Ron Howard is one of the most well-thought-of and well - liked actors of his generation , and he go on to become an even more well-thought-of , laurels - winning filmmaker . The world fell in love with him as " Opie " onThe Andy Griffith Showin the 60s and , in the seventy , he solidified his fame by being one of the ensemble form extremity of George Lucas ' strike filmAmerican Graffitiand   as " Richie Cunningham " on the Greco-Roman telly showHappy Days .

Howard began learning filmmaking fromRoger Corman , and , as the decennary went on , Howard became a successful director of both comedy and dramatic event . Here areRon Howard ’s 5 best from each of those writing style .

Comedy: Night Shift (1982)

MichaelKeatonbecame an overnight success andHenry Winklerfound his unspoilt movie role in Howard ’s hit comedy , Night Shift . The two actor toy work force who have completely paired lives who come together and ply a prostitution ring out of a mortuary .

The film is shady than its premise and was a modest hit at the box office , receiving mostly electropositive reviews . Howard proved himself skilful and balance natural drollery with well - written characters . Look for a young Kevin Costner in the Fraternity party setting !

Drama: Cocoon (1985)

While consider a Sci - Fi Fantasy , this moving picture has much drama within . Some critics dismissed this film as " Ron Howard does Spielberg , " but 1985’sCocoonis more than that . The honeyed and beautiful tale of aliens who give some senior citizens a new lease on life is full of well - rounded characterizations and benignity that most plastic film of its like that are n’t take aim by Spielberg do n’t have .

Ron Howardshowed he could get out of a enceinte studio film that blends special effect and type evolution . A big financial success , this film was Howard ’s full emergence into the Hollywood system as a veridical film producer .

Comedy: Splash (1984)

Ron Howard had a big fiscal hit with 1984’sSplash . Tom Hanks asterisk as a military man who fall in erotic love with a inscrutable and silly cleaning lady who change by reversal out to be a mermaid .

The performances of Hanks , Daryl Hannah , and especially John Candy and Eugene Levy , along with the screenplay from Babaloo Mandel , Bruce Jay Friedman , and Lowell Ganz was a winning combination of Romantic Comedy and Fantasy . Howard ’s moving picture gain over audiences and made box billet stars out ofTom Hanksand Daryl Hannah .

Drama: Backdraft (1991)

An ensemble Drama / Mystery run by Kurt Russell , Backdraftwas write by Gregory Widen , a former firefighter . It tell the story of Brother Russell and William Baldwin who exploit for a Chicago Fire Department and a whodunit of an firebug .

The picture was a big hit with audiences and critics . Ron Howard was praise for the realistic firing - fight sequences and keep the large plaster cast ( Jennifer Jason Leigh , Robert De Niro , Scott Glenn , Donald Sutherland , and more ) and their roles relevant and interesting .

Comedy: Gung Ho (1986)

While not a handsome success at the American box office , 1986’sGung Howas well received by critics and went on to find a chase on the Home Video markets . Ron Howardreunited with his screenwriters fromSplashto make a funny and stiff motion-picture show about an American cable car company that gets bought out by a major Japanese Car firm .

Michael Keatononce again try out his worth in a comedy and was anchored by the witty screenplay and a great bear stamp that admit Getty Watanabe , John Turturro , Mimi Rogers , and George Wendt .

Drama: Ransom (1996)

Ron Howard’sRansomwas the filmmaker ’s first complete Dramatic Thriller and his first film to contain not an ounce of bodily fluid . This one is deadly serious and featuresMel Gibsonas a father who is urgently adjudicate to get back his kidnapped Word alive .

A howling hit with hearing and critic likewise , Ransomwas a remake of the1956   Glenn Ford motion-picture show of the same name . Most critic claimed it meliorate on the original , with many proclaiming it one of Gibson ’s finest performance .

Comedy: The Paper (1994)

The Paperwasn’t a huge hit with audience , but critic found it to be a more fledged clowning for Ron Howard . Michael Keaton reunited with Howard for the story of a newspaperman dealing with national government , a pregnant married woman , and an impending deadline that may accuse innocent youth of slaying . The cast includedGlenn near , Robert Duvall , Randy Quaid , and Marisa Tomei .

As Keaton frantically tries to get to the truth before the midnight deadline and juggle his laundry leaning of ulceration - inducing problem , Howard makes the film flow tight and strike hard while   expertly fetch to liveliness David and Stephen Koepp ’s razor - sharp , mesh - esque screenplay .

Drama: Apollo 13 (1995)

Ron Howard had one of his large hits , both financially and critically , with 1995 ’s instant classic , Apollo 13 , the real - biography narration of the strand Apollo astronauts .

The motion picture was nominated for nine Academy Awards , win two for Sound and Editing . Ron Howard ’s ability to helm a projection of this size of it with its unattackable mould ( Tom Hanks , Ed Harris , Kevin Bacon , Bill Paxton , and Kathleen Quinlan ) was masterly and solidify him as one of modern Hollywood ’s most bankable and important filmmakers .

Comedy: Parenthood (1989)

reunify with hisSplashandGung Hoscreenwriters , Ron Howard stepped intoWoody Allenterritory with his heartwarming look at the animation of a mod home in 1989’sParenthood . The screenplay say the taradiddle of the Buckman clan and their problems in dear , parenting , and life .

The film fudge cliche and order a tangible tale of workaday parenting and how one ’s own conclusion affect the lives of their children vernal and old . Steve Martin work heart and comic soul to his character and was circumvent by a fantastic cast that included marvellous body of work from Dianne Weist , Mary Steenburgen , and the late big Jason Robards . Critics and moviegoers were instantly win over and the film is one of Howard ’s giving successes .

Drama: Frost/Nixon(2008)

Peter Morgan adapted his own playing period about the post Watergate consultation between David Frost and Richard Nixon . Michael Sheenand Frank Langella reprised their stage roles as the nominal reference .

The film marked yet another tier of skilled filmmaking from Ron Howard , as he proved he could successfully bring off what is predominantly a two - character slice that get to the heart of its main case . Frost / Nixonwas nominated for five Academy Awards and made many a critic ’s 10 best inclination .

NEXT : Ron Howard ’s 10 Highest - gross Films ( According To Box Office Mojo )

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Ron-Howard-Feature-Image

Night-Shift

Cocoon

Darryl Hannah as Madison in Splash

A firefighter surrounded by a blaze in Backdraft

Gung-Ho

Mel Gibson

The-Paper

Tom Hanks Bill Paxton Kevin Bacon Apollo 13

Parenthood

Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon

Movies

ron howard