History YMMV / HarryAndTheHendersons

* HilariousInHindsight:
** Creator/JohnLithgow and Creator/MEmmetWalsh, who here both play son and father, were part of the ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes'' franchise (Lithgow would play Charles Rodman in ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', while Walsh had played a bit part early in his career as a military officer aide in ''Film/EscapeFromThePlanetOfTheApes'').
*** Creator/DavidSuchet (Jacques [=LaFleur=]) went on to play another perceptive French-speaker, iconic Belgian detective [[Series/{{Poirot}} Hercule Poirot]], whose demeanor could be described as the polar opposite of [=LaFleur=]'s.
** Four years before the release of the movie, Creator/MelindaDillon starred in the 1983 film Film/AChristmasStory, which involves a leg lamp as an important plot point. In the film, a Bigfoot foot lamp is involved.

* SpecialEffectFailure: A very mild example. The illusion of Harry as a living, breathing, furry creature is almost completely flawless, save for one FreezeFrameBonus -- [[https://youtu.be/BxL5O2tuDtk?t=38 when Harry has his face up against the windshield]], the close-up, awkward camera angle and being lit from underneath all mean that Creator/KevinPeterHall's mouth is visible inside Harry's throat, when normally it would be in shadow. It can also be seen later on when Harry tilts his head back and laughs while watching TV.

* SpecialEffectFailure: A very mild example. The illusion of Harry as a living, breathing, furry creature is almost completely flawless, save for one FreezeFrameBonus -- [[https://youtu.be/BxL5O2tuDtk?t=38 when Harry has his face up against the windshield]], the close-up, awkward camera angle and being lit from underneath all mean that Kevin Peter Hall's mouth is visible inside Harry's throat, when normally it would be in shadow. It can also be seen later on when Harry tilts his head back and laughs while watching TV.

* TheWoobie: Harry is the biggest woobie ever. No, seriously. He's like eight feet tall.

* SignatureScene: George viciously yelling at Harry to get him to leave for his own safety, an iconic {{Tearjerker}} for anyone who saw the film as a kid (including John Lithgow’s niece, as he himself has said).

* SignatureScene: George viciously yelling at Harry to get him to leave for his own safety, an iconic {{Tearjerker}} for anyone who saw the film as a kid.

* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/JohnLithgow and Creator/MEmmetWalsh, who here both play son and father, were part of the ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes'' franchise (Lithgow would play Charles Rodman in ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', while Walsh had played a bit part early in his career as a military officer aide in ''Film/EscapeFromThePlanetOfTheApes'').
** Creator/DavidSuchet (Jacques [=LaFleur=]) went on to play another perceptive French-speaker, iconic Belgian detective [[Series/{{Poirot}} Hercule Poirot]], whose demeanor could be described as the polar opposite of [=LaFleur=]'s.

* SpecialEffectFailure: A very mild example. The illusion of Harry as a living, breathing, furry creature is almost completely flawless, save for one FreezeFrameBonus -- [[https://youtu.be/BxL5O2tuDtk?t=38 when Harry has his face up against the windshield]], the close-up, awkward camera angle and being lit from underneath all mean that Kevin Peter Hall's mouth is visible inside Harry's throat, when normally it would be in shadow.
* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The animatronic Harry rig was one of the most detailed and expressive of its day, and still holds up to this day. It won Creator/RickBaker his second Academy Award. He still claims it as once of his proudest achievements in his career.

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The animatronic Harry rig was one of the most detailed and expressive of its day, and still holds up in 2019. It won Creator/RickBaker his second Academy Award. He still claims it as once of his proudest achievements in his career.

** Creator/DavidSuchet (Jacques [=LaFleur=]) went on to play another perceptive French-speaker, iconic Belgian detective [[Series/{{Poirot}} Hercule Poirot]], whose demeanor could be the polar opposite of [=LaFleur=]'s.

* HilariousInHindsight: Creator/JohnLithgow and M. Emmet Walsh, who here both play son and father, were part of the ''Franchise/PlanetOfTheApes'' franchise (Lithgow would play Charles Rodman in ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', while Walsh had played a bit part early in his career as a military officer aide in ''Film/EscapeFromThePlanetOfTheApes'').

* SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The animatronic Harry rig was one of the most detailed and expressive of its day, and still holds up in 2017. It won Creator/RickBaker his second Academy Award. He still claims it as once of his proudest achievements in his career.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The animatronic Harry rig was one of the most detailed and expressive of its day, and still holds up in 2017. It won Creator/RickBaker his second Academy Award. He still claims it as once of his proudest achievements in his career.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The animatronic Harry rig was one of the most detailed and expressive of its day, and still holds up in 2017. It won Rick Baker his second Academy Award. He still claims it as once of his proudest achievements in his career.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The animatronic Harry rig was one of the most detailed and expressive of its day, and still holds up in 2012. It won Rick Baker his second Academy Award. He still claims it as once of his proudest achievements in his career.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The animatronic Harry rig was one of the most detailed and expressive of its day, and still holds up in 2012.

* VisualEffectsOfAwesome: The animatronic Harry rig was one of the most detailed and expressive of its day, and still holds up in 2011.

* FridgeBrilliance: Harry put the woman on her car after she passed out because he thinks that's what humans do with their injured, based on his own experience with the Hendersons' station wagon.

* TearJerker: George, trying desperately to drive Harry away, yells at him and says he and his family doesn't want him around - but the anguish on his face is plain as day.
** The ending. Oh, god, the ending.