Everyone’s favorite adventure-seeking, whip-wielding archaeologist returns for the first time in 15 years as Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny hits theaters on June 30.
MORE: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is an awestruck adventure for all times
Dr. Jones — played by the incomparable Harrison Ford — first graced the screen in 1981’s Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Steven Spielberg’s adventure franchise now sits at five entries, with stars like Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mads Mikkelsen joining the fray and old friends John Rhys-Davies (Sallah) and Karen Allen (Marion) returning to the party.
As we prepare for the newest entry, let’s look back at the four previous Indy movies and rank them.
Just released at #StarWarsCelebration:
Watch the new trailer for #IndianaJones and the Dial of Destiny, in theaters June 30. pic.twitter.com/yU8Yib7fnj
— Indiana Jones (@IndianaJones) April 7, 2023
4
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Upon rewatch, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull isn’t nearly as bad as I originally remember it, but it’s also not good. Set in the 1950s, Indy joins forces with Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) to beat Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) to return a mystical — you guessed it — crystal skull to a temple and uncover the mysteries of El Dorado.
There’s fun action, but this one just doesn’t have the charm of the original trilogy. The reveal that Mutt is the child of Indiana and Marion lacks the emotional weight that it should, seemingly overestimating our connection to the pair as a couple.
The alien storyline isn’t bad, it just doesn’t have a good enough payoff in the end.
3
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
While Temple of Doom is undeniably a well-made adventure movie filled with impressive action sequences, there’s no escaping the fact that it has aged incredibly poorly. The depictions of Indian and Hindu cultures are racist, and it’s hard to overlook in 2023.
More fans have probably flocked back to the second installment (despite it being a … prequel?) after Ke Huy Quan (Short Round) took home the Oscar for his role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, but it hasn’t aged well.
2
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
This is my personal favorite, but my coworkers said I’m “not allowed” to put it at No. 1 on this list. The third entry of the franchise hits every emotional note, has incredible action and brings in SEAN CONNERY to play Henry Jones Sr. What more could you ask for?
The Last Crusade hits every beat, and the final piece where they finally get to the grail and have to choose is perfection. Where Raiders of the Lost Ark sets the blueprint for the series, The Last Crusade perfects it.
1
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
The opening scene of Indiana Jones running away from a giant boulder set up the entire franchise. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, we have Indy and Marion trying to track down the titular ark and keep it out of the hands of Nazis. We have our first introduction to John Williams’ iconic score, the Harrison Ford charm of Indy and the coolest leather jacket and whip combo in film.
The gap between Raiders and Last Crusade is slim, but the nod goes to the original.
