Each Indiana Jones movie, ranked 4 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, 3 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 2 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, 1 Indiana Jones and the Hunters of the Lost Ark. The start of the Indiana Jones franchise actually began with the desire to make a film in another already established film series. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were on vacation together in 1977 during the opening weekend of Star Wars, when Lucas asked Spielberg, who was in post-production in Close Encounters of the Third Kind at the time, what kind of film he wanted to make next. Spielberg said that he had always wanted to direct a James Bond film, to which Lucas replied: “Well, I have that rhythm.
The Star Wars filmmaker proceeded to release an adventure film along the lines of the 30s and 40s series starring a heroic archaeologist named Indiana Smith. Spielberg loved everything but the name, suggested Jones as the new surname, and thus one of the longest-lasting film franchises in history was born. Some disagreed with the fact that Indiana Jones would deal with aliens in Indy's fourth film, and while another MacGuffin focused on religion might have been better suited, it makes sense that Lucas and Spielberg would want to address this particular type of story by moving the series back to the 1950s. The problem isn't aliens; it's the specific story they choose to tell.
There is no weight in the search for Crystal Skulls, and as Indiana Jones begins to shake up several off-screen adventures he's had since we last left him, we started to long to see those stories instead. Spielberg and Lucas started developing Temple of Doom quite quickly after the success of Raiders of the Lost Ark, but from the beginning they intended to make a film that was darker and much different from the first adventure. Lucas rooted this idea in how he approached Empire Strikes Back as the darkest entry in the Star Wars trilogy, but while that movie simply went to some emotionally difficult places, Temple essentially becomes a horror film in its third act somewhat hauntingly black as the tone. Honestly, The Last Crusade advocates for the best of the Indiana Jones group, but ultimately, the constant sharpness and divine-level filmmaking of Raiders of the Lost Ark pushes it to the top spot.
You can't find a false note in Spielberg's lively and adventurous attraction. Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood is as convincing as Indy himself, but it's not an attempt to create a female copy of the eponymous hero. The chemistry between the two drives the film, as does Ford's mix of courage, intelligence and luck that leads Indiana Jones to a vivid life. Looking back on Raiders of the Lost Ark now, it's refreshing to see how dialogue-driven and character-driven the film is as a “blockbuster movie”.
It's an action-adventure movie, of course, but most of the runtime is made up of interactions between humans, not explosions and scenes. And the sets that Spielberg presents are much better, because the audience is not flooded with adrenaline after an injection of adrenaline. They arrive at opportune times, are impeccably crafted and are totally character driven. Combine that balance with some of the most captivating characters on screen, add a healthy dose of Harrison Ford's charm and vulnerability, and you have the recipe for an enduring masterpiece.
Adam Chitwood is the managing editor of Collider. He has been working for Collider for more than a decade and, in addition to managing content, he also conducts craft interviews, award coverage and co-host of The Collider Podcast with Matt Goldberg (which has been airing since 2011). He is the creator and author of Collider's How the MCU Was Made series and has interviewed Bill Hader about each episode of Barry. He lives in Tulsa, OK and he likes pasta, the thrillers of the 90s and spending about 95% of his time with his dog Luna.
Forty years ago, Raiders of the Lost Ark made its debut and introduced us to one of the most iconic heroes of the Indiana Jones box office movie theater (Harrison Ford), an inveterate globetrotting archaeologist dressed in a leather jacket and fedora hat and armed with a whip. Conceived by George Lucas as a throwback to the adventure series of the 1930s, the Indiana Jones films by director Steven Spielberg offer a unique mix of international-era adventures, thrilling action and encounters with the supernatural. In addition to four feature films (and a fifth on the way), the franchise has proven its popularity with an expanded universe that includes a TV series, comics, games, theme park rides and even a legendary remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark. The Indiana Jones films have also proven to have a major influence on the action-adventure genre, inspiring films such as The Mummy and National Treasure from 1999, and even video games such as the Tomb Raider and Uncharted franchises.
Indiana Jones is one of the most iconic action heroes of all time. But which of his adventures reigns supreme and which one does not? Below are ALL Indiana Jones movies ranked from worst to best. Played by Harrison Ford over the course of nearly 40 years, Indiana Jones has stolen the hearts of many. Now, with Indiana Jones 5 being teased in recent years, it's very likely that we haven't seen the last treasure hunter with whips for better or worse.
The Indiana Jones franchise would eventually expand to include comics, liaison novels, video games, a TV prequel,. Series and some theme park rides, but their main hook has always been movies. Several decades later, that initial trilogy of titles remains one of the most beloved action movies in Hollywood history. It was always going to be a major risk for Spielberg and company to revive Indiana Jones 19 years after the previous film.
How could the team maintain the magic of the original trilogy with an older cast, a new era of problems and an ever-evolving new era of CGI? Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is not even close to the pitiful turkey that some critics have called it, but without a doubt it is a huge drop in quality compared to the first three films. And while many of them were quite forgettable, some of them stand out as classic geek movies that everyone should watch. Check out our 30 favorite modern geek movies. In 1935, Indiana Jones arrived in India, which is still part of the British Empire, and is asked to find a mystical stone.
Then he stumbles upon a secret cult that commits slavery and human sacrifices in the catacombs of an old palace. In 1957, archaeologist and adventurer Dr. She comes back into action and finds herself involved in a Soviet plot to discover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls. After the difficult and deformed Temple of Doom, it was pleasant and comforting for Indiana Jones to return to its simpler and more direct action-adventure roots with the very pleasant sequel, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
. .
