Most critics greet The Fugitive as an intelligent, tightly paced thriller, with praise clustering around Andrew Davis’s direction and the pairing of Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones. The reviews credit Davis with sustaining suspense through large action sequences, particularly the train crash, without losing the wit or clarity of the chase. Ford’s performance earns broad approval, while Jones’s wisecracking marshal often attracts the stronger notices. Several critics also praise the screenplay’s economy and crisp dialogue.
The reservations concern formula and plausibility, though the spread runs from strong enthusiasm to one distinctly mixed assessment. Time Out finds the chase glossy and formulaic, while still admiring Jones and Ford’s handling of the physical demands. The Independent dissents more sharply, dismissing the story as silly and objecting to its treatment of the legal system. Even that review finds vitality in Jones, making his performance the clearest point of agreement across the divide.