered the film in New York City with scenes in hospitals, apartments, and office towers. Practical therapy sessions were staged with medical advisors, and the production pays close attention to assistive devices, adaptive exercises, and incremental recovery milestones.

‘Sabrina’ (1995)

This romantic drama is a new version of the earlier Billy Wilder classic, with Julia Ormond as Sabrina Fairchild, Greg Kinnear as David Larrabee, and Harrison Ford as Linus Larrabee. The story follows the chauffeur’s daughter who returns from Paris transformed and becomes the focus of both brothers as a corporate deal hangs in the balance.

Sydney Pollack directed and shot at real New York locations, with additional photography in Paris for Sabrina’s time abroad. The film features contemporary fashion and corporate settings while preserving the original’s central triangle, and it integrates modern business negotiations and media attention into the Larrabee family empire.

‘The Devil’s Own’ (1997)

This crime drama casts Ford as New York police officer Tom O’Meara who unknowingly hosts an Irish visitor with a hidden militant past, played by Brad Pitt. The plot interweaves undercover identities, arms trafficking, and moral conflicts as the two men’s worlds collide inside the same household.

Alan J Pakula directed and filmed on location around the city with extensive use of residential streets and waterfront sites. The production became known for script revisions during shooting and coordination with local authorities for action sequences, including practical effects for explosions and traffic control for chase scenes.

‘Six Days Seven Nights’ (1998)

In this adventure comedy, Ford plays charter pilot Quinn Harris who crash lands with a magazine editor on a remote island after a storm diverts their flight. The pair must signal for rescue, repair the aircraft, and deal with unexpected visitors while managing scarce supplies and rough terrain.

Ivan Reitman directed and staged aerial photography with real aircraft and water landings. Filming took place in tropical locations to capture reefs, beaches, and jungle backdrops, and the production coordinated marine logistics, aviation safety teams, and practical set builds for the crashed plane and makeshift camps.

‘Random Hearts’ (1999)

This drama follows Internal Affairs sergeant Dutch Van Den Broeck and congresswoman Kay Chandler after a plane crash reveals that their late spouses were having an affair. The narrative traces parallel investigations as they track travel records, hotel receipts, and phone logs to piece together hidden timelines.

Directed by Sydney Pollack and based on a novel by Warren Adler, the film uses Washington DC landmarks, federal offices, and suburban residences to ground the story. Location work included government buildings with controlled access, and the production integrates official procedures such as evidence handling and chain of command protocols.

‘What Lies Beneath’ (2000)

This supernatural thriller stars Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as a married couple who begin to experience disturbing events at their lakeside home. The plot follows a series of disappearances, a neighbor mystery, and scientific experiments that resurface during an escalating haunting.

Robert Zemeckis directed and shot the film while his team paused another project, using the break to complete principal photography. The lakeside house was constructed as a functioning set with practical water tanks and hidden rigging for stunts, and the production used visual effects to extend underwater sequences and mirror gags.

‘K-19: The Widowmaker’ (2002)

Based on true events, this naval drama follows a Soviet submarine crew that confronts a reactor malfunction during a patrol. Ford portrays Captain Alexei Vostrikov, whose command decisions frame the crew’s attempts to prevent a catastrophic failure while maintaining secrecy and discipline.

Kathryn Bigelow directed and filmed aboard real vessels and large scale sets that recreated cramped compartments, control panels, and reactor spaces. The production worked in partnership with maritime authorities for open water shooting and used practical radiation suits, decontamination props, and detailed period equipment to match historical references.

‘Hollywood Homicide’ (2003)

Set inside the LAPD, this buddy cop story pairs veteran detective Joe Gavilan with younger partner K C Calden as they investigate a multiple murder linked to the music industry. The script tracks parallel side jobs that complicate their caseload, including real estate deals and acting classes.

Ron Shelton directed and shot across Los Angeles with permits for night shoots on major streets and club interiors. The film includes cameos from music figures and uses actual offices and recording spaces to depict label meetings, talent showcases, and industry security details during search and arrest sequences.

‘Morning Glory’ (2010)

This newsroom comedy drama places Ford as veteran anchorman Mike Pomeroy, hired to boost ratings on a struggling morning show run by a young executive producer played by Rachel McAdams. The story follows control room deadlines, field segment mishaps, and on air clashes as the team tries to stabilize the broadcast.

Roger Michell directed from a script by Aline Brosh McKenna, and production partnered with television facilities to stage studio sets with working teleprompters, switchers, and earpieces. The film was produced by Bad Robot and uses real city locations for weather remotes, cooking demos, and live traffic shots.

’42’ (2013)

This biographical drama casts Ford as Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Rickey, who signs Jackie Robinson to break baseball’s color line. The film covers contract negotiations, spring training, and regular season milestones as Robinson moves from the minor leagues to a starting role.

Brian Helgeland wrote and directed, with baseball sequences filmed at historic and replica ballparks that matched period dimensions and signage. The production coordinated players, coaches, and scorekeeping detail to depict clubhouse routines, umpire conferences, and travel logistics during the pennant race.

‘The Age of Adaline’ (2015)

This fantasy romance follows Adaline Bowman, a woman who stops aging after a rare accident, and the complications that arise when she reconnects with a figure from her past played by Ford. The plot weaves archival documents, family photographs, and identity changes as Adaline moves through different eras under new names.

Directed by Lee Toland Krieger, the film was set in San Francisco and photographed with vintage inspired costumes and cars to mark different decades. Production took place primarily in Vancouver standing in for the city, and the team used period props, street signage, and lighting to align locations with the story’s shifting timelines.

Share your favorite overlooked Harrison Ford performance in the comments and tell us which title we should add next.