Harrison Ford’s career spans decades, packed with celebrated hits, but the worst Harrison Ford movies ranked list highlights those times when even Hollywood icons miss the mark. From major franchise stumbles to films lost in obscurity, these projects expose the pitfalls that even legendary actors like Ford can’t always avoid.
While Ford has starred in classics ranging from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Blade Runner to Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, his filmography also includes entries many fans would rather forget. Below, we count down the films generally considered his biggest letdowns, ranked from least to most disastrous.
8. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023): Closing the Franchise on a Low Note
Ford’s return to the famed archaeologist in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was anticipated, but the reality was a somber send-off. Unlike earlier missteps such as The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which at least kept some energy thanks to Steven Spielberg’s direction, Dial of Destiny proved disappointing from start to finish. The film offered neither a captivating first act nor memorable set pieces, with its story weighed down by lackluster supporting roles, making it a bleak conclusion for the beloved adventurer.
Ford, despite his legacy, becomes overshadowed by the sense that he is simply too old for the physical demands of Indiana Jones, and the rest of the cast—Boyd Holbrook and Thomas Kretschmann among them—don’t fare much better. Critics and fans alike have found this final chapter forgettable, signaling a weak finale for both Ford and the character.
7. Captain America: Brave New World (2025): A Forgettable MCU Addition
Disney’s expansion of its Marvel Cinematic Universe brought Ford into the role of Thaddeus ‘Thunderbolt’ Ross, originally played by William Hurt, but Captain America: Brave New World quickly joined the growing pile of underwhelming franchise entries. Ford is not singled out as the problem—the film’s shortcomings lie in its direction and lack of inspiration. Julius Onah, who leads this installment, seems unable to break the monotony, with the movie feeling like an afterthought rather than an event in the MCU timeline.
Though Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson dons the Captain America mantle, and Ford brings gravitas to his role, their efforts are lost in what many regard as little more than a placeholder. Released just months ago, Brave New World has already faded from discussion. If the MCU hopes to recapture its glory, a change in approach will be essential, since more films like this risk eroding fan enthusiasm altogether.
6. Hollywood Homicide (2003): An Action Comedy Lost in the Shuffle
Directed by Ron Shelton, Hollywood Homicide came and went with barely a ripple. The movie, starring Ford alongside Josh Hartnett, Lena Olin, and Bruce Greenwood, is frequently cited as a film audiences don’t remember—and perhaps for good reason. Attempts at blending action and comedy result in a muddled affair that fails to spark interest in either genre.
For all its on-screen talent, the film remains an example of how star power alone cannot guarantee success. The lack of compelling narrative or memorable moments has left Hollywood Homicide languishing in obscurity, its existence a fleeting blip in Ford’s lengthy filmography.
5. Cowboys & Aliens (2011): Ambition Without Substance
The mash-up of Western and science fiction in Cowboys & Aliens seemed bold on paper, but Jon Favreau’s execution left much to be desired. The movie assembles heavyweights like Daniel Craig, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, Keith Carradine, Paul Dano, Walton Goggins, Abigail Spencer, and Ford, only for their talents to get lost beneath a premise that can’t sustain interest beyond its initial novelty.
While the idea of townsfolk
“forming a group to take on a threat”
—as happens in many Westerns—takes a strange turn here because the danger comes from aliens, the fusion fails to blend genres effectively. Instead of revitalizing either form, the movie struggles to deliver on both, resulting in a wasted opportunity for cast and audience alike.
Ultimately, Cowboys & Aliens is remembered for not living up to potential, with its high-concept pitch unable to provide the cinematic excitement such an ensemble deserves.
4. Paranoia (2013): A Corporate Thriller Without Edge
Paranoia, directed by Robert Luketic, attempts to craft a tense, high-stakes drama about corporate espionage, but misses the mark completely. The plot centers on a young employee, played by Liam Hemsworth, pressured to spy on his boss’s former mentor. Ford shares the screen with Gary Oldman and Amber Heard, but even this seasoned group seems powerless to elevate the lackluster material.
The film’s intended suspense never takes hold, with neither the thriller nor dramatic aspects resonating. Instead, it falls into a sleepy monotony, its narrative flat and predictable. Ford’s Jock Goddard is just one more unmemorable character in a movie that barely gets remembered at all, echoing the fate of other entries on this list.
3. The Expendables 3 (2014): Diminished Returns in All-Star Action
The third entry in the aging action-star franchise sees Ford joining forces with icons like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Wesley Snipes, and Mel Gibson. Yet, under Patrick Hughes’s direction, The Expendables 3 marks a low point for the series—its signature gritty violence toned down to a PG-13, draining away the fun and suspense that should define the genre.
Instead of explosive set pieces, viewers are presented with watered-down action and an overwhelming sense of going through the motions. The parade of past-their-prime actors, thrown together without real cohesion or spark, contributes to a melancholy viewing experience. Even with Ford in the mix, the film feels perfunctory, reminding audiences of the danger in stretching nostalgia too thin.
2. The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978): A Bizarre Misfire in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
This infamous television movie, directed by Steve Binder, aired just a year after the first Star Wars film and quickly became notorious for all the wrong reasons. The holiday theme and muddled narrative almost derailed the burgeoning franchise, featuring original cast members Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, and Ford, who delivers one of his most visibly reluctant performances.
Watching Ford’s discomfort as Han Solo is part cringe, part comedy, encapsulating the broader failure of the special. Although not part of the cinematic canon, its legacy endures for all the wrong reasons, remaining a cult reference point when discussing the lowest points of the beloved saga.
1. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019): An Unwelcome Return, Even in a Small Role
J.J. Abrams’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker might offer some technical polish compared to the infamous holiday special, but as the final installment in the sequel trilogy, it is widely criticized as an unsatisfying conclusion to an epic saga. Ford’s Han Solo appears only briefly, but his cameo cannot redeem the film’s broader missteps in story and characterization, with the burden falling on stars like Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver.
The negative reception that greeted this release has persisted, with the movie viewed as a misguided capstone rather than an exclamation mark for the franchise. Even Ford’s moment is remembered more as a reminder of narrative incoherence than as a highlight. The disappointment it sparked among devoted Star Wars fans ensures its place atop the worst Harrison Ford movies ranked list, sealing its legacy as a film better left unseen.
Harrison Ford’s career spans more triumphs than failures, but these films stand out as reminders that not even the most revered actors are immune to the unpredictable nature of Hollywood. Whether in the depths of sci-fi franchises, forgotten action comedies, or ill-fated ensemble spectacles, Ford’s lowest points serve as cautionary tales—both for studios chasing easy sequels and for fans forever hopeful that their favorite stars will always deliver greatness.
