Harrison Ford is one of Hollywood's most enduring actors, having starred in multiple major franchises - perhaps most notably the Indiana Jones series, as the titular hero, and the Star Wars series, as Han Solo. Jones and Solo are the actor's most iconic roles, and they're cemented in pop culture. It's hard to choose which is better, but discussing their pros and cons is worthwhile.
Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones in Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom, Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade and Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. An as-yet-untitled fifth movie, hinted as the Indiana Jones franchise ending, is in the works. The action-adventure series features Ford as a charming archaeologist who's both a bookish professor and a tomb-raiding adventurer. Ford plays the role of Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi and Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (he also has a brief cameo in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise Of Skywalker). The sci-fi series sees Ford portray a charming smuggler who eventually becomes a valued member of the rebel alliance.
Indiana Jones and Han Solo are enduring characters, primarily due to Harrison Ford's portrayal of them. There's no doubt that had Jones or Solo had died in their original trilogies it would have had a huge impact, not just on their respective franchises, but on the history of cinema. Ford makes conveying their effortless charm seem easy, yet it's incredibly difficult to actually achieve. This skill makes comparing Solo and Jones incredibly difficult. Yet, through careful comparison, it is possible to categorise the two characters. Here's which Harrison Ford character is better out of Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
Indiana Jones vs. Han Solo: Character Personality & Arc
Indiana Jones is perhaps the ultimate action hero. He's capable, but also vulnerable. He never gives up no matter how many times he gets knocked down, which makes him easy to root for. He also has a genuine love for archaeology and often gets giddy when talking about it. Due to this, he's sometimes selfish and puts his need for discovery above the well-being of his companions. When it comes to it, though, he knowingly sacrifices the relics he finds in order to survive and save his friends. His relationship with his father (Sean Connery, who turned down Indiana Jones 4) plays into this, as he initially resents him for being too involved with his work. Eventually, he realizes that this is similar to his own behavior, and he reconnects with his dad over their shared passion. His third outing ends with him choosing the love of his father over everlasting life, while his fourth sees him try to prevent his own son from resenting him.
Han Solo is cocky, foolhardy and only in it for the credits at first, but eventually he learns that some things are worth more than money, such as freedom from the Empire or a relationship with your son. When he becomes a father, his love for his son is so strong that he'll risk everything just to reconnect with him, which is touching and makes his ultimate fate all the more tragic - even though Solo foils Palpatine's plan for Kylo Ren. He's a lovable rogue who can outsmart the Empire to smuggle just about anything. Though he rushes into things, he always manages to improvise his way to success. Initially, he believes that The Force is just a rumor, but when he turns up in The Force Awakens he knows that "it's true, all of it". This appreciation for something greater than himself is emblematic of his entire arc, as are his final few moments on screen.
Both characters are instantly likable and push the plots of their respective movies forward. They have distinct arcs over not just individual films, but entire franchises. George Lucas' original plan for Han Solo risked pushing him into the background, but in his current form he's a major player in his ensemble pieces. However, Indiana Jones is the sole protagonist of his adventure, so he's given more development. He has the better personality and character arc because both are afforded time to evolve and thrive.
Indiana Jones vs. Han Solo: Who Would Win In A Fight?
Indiana Jones goes through so much in his movies that it's a miracle he's still alive. He's punched, shot, stabbed, whipped, brainwashed and even blown up by a nuclear explosion (luckily, he's in a fridge at the time). He never gives up, though, and can always take out the bad guys. His vulnerability is part of his charm, but it doesn't stop him from being a dependable action hero. He also isn't afraid to use his gun when he needs to, as evidenced when he shoots the swordsman in Raiders Of The Lost Ark.
Han Solo usually succeeds by improvising his way through a battle. Despite this trait, however, he remains a crack shot and won't hesitate to shoot first. This attitude has saved his life on more than one occasion and it's a big part of why he's such a formidable hero. He's also accompanied everywhere by Chewbacca, a giant Wookie with a history of pulling people's arms off, and owns the Millennium Falcon, which he can pilot like nobody else.
In a fist fight, Indiana Jones would likely knock Han Solo into next week, providing Chewbacca isn't there to step in first (which is unlikely, thanks to Han and Chewie's life debt). However, despite both characters' histories of shooting first, Han Solo seems to do it just that bit faster. He also has a blaster, a superior weapon to Jones' revolver. Because of that, Han Solo would come out on top.
Indiana Jones vs. Han Solo: Movie Quality
Raiders Of The Lost Ark is an incredibly efficient action movie, with a tight narrative packed with jaw-dropping set-pieces. In many ways, it's almost the archetypal adventure film. Temple Of Doom is much darker and has a slow mid-section, but it's still full of adventure and intrigue. Sadly, there are also undeniably racist tropes on display. The Last Crusade has the lightest tone, but this works surprisingly well. It's really funny, yet its action remains as exciting as ever (if not more so) and its father-son relationship is endearing. The Indiana Jones movies are ranked similarly by most moviegoers.
A New Hope is undeniably groundbreaking and, even though it's a little rough around the edges, it is one of the most seminal movies in cinematic history. It creates a whole new universe and introduces the definitive on-screen villain, Darth Vader. The Empire Strikes Back somehow manages to top its predecessor in almost every way, opening with a bang on the icy planet of Hoth and ending with a gasp amidst the clouds of Bespin. Its dark finale hinges on one of the most quoted twists of all time. Return Of The Jedi is the most flawed in its trilogy because its Ewok subplot distracts from the genuine suspense of its climactic lightsaber duel. Though The Mandalorian makes the Ewok's victory more impressive, their battle remains a low point. Still, the movie is an enjoyable experience that's as iconic as its predecessors.
Both Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull and The Force Awakens are decent adventures, but pale in comparison to the highs of their respective franchises. Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is intermittently enjoyable and Ford brings a tangible charm to his now-older protagonist, but it's often too silly and relies on sub-standard CGI in its set-pieces. The Force Awakens is almost a remake of A New Hope and relies too heavily on nostalgia. Despite some compelling set-pieces and cinematography, it never gets out of second gear, drastically limiting its effectiveness as a singular story.
Considering everything wrong with Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull and The Force Awakens, it's tempting to judge this category on those films alone. If it all came down to them, Han Solo would take this round. However, two of the Indiana Jones movies sit comfortably alongside the very best action movies of all time. They're so enjoyable that their quality transcends their pop-culture status. Though the original Star Wars trilogy is also iconic, it's arguable that only The Empire Strikes Back comes close to outdoing Raiders Of The Lost Ark or The Last Crusade. Therefore, Indiana Jones wins this round.
Indiana Jones vs. Han Solo: Harrison Ford's Performance
It's easy to accuse Ford of repeating himself when it comes to his performances; after all, Ford angrily points in almost every movie. However, Indiana Jones is actually very different from Han Solo. Throughout his movies, Jones' vulnerable side emerges and his relationships with those around him - particularly his father - are developed a lot. He often has conflicting emotions and undergoes distinct changes within each adventure. Solo is more straightforwardly cool for his entire time on screen, although flashes of vulnerability do sometimes arise when it comes to his own relationships. He only really evolves when he reappears in The Force Awakens, but even then he's still the same guy at heart.
A direct comparison between Ford's performances in Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull and The Force Awakens is apt, as it’s here that the characters are at their most obviously different. Both belated sequels feature good performances from Ford, who proves Han Solo and Indiana Jones shouldn't be recast. The Force Awakens gives him a bit more to do via Solo’s relationship with Kylo Ren; Jones’ relationship with his son in Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is lacking. However, Ford typically plays Solo as the same cocky smuggler he’s always been, whereas he portrays Jones with a believable weariness and a lot of regrets. He isn’t as sprightly as before and it works well in crafting a different dynamic.
Although Ford’s performances as Indiana Jones and Han Solo share a lot of similarities, the former comes out on top because Jones is more nuanced. In each movie, he undergoes a distinct arc and more facets of his character are exposed, allowing Ford to evolve alongside him. He's not done yet, either, as there's plenty an older Indy can add to Indiana Jones 5.
Indiana Jones vs. Han Solo: Who Is More Iconic?
The Indiana Jones movies are among the most iconic action-adventures of all time. They have spawned a number of novels, video-games and comics. They also have their own spin-off show. Since Indiana Jones is at the center of it all, he is the first thing that springs to mind when you think of the franchise.
The Star Wars series is incredibly influential and has an absurd amount of supporting content, from TV shows to novels to comics to games. Its toy sales alone outdo the box-office earnings of most major studio franchises. Thanks to the prequel and sequel trilogies, the series has remained relevant for two new generations.
Star Wars is much more ingrained in pop culture than Indiana Jones and is still highly relevant today, primarily thanks to its new content on Disney+. The complete timeline of all Star Wars TV shows is constantly updating, so young kids are more likely to recognize characters from Star Wars than Indiana Jones. As such, Han Solo should be considered more iconic than Indiana Jones.
Why Indiana Jones Is Better Than Han Solo
Overall, Indiana Jones is a better character than Han Solo because he has a slightly stronger personality and a more interesting character arc, his movies are of a generally higher quality, and he is fuelled by more nuanced performances. Though Han Solo would beat him in a fight and is more iconic, Jones emerges on top. No matter what’s thrown at him, he’ll always get back up.
Both Indiana Jones and Han Solo are iconic staples of cinema. They’re tied for Harrison Ford’s best role, and have actually crossed over via a Millennium Falcon Easter egg. Thankfully, though choosing between them is fun, it isn’t necessary. They’re both available for us to enjoy whenever fans feel like watching their movies.
