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The Fugitive (1993 film)

The Fugitive is a 1993 American action thriller film directed by Andrew Davis and starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Fugitive is a 1993 American action thriller film directed by Andrew Davis and starring Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. It is based on the 1960s television series of the same name and follows Dr. Richard Kimble, a man wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, as he tries to find the real killer while being pursued by law enforcement.

Plot

The story centres on Richard Kimble, a surgeon who escapes custody after being wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife. He searches for the true killer while U.S. Marshals track him down.

Production

The film was directed by Andrew Davis from a screenplay by Jeb Stuart and David Twohy, based on the earlier television series. It was produced by Warner Bros. and associated production companies.

Release and reception

The film premiered in Westwood, California, on July 29, 1993, and opened in the United States on August 6, 1993. It became both a critical and commercial success, spending six weeks at number one at the U.S. box office.

Awards

The Fugitive received seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Tommy Lee Jones won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Samuel Gerard.

Key facts

  • The film is a 1993 American action thriller directed by Andrew Davis.
  • It is based on the 1960s TV series, which was itself loosely inspired by the Sam Sheppard case.
  • Harrison Ford plays Dr. Richard Kimble, who is wrongly accused of killing his wife.
  • Tommy Lee Jones plays U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard, who leads the manhunt.
  • It was a major commercial success, grossing nearly US$368 million worldwide against a US$44 million budget.
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Canadian context

The film was released in Canada in 1993 and is widely available in Canadian film and streaming markets.[6]

Frequently asked questions

What is The Fugitive (1993 film) about?
It follows Richard Kimble, a man wrongly convicted of murdering his wife, as he tries to find the real killer while being pursued by law enforcement.
Who directed The Fugitive?
Andrew Davis directed the film.
Who stars in the film?
The film stars Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, with Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Andreas Katsulas, and Jeroen Krabbé in supporting roles.
Is The Fugitive based on a TV series?
Yes. It is based on the 1960s television series The Fugitive.
How successful was the film?
It grossed nearly US$368 million worldwide against a US$44 million budget and was the third-highest-grossing film of 1993 worldwide.
What awards did it win?
It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won Best Supporting Actor for Tommy Lee Jones.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fugitive_(1993_film)
    Supports: Core film details, plot, release dates, box office, awards, and cast.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106977/releaseinfo/
    Supports: Release information including Canada release date.
  3. TMDb — https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/5503-the-fugitive?language=en-US
    Supports: Plot synopsis.
  4. British Film Institute — https://www.bfi.org.uk/film/bed4af6a-dcc6-5e3d-949a-fa35daa192fb/the-fugitive
    Supports: Director, producer, writers, cast, and running time.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1046129-fugitive
    Supports: Synopsis and release date.