Every ‘Indiana Jones’ Movie Ranked from Worst to Best

From pulp-serial inspiration to globe-trotting cultural icon, the ‘Indiana Jones’ films chart decades of archaeological escapades, practical stunts, and John Williams fanfares anchored by Harrison Ford’s fedora-wearing professor. Below, the adventure saga is presented from the lowest-rated entry up to the highest-rated, with quick, useful details on each film’s premise, key creatives, cast highlights, and notable production or release facts.

‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ (2008)

Set during the Cold War, this chapter pits Indiana Jones against Soviet operatives led by Irina Spalko as the search for a mysterious crystal skull points to ancient sites in Peru. Steven Spielberg directs from a screenplay by David Koepp, with returning players Harrison Ford and Karen Allen joined by Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, John Hurt, and Ray Winstone. Principal photography took place across U.S. locations including New Mexico, New Haven, and Hawaii, alongside Los Angeles soundstages. It premiered at Cannes and became the franchise’s highest global grosser unadjusted for inflation.

‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (2023)

Directed by James Mangold, this installment follows Indy and his goddaughter Helena as they clash with former Nazi scientist Jürgen Voller over a legendary device associated with Archimedes. The cast features Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Antonio Banderas, and Boyd Holbrook, with music once again by John Williams. The production combined location work in the U.K., Italy, and Morocco with large-scale set pieces and de-aging visual effects for prologue sequences. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and recorded a worldwide box office total reported in trade coverage and industry databases.

‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ (1984)

Functioning as a prequel, the story teams Indy with nightclub singer Willie Scott and young sidekick Short Round, leading to an underground stronghold and the quest to recover sacred stones. Steven Spielberg directs, with Harrison Ford joined by Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, and Amrish Puri. The film’s intense peril helped catalyze the creation of the PG-13 rating in the U.S., and it won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Signature sequences include the Shanghai opening, a mine-cart chase, and a rope-bridge showdown.

‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ (1989)

This adventure pairs Indy with his father, Henry Jones, Sr., as they pursue clues leading toward the Holy Grail while racing against a resurgent Nazi threat. Steven Spielberg directs from a script by Jeffrey Boam, with Harrison Ford starring alongside Sean Connery, Denholm Elliott, Alison Doody, and John Rhys-Davies. Filming spanned locations such as Venice and Jordan’s Petra, which doubled for the Grail temple’s exterior. The film earned the Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing and achieved a worldwide box-office haul among the year’s top performers.

‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ (1981)

The series opener introduces archaeologist-professor Indiana Jones on a race against Nazi agents to locate the biblical Ark of the Covenant. Directed by Steven Spielberg from a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, it stars Harrison Ford with Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, and John Rhys-Davies. Production shot in Tunisia, Hawaii, and on U.S. stages, emphasizing practical stunts and classic adventure pacing. The film won multiple Academy Awards, including Visual Effects, Sound, Film Editing, and Art Direction, plus a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing, and became a major worldwide box-office success.

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