Harrison Ford Names the Scariest Movie He’s Ever Seen—And It’s Not What You Expect!

Harrison Ford has conquered a wide array of film genres throughout his illustrious career, from action-packed blockbusters like Indiana Jones and Star Wars to comedies such as Working Girl and Anchorman 2. Yet, one genre he has never fully ventured into is horror. Despite his work in supernatural thrillers like What Lies Beneath and The Possessed, Ford has rarely embraced the terrifying genre. However, when asked about the scariest film he’s ever seen, Ford offered an unexpected answer: Bambi.

In an interview promoting What Lies Beneath, Ford was asked by Hollywood Report Card about his favorite scary films. Known for his candid, no-nonsense approach, Ford gave a typically straightforward response: “You can’t talk to me about movies because I don’t really know that much about them,” he said. “I never was historically a moviegoer. I like making them, but I don’t go a lot.” He explained that his choice to appear in What Lies Beneath was more about working with the best people—director Robert Zemeckis and co-star Michelle Pfeiffer—rather than the film’s genre.

When pressed further, Ford revealed his true answer, which caught many off guard: “The scariest movie I ever saw was Bambi.” Yes, the 1942 Disney animated classic about a baby deer and his forest friends. The reason behind Ford’s unnerving response? The traumatic scene in which Bambi’s mother is shot and killed by poachers—a moment that has been haunting for generations of viewers. Ford’s take is certainly not an isolated one. Even horror master Stephen King has referred to Bambi as a “horror story,” thanks to its deeply unsettling portrayal of loss and fear.

For many, the death of Bambi’s mother was a pivotal moment in their childhood nightmares, leaving a lasting emotional impact. Ford’s reaction is a stark reminder of how the most harrowing moments in cinema aren’t always tied to traditional horror tropes like monsters or ghosts, but instead, to the heartbreak of real-world fears—like the loss of a loved one.

While Ford may not be a frequent moviegoer, his statement about Bambi highlights an important truth: fear is subjective, and what might terrify one person may be entirely different for another. Ford’s experience with the film speaks to the power of storytelling to evoke deep emotional responses, no matter the genre.

So, while many would expect Ford to cite films like The Exorcist or Psycho, it’s clear that the true terror for the legendary actor lies in the raw, emotional moments that define the human experience—and for him, nothing captures that better than Bambi.