The Fugitive (1993)
Average Rating: 7.9/10
Reviews Counted: 67
Fresh: 64 | Rotten: 3
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.
Average Rating: 8.1/10
Critic Reviews: 17
Fresh: 16 | Rotten: 1
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.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 263,324
Movie Info
This 1993 box-office smash partly adheres to the 1960s TV series on which it is based and partly goes off on several tangents of its own. Harrison Ford stars as Dr. Richard Kimble, convicted of murdering his wife. While being transferred to prison by bus, Kimble is involved in a spectacular bus-train collision (one of the best of its kind ever filmed). Surviving the disaster, Kimble escapes, vowing to track down the elusive professional criminal whom he holds responsible for the murder. Dogging
Aug 6, 1993 Wide
Nov 24, 1998
Warner Bros. Pictures
Watch It Now
Cast
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Harrison Ford
Dr. Richard Kimble -
Tommy Lee Jones
Deputy US Marshal Sa... -
Sela Ward
Helen Kimble -
Joe Pantoliano
Cosmo Renfro -
Jeroen Krabbé
Dr. Charles Nichols -
Julianne Moore
Dr. Anne Eastman -
Andreas Katsulas
Sykes "One Armed Man... -
Daniel Roebuck
Biggs -
L. Scott Caldwell
Poole -
Tom Wood
Newman -
Mike Bacarella
Marshal Stevens -
Gene Barge
11th District Court -
Cheryl Lynn Bruce
O.R. Doctor -
Drucilla A. Carlson
Gerard's Secretary -
Kevin Crowley
State Trooper -
Dick Cusack
Walter Gutherie -
Ron Dean
Detective Kelly -
John Drummond
Newscaster -
Cody Glenn
Paramedic -
Allen Hamilton
Host -
Alex P. Hernandez
Trauma Doctor -
Michael James
Head Welder -
B.J. Jones
Doctor at Bar -
Joseph Kosala
Detective Rosetti -
Nick Kusenko
Assistant Defense At... -
Jane Lynch
Doctor Kathy Wahlund -
Miguel Nino
1st Chicago Cop -
David Pasquesi
Newscaster -
Juan Ramírez
Man on "El" -
Richard Riehle
Old Guard -
Andy Romano
Judge Bennett -
Nick Searcy
Sheriff Rawlins -
Thomas Charles Simmo...
11 District Cop -
Ann Whitney
Myoelectric Director -
Jim Wilkey
Bus Driver -
Afram Bill Williams
Salesman -
David Darlow
Dr. Alec Lentz -
Orlando Garcia
Desmondo -
Eddie Bo Smith Jr.
Copeland -
Johnny Lee Davenport
Marshal Henry -
Oksana Fedunyszyn
Myoelectric Receptio... -
Danny Goldring
Head Illinois State ... -
Joe Guastaferro
Coroner -
Joe D. Lauck
Forensic Technician -
Joel Robinson
Boy Patient -
Brent Shaphren
Doctor at Bar -
Michael Skewes
Highway Patrolman -
-
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Frank Ray Perilli
Jail Officer -
Pancho Demmings
Young Guard -
Cynthia Baker
Woman in Car -
Thom Vernon
Carlson -
Joe Guzaldo
Prosecutor -
John M. Watson Sr.
Bones Roosevelt -
Bill Cusack
Tracing Technician -
Margaret Moore
Nichols' Assistant
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All Critics (68) | Top Critics (17) | Fresh (64) | Rotten (3) | DVD (26)
The film is little more than a well-oiled machine that serves a strictly limited function, but like a precision timepiece, it is a thing to marvel at, even under close scrutiny.
Top CriticFor dynamite suspense loaded with thrills and wicked fun, you can't beat The Fugitive.
I've already seen The Fugitive twice. I'll probably see it again.
Thoroughly engaging, edge-of-the-seat entertainment.
While there are actors in this film, there isn't much room for acting. The rapid editing and near-absence of dialogue reduces the actors to action figures with colorful labels pasted on their foreheads.
The Fugitive is a super-adrenalized stemwinder, a crisp and jolting melodrama that screws the tension so pitilessly tight it does everything but squeak.
Directed for maximum impact by Andrew Davis, this contains enough suspenseful set-pieces, clever red herrings and spectacular stuntwork to satisfy most thriller aficionados, yet what really makes the movie work are the performances by Ford and Jones.
An action film heavyweight and purely excellent masterpiece...
Andrew Davis provides some memorable set-pieces in this impressive adaptation of the '60s TV series.;
Just when you thought the movies had been given over to special effects departments and the high-tech fantasies that sustain them, along comes The Fugitive -- a good, old-fashioned drama with unsettling shivers of suspense.
Ford is fine as the innocent surgeon who is wrongfully convicted of the murder of his wife and sets off to find the real killer. But the movie is stolen from under his nose by Tommy Lee Jones, who gives an Oscar-winning performance.
The Fugitive runs hard and true the whole way through.
A sparkling suspense picture.
The film treats this profoundly preposterous plot as if it were a serious idea.
Heart-pounding thriller with great acting.
Taut, effective serial-chase story.
A rare example of everything in the Hollywood machine coming together in the right way at the right time and working perfectly.
Audience Reviews for The Fugitive
This is hands down one of the finest, most intelligent, and gripping action/suspense thrillers out there. The characters are well written, developed, and compelling, their motivations are clearly defined, the basic story, though simple, is imminently engaging and watchable, and the execution, primarily Andrew Davis's direction, is just top notch.
This is more than just a chase movie. It's a study of determination and perseverance. These are just great characters to watch, and whether it is Kimble, or Gerard and his team, you want to see them complete their goal. I saw this movie many times as a kid, mostly because it took multiple viewings (especially at a young age) to really understand some of the finer points and nuance. The other times though, it was just to marvel at the top notch movie making.
The stunts and chases are great, and I love the use of mainly practical effects and actual vehicles, like the train. That scene alone is just phenomenal. Top have it just be one of several stand out set pieces is an incredibly unbelievable treat. Speaking of treats, it's also a joy to see small roles filled by Julianne Moore (on the verge of mega stardom), and Jane Lynch, who was definitely appearing here before she became well known.
The acting is wonderful, with both Ford and Jones giving some of their best work. Jones got an Oscar for his portrayal of Gerard, and, while I do think it's a great performance, I don't know if he really deserved an Oscar. Also, this film, for better or worse, really got him typecast too.
All in all, this is a superb thriller, and one of the best of both the 90s overall, and it's specific genre. Yeah, the rewatch value is debatable, and it sucks that the sequel wasn't quite to this level, but I'm just thankful that this film exists at all, as it is a wonderful reminder of how great the result can be when love, care, and effort are put into what could have been a generic thriller.
Super Reviewer
Movies Like The Fugitive
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- Deputy US Marshal Samuel Gerard: Listen up, ladies and gentlemen! Our fugitive has been on the run for 90 minutes. Average foot speed over uneven ground, barring injury, is 4 miles an hour which gives us a radius of 6 miles! What I want out of each and every one of you is a hard target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area. Checkpoints go up at 15 miles! Our fugitive's name is Dr. Richard Kimble. Go get him.
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- Dr. Richard Kimble: Prison sucks. I have to escape.
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- Dr. Richard Kimble: I didn't kill anybody. Leave me alone!
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- Doctor at Bar: Cancun, Richard.
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- Dr. Richard Kimble: I didn't kill my wife.
- Deputy US Marshal Samuel Gerard: I don't care.
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- Deputy US Marshal Samuel Gerard: Why did Richard Kimble kill his wife?
- Detective Kelly: He did it for the money.
- Deputy US Marshal Samuel Gerard: What do you mean, he did it for the money? He's a doctor. He's already rich.
- Detective Kelly: But she was more rich.
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Foreign Titles
- Fugitive, the (UK)
Full review at themoviefreakblog.com