37 Ron Howard Movies & TV Shows, Ranked Best to Worst

The biographical movie, partly inspired by Sylvia Nasar’s book, depicts the life of the mathematician and Nobel Laureate, John Nash. Early in his career, he achieves success with his remarkable discovery. However, he soon begins to develop paranoid schizophrenia and goes through years of struggle before he eventually manages to succeed and win the Nobel Prize. 

The Formula 1 races of the 1970s spawned a rivalry so great that it had to be made into a movie. Rush is based on the life and enmity between racers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, who are fierce rivals in the racing arena, but this very fact pushes them to give their best to the sport.

This biographical film depicts the rags-to-riches story of boxer James J. Braddock who was forced to give up boxing and take a menial job to survive after fracturing his hand amidst the Great Depression. However, given another opportunity, he stages a major comeback and becomes a symbol of hope by claiming the Heavyweight Championship title.

Based on real events, Thirteen Lives is a survival film which revolves around a group of young boys and their coach, who get trapped in underground caves in Northern Thailand, that are being flooded. Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Navy SEALs are assigned to search for them, but the search seems to be too difficult. Eventually, they are forced to take help from the British Cave Rescue Council.

This documentary film revolves around the early years of the British rock band The Beatles, from their club dates in Liverpool, to their concert tours across Europe and the rest of the world including San Francisco in 1966.

The movie, based on the aborted 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, follows Jim Lovell and his team as they prepare to fly Apollo 13, NASA's third lunar landing mission. After the launch everything is fine, until an explosion in one of the oxygen tanks puts the lives of the astronauts at risk. Back at NASA, Kranz, John Aaron and Ken Mattingly struggle to bring back the astronauts safely.

Based on Peter Morgan’s play, the film focuses on the British talk show host David Frost’s interview of President Richard Nixon in 1977, three years after the latter had to leave his post due the Watergate scandal of 1972. What follows is an honest telling of truth which surprises everyone around.

As per a prophecy, the end of the vicious Queen-sorceress Bavmorda will be brought about by Elora Danan. The girl is secretly taken out of the castle prison soon after her birth and ends up with Willow Ufgood, a dwarf farmer and magician. But when the safety of the villagers is threatened, Willow undertakes a treacherous journey so that Elora can meet her people and fulfil her destiny.

This family comedy drama film is about the life of Gil Buckman who has to work hard to balance his personal and professional life, while also dealing with the problems of his three children. His life gets even more complicated after he discovers that his wife is pregnant again. 

The movie follows the first adventure of the charismatic character of Han Solo from the Star Wars franchise. With the aide of Chewbacca and a young Lando Calrissian, Han must find a way to stop the criminals Dryden Vos, Beckett, and come to terms with his friend and romantic interest Qi'ra’s betrayal. 

In 1820, Captain George Pollard sails with his crew onboard the whaling ship Essex, but it is sunk by an apparently vengeful gigantic whale that continues to chase the survivors who are driven to drastic extremes to outlast a rescue attempt. Thirty years later, Herman Melville visits the last surviving crew member for the story of his novel Moby-Dick.

Based on Dan Brown’s best-selling novel ‘Angels & Demons’, the movie sees the return of Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon. The story follows him to Rome where he uncovers a secret conspiracy to murder the Pope and the truth behind the resurgence of the ancient brotherhood of the Illuminati. 

When the son of multi-millionaires Tom and Kate Mullen is kidnapped, Tom decides to turn the ransom into a bounty for anyone who helps them nail the kidnappers. Unfortunately, a corrupt police detective stands in his way to rescuing his son Sean. 

Backdraft is an American action thriller which tells the story of two brothers who work as firefighters, but don’t get along with each other. However, when they discover that a dangerous arsonist is on the loose, they work together to bring him down. 

The Oscar-winning film follows a group of elders from a retirement home, who secretly use the swimming pool of nearby unused house. They are not aware that the house is rented by aliens living as humans and have stored the cocoons containing their people in the pool which imparted a special quality to water making the seniors feel invigorated with youthful energy.

A mystery thriller that explores the events that unfold after a Harvard University professor is suspected of a grisly and unusual murder, The Da Vinci Code is a fast-paced drama with a surprise ending. The film is considered controversial. 

Irish tenant farmer, Joseph Donnelly, who tries to seek justice from his oppressive landlord, finds himself accompanying landlord’s disgruntled daughter Shannon as they travel to the US to acquire land of their dreams. Joseph starts earning as a bare-fisted boxer, but they fall on hard times and subsequently, face separation. After an arduous journey of ups-and-downs they succeed in realizing their dreams.

Henry is an editor working for a tabloid. His job keeps him extremely busy, which is why he is unable to spend any time with his wife. He soon decides to change his job, but is forced to question his decision, when a gripping story comes his way.

In 1885, single mother Maggie Gilkeson looks after her two daughters and ranch in New Mexico. When her teenage daughter Lily gets kidnapped by Apache shaman, she unwillingly takes help of her estranged father in finding her daughter. But they must get over the past and work as a team to recover Lily before she is compelled into prostitution across the border. 

Charles Lumley used to be a successful stockbroker, but he is now working as an attendant in a morgue in New York City. Things get worse when he is ‘promoted’ to night-shift supervisor. When his co-worker Bill finds out that Lumley’s neighbor is a prostitute, he convinces Chuck to turn the morgue into a brothel, where they can be her pimp, and earn money.

A small boy meets a mermaid when he falls into the sea at Cape Cod. Although he is quickly pulled up, the memory lingers, jeopardizing all his later relationships. Twenty years later, he once again falls into the sea and becomes unconscious. Waking up on the beach, he sees a beautiful naked woman, who kisses him and then dives into the sea.  

Complications arise after a Japanese car company buys an American plant, as there is a clash between the management and the workers.

The live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss' beloved children’s tale follows the Grinch who decides to ruin Christmas for the citizens of Whoville because of humiliation suffered at the hands of its Mayor. However, Martha May Whovier and Cindy Lou Who help him discover the true meaning of Christmas and redeem him. 

Robert Langdon wakes up with amnesia in an Italian hospital and is helped by attending doctor Sienna Brooks to escape following an assassination attempt. They soon learn about eccentric billionaire Bertrand Zobrist's deadly plot to reduce global population by releasing a superweapon and must race against time to piece together clues based on Dante's Inferno.

When a television channel decides to telecast the daily life of an ordinary person they choose a video store clerk and begin filming his life 24X7.  Very soon, the show becomes very popular and he becomes a celebrity. But it also invites complications in his life and he starts looking for ways to quit the show without breaching his contract. 

This black comedy film revolves around two business partners who are also friends since childhood. After one of them discovers that the other’s wife’s is having an affair, things turn nasty between them. 

The Music Man is a comedy drama musical film which tells the story of a traveling con artist named Harold Hill, who comes to a Midwestern town by posing as a boys’ band leader. His intention behind posing as the leader of the boys’ band is to raise money and scam the people, but things don’t go as expected.  

JB Brooks is a gunslinger who is on his deathbed. He wishes to die peacefully and with dignity. He is advised to stay in a boarding house, but problem ensues as his enemies are still lurking and seeking to put an end to his life.  

A group of recent high school graduates spend the last evening of 1962 summer vacation cruising along their small Californian town, before their grown-up lives begin. As a mysterious DJ’s rock-n-roll tunes set the background, and a series of crazy encounters get the fun rolling, four friends contemplate their relationships, their futures, and come to the decisions that may change their lives. 

Three teenagers – Will, Les and Tod – help an injured bank robber - Harry Spikes – hide from police and also tend to his wounds. Later, the boys decide to turn their mundane life into more adventurous one and flee from their homes to become outlaws themselves. After an unsuccessful robbery attempt, they take Spikes as their leader to learn the trade.

A teenager who was adopted, decides to find his biological parents. His search for his roots takes him to a village in New England, but he soon learns that the place has seen a significant number of mysterious disappearances.

This action film tells the story of Howard, the rebellious son of a small town sheriff, who steals the race car of a professional racing driver, and how the sheriff attempts to retrieve it. 

This Japanese animated film tells the story of two high school friends who fight to save an old wartime era clubhouse from being destroyed, as Japan prepares for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Ted, a museum employee, is sent to Africa to obtain some valuable artifacts that would attract a decent number of visitors to the museum he works at. During his voyage, he befriends George, a mischievous and curious monkey.

Careless zookeeper Frank DeTorre, who tends to overeat, become a cause of concern to his daughter, Shane. Eating a germ-infested egg, Frank contracts a deadly virus 'Thrax,' which plots to finish Frank in 48 hours. The ‘City of Frank’ inside Frank’s body is protected by enthusiastic white blood cell cop Osmosis ‘Ozzy’ Jones. Partnering with cold-pill Drix, now Ozzy must kill Thrax to save Frank. 

The biographical movie, partly inspired by Sylvia Nasar’s book, depicts the life of the mathematician and Nobel Laureate, John Nash. Early in his career, he achieves success with his remarkable discovery. However, he soon begins to develop paranoid schizophrenia and goes through years of struggle before he eventually manages to succeed and win the Nobel Prize. 

Charles Lumley used to be a successful stockbroker, but he is now working as an attendant in a morgue in New York City. Things get worse when he is ‘promoted’ to night-shift supervisor. When his co-worker Bill finds out that Lumley’s neighbor is a prostitute, he convinces Chuck to turn the morgue into a brothel, where they can be her pimp, and earn money.

The live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss' beloved children’s tale follows the Grinch who decides to ruin Christmas for the citizens of Whoville because of humiliation suffered at the hands of its Mayor. However, Martha May Whovier and Cindy Lou Who help him discover the true meaning of Christmas and redeem him. 

A bankrupt son of a famous studio owner is forced to make pornographic films in order to save the studio from being turned into a shopping center.  In order to get back to the high ground, he decides to make a nude musical which is meant only for adults.