It is very rare to see a child actor successfully become a larger part of Hollywood once they grow up, which is rarely the case. But with Ron Howard, things looked a little different. He has been a part of the industry way before he even turned 5. He became a household name with his role in the series The Andy Griffith Show.
He was just 6 when he joined the series, and by the age of 14, he had completed his stint with the show. What started as a small start in front of the camera ended up with him behind the cameras, making him one of the best directors in the world. He is the legend behind blockbusters like A Beautiful Mind and APOLLO 13.
Sure, he did not become one of the flashy directors of Hollywood, but his directorial range when it comes to trying out different genres is impressive. His directing prowess has helped him get two Oscars as well. While he has popular movies under his name, there are some other notable movies that flew under the radar due to his other projects getting more heat.
So whether you are a long-time fan of Howard or just came across him from his little skit in The Studio, this list is for you; from overlooked movies to forgotten classics, here are 5 underrated Ron Howard films that deserve to be revisited.
5. Backdraft (1991)
Firefighting has never looked this intense—Backdraft gives you a front seat to the heart of blazing infernos. Directed with white-knuckle tension by Ron Howard, this film is not just about saving lives and putting out fires; it is about brotherhood, resilience, and a hunt to solve a deadly arson mystery.
Sure, Christopher Nolan is known as the guy for doing practical effects, but the amount of authenticity and practical effect seen in Backdraft is something else. To keep things as real as possible, the movie used real flames, burners, and various flammable substances to make fire. Watching it felt like you were part of the firefighting crew.
The movie does a brilliant job of capturing the hardship of frontline workers, and by the time it is done, you will have found a newfound respect for the firefighters. Apart from the intriguing story, it also had a brilliant cast to bring the story to life. Legends like Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert De Niro, and even Donald Sutherland—it’s a stacked firehouse of talent right there.
The movie often fails to get the recognition it deserves due to its other projects’ global presence, but it’s time to revisit and maybe even reevaluate the movie’s value.
4. Ransom (1996)
Hostage situation-type movies are not new to the Hollywood scene; there have been multiple legendary movies like Inside Man, Captain Phillips, and Money Monster that have gained a massive following for their high-pressure environment and cat-and-mouse chases. But before all these movies could make a notable screen presence, it was Ron Howard who paved the way for a high-thriller hostage movie.
Mel Gibson’s Salary Per Movie More Than Two Decades Ago Will Put Today’s Top Hollywood Stars to ShameRelated
Mel Gibson’s Salary Per Movie More Than Two Decades Ago Will Put Today’s Top Hollywood Stars to Shame
Starring Mel Gibson as a wealthy airline tycoon whose son is kidnapped—after back-to-back stressful situations, he flips the script on the kidnappers. Instead of paying the ransom, he puts out new challenges with the motive of hunting down the person who started all this mess.
What follows is a high-pressure situation with intense chase scenes and action; for its time, the movie stood out and found a fanbase that unfortunately did not live on as the movie got overshadowed by newer films. If you missed this one back in the ’90s or just haven’t hit play in a while, Ransom deserves a prime spot on your rewatch list.
3. In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
The ocean has to be one of the scariest parts of Earth, with sea creatures that lurk in the dark side to unpredictable weather—it is not for the faint of heart. Now imagine being in the middle of a vast ocean, your ship is wrecked by a monstrous whale, and you are left to starve and fight for survival.
That is pretty much the plot of In the Heart of the Sea, a story inspired by real-life events that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby-Dick. Ron Howard does justice to the story by crafting together a film that is both visually stunning and gut-wrenching.
In the leading role, we have Chris Hemsworth caught in a situation where he can’t just swing his hammer and control the thunders. Cillian Murphy, Tom Holland, and Brendan Gleeson are also present to bring depth to
the story. It was quite surprising when the movie did not get a nod from the Academy. The visuals are stunning, and the tension is real.
It still baffles me when most movie fans have not heard about the movie, and those who did know it were not aware that it was made by the two-time Academy Award winner Ron Howard.
2. Frost/Nixon (2008)
Movies that revolve around the White House are not new; even the ones about one of the most controversial presidents—Richard Nixon—are common scenery. We have got movies like All the President’s Men, Elvis & Nixon, and even a Will Ferrell comedy like Dick that focuses on the Watergate Scandal.
However, this Howard-directed film stood out; imagine turning a TV interview into a heavyweight verbal boxing match and making it one of the most intense showdowns you have ever seen. That’s Frost/Nixon in a nutshell. The film stars Frank Langella as a cool and calculated Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen as David Frost, the charming British talk show host who is on a mission to make the disgraced former president own up to his Watergate scandal.
The interviews were building up to be a thriller. As the movie progresses, you will find yourself inching close to the screen due to the intensity and thrilling pace. The final interview was the cherry on top: the acting, the tension created, the dialogues—everything was top-notch and could not be done better.
The movie wasn’t just critically acclaimed—it racked up a whopping five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director for Ron Howard. It is definitely one of those movies that shows what makes a director a good one.
1. Rush (2013)
It is hard to call Rush an underrated film; it has been a hit among whoever has seen it, but the problem comes in when the number of people who have seen it is comparatively low. The movie is based around two Formula 1 drivers, Niki Lauda and James Hunt—two of the finest open-wheel racing drivers from the ’70s.
The movie shows the fierce rivalry between the two drivers as they fight for the championship. What follows is wheel-to-wheel racing, the growing rivalry between the champs, and taking on challenges that will help increase points to win the championship. What started as a healthy competition led to one of the deadliest crashes in Formula 1 history.
Ron Howard captured the essence of the racing conditions perfectly with the movie—the slight loss of traction, the intense shifting through gears, fearless maneuvers, and a screaming V12 engine—the movie was a love letter to all Niki and F1 fans. Unfortunately, not many who are outside of the F1 scene don’t really know about the movie. It’s a shame such a piece of art gets overshadowed by his other works.
