8 Best Harry Connick Jr. Movies, Ranked

The Big Picture

• Harry Connick Jr. showcases his versatility through varied roles, from a marine biologist in “Dolphin Tale” to an abusive ex-husband in “Bug.”
• Connick Jr.’s performances in films like “Hope Floats” and “P.S. I Love You” bring charm and emotional depth to classic love stories.
• Whether as a supporting role in “Independence Day” or a voice actor in “The Iron Giant,” Connick Jr. leaves a lasting impression.

Harry Connick Jr. is an incredible musician and actor who is ranked as one of the greatest male artists of all time and gained notoriety on the silver screen with films such as Hope Floats, P.S. I Love You, and Copycat. Born in New Orleans, Connick Jr. initially received recognition after providing the soundtrack for the classic romantic comedy, When Harry Met Sally, winning his first Grammy Award for his work on the double-platinum album. In 1990, he made his film debut in the war drama, Memphis Belle, as a tail gunner and continued to appear in films throughout the 1990s, including Independence Day and The Iron Giant.

Connick Jr. eventually moved to television, where he played Debra Messing‘s on-screen husband, Leo Markus, in Will & Grace, and also made guest appearances in other series, most notably Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Executive District Attorney, David Haden. Throughout his impressive career, Connick Jr. has mastered an array of forums ranging from the Broadway stage to television, but his accomplishments and star-studded film performances deserve just as much recognition. From the creepy crawly horror film, Bug, to the animated classic, The Iron Giant, these are the best Harry Connick Jr. movies.

10 “Bug” (2006)

Director: William Friedkin

Agnes (Ashley Judd) is a waitress living in a run-down motel in Oklahoma where she is trying to cope with the loss of her young son and her divorce from her abusive ex-husband, Jerry. When a new resident and U.S. military veteran, Peter (Michael Shannon), arrives at the motel, he and Agnes strike up a friendship, but as Peter begins to exhibit an unusual sense of paranoia, his behavior begins to rub off on Agnes. Soon both of them believe the motel is infested with bugs, leading to a series of strange and terrifying events.

In the Indie horror film, Bug, Connick Jr. plays an against-type role as Agnes’ hot-headed ex-husband, Jerry, who continues to try and reconcile with her to no avail. Despite having a minor role, Connick Jr. still shines in his scenes and, even though he isn’t the nicest guy, his convincing portrayal of an abusive individual is simply uncanny. Bug earned generally positive reviews from critics, who noted the film’s overall manic intensity and the layers of each character’s stories essentially spinning into a tangled web of tension and madness.

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9 “Living Proof” (2008)

Director: Dan Ireland

In the Lifetime movie, Living Proof, Connick Jr. stars as a physician-scientist, Dr. Dennis Slamon, who is determined to find a cure for breast cancer, and begins working on a new drug called Herceptin. As Salmon finds volunteers for clinical trials, things begin to seem hopeful about the new drug, but when the funding for his research is cut off by the drug company, a group of philanthropists works to raise money for Salmon to continue his trial runs and research in order to receive approval from the Federal Drug Administration.

Living Proof is based on the true story of Dr. Salmon who, over the course of 8 years, helped develop the drug, Herceptin, which is a drug designed to treat both breast and stomach cancer, and sheds a rare light on those who dedicate their lives to helping over and rarely receive recognition. The movie features an ensemble cast including Amanda Bynes, Bernadette Peters, Jennifer Coolidge, and Regina King. Living Proof definitely tugs at the heartstrings, but Connick Jr.’s incredible performance and the impact Salmon’s work had on millions of lives makes it one of the actor’s finest films.

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8 “Memphis Belle” (1990)

Director: Michael Caton-Jones

During World War II, U.S. Bomber pilot, Captain Dennis Dearborn (Matthew Modine) prepares his crew of the Memphis Belle for their 25th and final flight into German territory. While the mission is considered highly dangerous, Dearborn is under immense pressure by Army public relations man, Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Derringer (John Lithgow) to win a victory for the Allies. As the mission slowly approaches, hesitation and tension begin to grow between the men of Dearborn’s crew, creating another obstacle he must figure out to overcome.

Connick Jr. made his feature film debut in the World War II drama, Memphis Belle, which is a fictional film based on William Wyler‘s 1944 documentary film, Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress. Connick Jr.’s character hits close to home for the actor and was also the opportunity for him to not only show off his acting chops but also his musical talents as Staff Sergeant Clay Bushby who, before enlisting, earned money by playing piano in New Orleans. Despite opening at number one at the U.K. box office, Memphis Belle earned mixed reviews, but even though it isn’t the most historically accurate war film, it’s an entertaining tale of bravery and honor that essentially paved the way for Connick Jr.’s future film career.

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7 “Copycat” (1995)

Director: Jon Amiel

Dr. Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver) is an accomplished psychiatrist who specializes in the behavior of serial killers, but when she’s brutally attacked by one of her former patients, she is traumatized and bars herself to her home. When she learns that someone is committing a series of murders in San Francisco, she is forced to face her fears and, with the help of two detectives (Holly Hunter, Dermot Mulroney), they must find the killer before he claims his next victim.

Connick Jr. has a minor but vital role in the psychological thriller, Copycat, as Hudson’s former subject, Daryll Lee Callum, who manages to escape from prison and track Hudson down. Known for his charming, good guy roles, it’s utterly chilling to see Connick Jr. portray such a deranged and violent role. Even more surprising is how effortlessly he pulls it off, serving as a solid example of his incredible range and versatility as a performer. Even though he doesn’t play a major part in Copycat, Connick Jr. is still an exceptionally terrifying and also the perfect performance to kick off the underrated horror film.

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6 “Dolphin Tale 2” (2014)

Director: Charles Martin Smith

Several years have passed since the team at the Clearwater Marine Hospital built a prosthetic tale for the dolphin, Winter, but when Winter’s surrogate mother, Panama, passes away, the dolphin grows depressed without her pool mate. According to regulations, dolphins cannot be housed alone and unless the team can find Winter a new friend, they will be forced to give her to another aquarium.

Connick Jr. returns in the sequel film, Dolphin Tale 2, which picks up where the first film left off but with a whole new dilemma for the Clearwater team. While Connick Jr. is among an impressive supporting cast, including Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd, he stands out with an endearing performance that deeply resonates with audiences of all ages. Despite mixed reviews, Dolphin Tale 2 is still considered to be a classic story of unwavering perseverance with comical animal antics and exceptional (and emotional) performances that the entire family can watch and enjoy together.

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5 “Hope Floats” (1998)

Director: Forest Whitaker

After being publicly humiliated on live television by her friend, Birdee Pruitt (Sandra Bullock), and her daughter, Bernice (Mae Whitman) move back to her small hometown in Texas to try and start over. Unfortunately, when Pruitt returns she’s met with petty past acquaintances who enjoy seeing the young mother in shambles. The only one she seems to be able to count on is her friend, Justin, and as he helps her get back on her feet, the two begin to develop deeper feelings for one another.

Connick Jr. is as charming as ever in the classic love story, Hope Floats, which is directed by Oscar-winner, Forest Whitaker and also stars Gena Rowlands, Bill Cobbs, and Kathy Najimy. Between his southern charm, dashing good looks, and heartfelt mission to help his former friend, Connick Jr. delivers a simply irresistible character who gives audiences a sense of hope that sometimes good things fall apart, so better things can come together. While Connick Jr. is a sensation on his own and the film is considered to be one of Bullock’s best, he and Bullock have undeniable and electric chemistry that truly makes this a one-of-a-kind romantic film.

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4 “Dolphin Tale” (2011)

Director: Charles Martin Smith

When a dolphin is caught in a trap in the ocean, she is rescued by the team at the Clearwater Marine Hospital. Unfortunately, the trap caused severe damage to the animal, forcing the team to amputate her tail, and leaving her with a dire prognosis and desperate need of a miracle. With the help of a marine biologist, a prosthetic designer (Morgan Freeman), and a young boy’s (Nathan Gamble) determination and devotion to the dolphin, now named Winter, they find a way to help her regain her ability to swim and survive.

Dolphin Tale is based on the uplifting true story of a bottlenose dolphin, Winter, who was rescued off the coast of Florida in 2005 and cared for by the Clearwater Marine Hospital team. Connick Jr. plays a marine biologist, Dr. Clay Haskett, and adds a genuine sense of empathy and down-to-earth human nature to the film, which isn’t far from the actor’s real-life persona. Dolphin Tale earned positive reviews from critics, who noted it to be a well-told, inspirational story about the power of teamwork and defying the impossible.

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3 “P.S. I Love You” (2007)

Director: Richard LaGravenese

When Holly Kennedy’s (Hillary Swank) husband, Gerry (Gerard Butler), dies from a serious illness, she is left devastated and struggles to pick up the piece of her life. As Holly approaches her 30th birthday, she begins to receive a series of letters written by her late husband before his passing, hoping it will help her carry on with her life and realize that just because his life is over, that doesn’t mean hers is over as well.

P.S. I Love You is a bittersweet romantic dramedy based on the 2004 novel by the same name written by Cecelia Ahern and also stars Lisa Kudrow, Kathy Bates, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Despite only having a minor role as Holly’s friend, Daniel, Connick Jr. provides a bit of comic relief and natural grounding to the emotional rollercoaster audiences endure throughout the film. As Swank’s character goes through a series of events, Connick Jr.’s character’s kindness, understanding, and support inadvertently help his friend in a way that only Connick Jr. could genuinely portray. Even though it received mixed reviews, P.S. I Love You still features an array of phenomenal performances and characters who, each in their own way, help a broken soul find her way back to life.

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2 “Independence Day” (1996)

Director: Ronald Emmerich

Over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, Earth is attacked by a powerful race of extraterrestrial lifeforms, forcing U.S. troops to counterattack and try to defeat the elusive invaders who appear to have little to no weaknesses. As several different groups of people converge on the remote desert in Nevada, U.S. Marine Captain Steven Hiller (Will Smith) and his crew are chosen as the world’s last hope and must fight to save the human race.

Independence Day is an action-packed film that features an all-star lineup of a cast including Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, and Margaret Colin. Connick Jr. plays Marine Captain Jimmy Wilder, who is part of Hiller’s crew, and tries to relieve the tension of the film with his sarcastic, witty banter. It’s hard to stand out in a film with a large cast who are also strung throughout several storylines, but considering Independence Day was early in Connick Jr.’s acting career, he easily holds his own against the vast range of established performers. Connick Jr. might only have a supporting role, but for the amount of screen time he’s given, he leaves a lasting impression in Independence Day among a swarm of showstopping stars.

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1 “The Iron Giant” (1999)

Director: Brad Bird

When an object from space lands on Earth off the coast of Maine, a 9 year old boy, Hogarth Hughes (Eli Marienthal), investigates the crash site, discovering a fifty-foot-tall robot. The two form an unlikely friendship but when a paranoid government agent, Kent Mansley (Christopher McDonald), becomes hellbent on destroying the robot, Hughes and a local junkyard owner, Dean McCoppin, do everything in their power to stop Mansley and save the misunderstood machine from destruction.

The Iron Giant is an animated adventure based on the 1968 novel, The Iron Man, written by Ted Hughes, and also features characters voiced by Jennifer Aniston, Vin Diesel, and Fraiser star, John Mahoney. Connick Jr. provides the voice of McCoppin who is one of the first characters to realize the Iron Giant is not a threat. Contrary to popular belief, voice acting isn’t an easy task, and considering this is Connick Jr.’s first animated character, he is a natural and successfully adds a laid-back but assertive tone to his beatnik character. Even though Connick Jr. isn’t physically on-screen, he successfully brings his character to life with legitimate human honesty and compassion that usually only a seasoned voice-over actor can achieve.

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