Happy 72nd Birthday, Harrison Ford!

In honor of the greatest actor ever, here are my Top 10 Harrison Ford movie moments of all time…

10. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Never tell me the odds. – Han Solo

Actually, the odds are 3,725 to 1, but that doesn’t stop Han Solo from maneuvering the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid belt to evade the Empire. By far one of the most exciting sequences in the entire Star Wars saga, and all of cinematic history.

9. Patriot Games

Down! Get down!!! – Jack Ryan

Ryan’s survival instincts and CIA training surface instantantly as he saves the Royal family, and his own family, from an unexpected terrorist attack.

 

8. Frantic

I am an American and I am crazy!!! – Dr. Richard Walker

His wife is kidnapped in Paris by unknown assailants, Walker doesn’t speak a word of French, and no one, not even the police can help him. Thus begins a downward spiral with the good doctor having to take matters into his own hands. In this thrilling scene, inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, Walker has to overcome his fear of heights and scale a rooftop 10 stories up to evade the bad guys and get into an apartment complex.

7. The Mosquito Coast

We eat when we’re not hungry, drink when we’re not thirsty. We buy what we don’t need and throw away everything that’s useful. Why sell a man what he wants? Sell him what he doesn’t need. Pretend he’s got eight legs and two stomachs and money to burn. It’s wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. – Allie Fox

Allie Fox relocates his family to the jungles of Central America and has to survive the forces of nature. In this particularly gripping sequence, Fox has to save his family from a flood that destroys their entire village. Ford often described this role as being the closest to his own personality.

6. Blade Runner

Move! Get out of the way! – Rick Deckard

Deckard hunts down a Replicant through the gritty streets of a futuristic dystopian Los Angeles, and finds himself in the middle of a good ol’ fashioned hard boiled science fiction noir. Actually, this film invented the genre. There is a texture and an aesthetic to this movie that is unparalleled in cinematic history.

5. The Fugitive

I didn’t kill my wife! – Dr. Richard Kimble

Kimble goes through just about everything evading the police. Later, at a dead end, with a gun aimed right at his head, he makes a death-defying leap out of storm drain to continue to fight for his life, and his innocence.

4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Leave him alone, you bastards! – Indiana Jones

After witnessing innocent children turned into slaves, seeing his friends get captured, and being whipped, tortured, and forced to drink the blood of Kali, Indiana Jones finally says enough is enough. Armed with only his fists, Indy literally punches his way out of hell. It’s awesome.

3. Witness

It’s my way. – John Book

They have finally tracked him down to the family that has kept him hidden. Now John Book must put an end to the bad guys who have upset the peaceful balance of life of this innocent amish village.

2. Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

I know. – Han Solo

He responds with this when Leia finally admits to him, “I love you.” A moment that is both heartfelt and tragic. George Lucas had originally written the dialogue to read: Leia – “I love you.” Han – “I love you, too.” On set, Ford wanted to improvise a line, and the rest is history.

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark

I’m making this up as I go. – Indiana Jones

The “truck sequence” from Raiders of the Lost Ark is, in my opinion, the greatest action scene in cinematic history. During the first part, we’re laughing alongside Indy as he knocks motorbikes into the water and causes Nazis to fall out of the truck. We’re having fun with him. Then in a split second, everything changes. Hey gets shot in the arm, his blood sprays on the windshield, the classic John Williams score instantly changes from whimsical to intense, and all of a sudden our hero’s life is truly in jeopardy.

The Nazi throws him through the front windshield and Indy clings to the truck for dear life. We can literally see Harrison Ford doing the action himself.

And then, of course, one of the most iconic shots in all of cinema. Instantly recognizable.

And when he finally manages to get back in the truck, Indy is PISSED!

The single greatest Harrison Ford movie moment of all time!