Every Indiana Jones film ranked from worst to best…
Of all the big movie franchises, Indiana Jones is one of the very few to boast two perfect movies (more on which ones I’m referring to later). The Godfather. Terminator. Alien. Superbabies: Baby Geniuses. It’s a hallowed list. Just like Terminator and Alien, however, the Indiana Jones franchise also has some stinkers. Let’s dive in…
5. The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
I recently watched this again for the first time since it was released in 2008 and everything I thought about it then is still true. There are certain things I like. Ford is fine despite having by far the weakest script of the franchise to work with. Shia LaBeouf makes for a great addition and shares an enjoyable chemistry with our eponymous hero. Karen Allen’s return is well handled. But the bad stuff… boy, does that outweigh the good. John Hurt, Cate Blanchett and Ray Winstone don’t really fit into this world. The CGI monkeys. The fridge. The fucking terrible ending. The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is not only the worst film in this franchise by a mile, but it is also probably the worst film directed by Steven Spielberg. Now let’s never speak of it again.
4. The Dial of Destiny (2023)
The main brief for The Dial of Destiny was to make Indiana Jones relevant again for a modern audience whilst simultaneously surpassing Crystal Skull and providing a fitting end for one of the most iconic movie characters of all time. And do you know what? For my money, it mostly succeeds. Ford seems much more invested here than he did in the previous entry. His wrinkled and weathered face suits a character who has always been world-weary. Director James Mangold brings back some old friends in the shape of Sallah and Marion and also introduces some fresh blood. Just as LaBeouf was the best thing about Crystal Skull, Pheobe Waller-Bridge shines here, injecting a freshness and wit that was sorely missing from the previous entry. Toby Jones makes for a fine addition also and while Mads Mikkelsen seems strangely subdued he has become so adept at portraying a villain that he very much plays his part here. Sure, it’s too long and the third act threatens to become a little too silly, but on the whole, Dial of Destiny is about as good as an Indiana Jones film released in 2023 can be. That’s to say, not a patch on the originals but still in possession of some of that old magic.
3. The Temple of Doom (1984)
I’ve always viewed The Temple of Doom as the odd one out of the original trilogy and while it is undoubtedly the weakest entry, I enjoyed it more on re-watching it for this article than I ever have before. This is undoubtedly the darkest entry and seeing a guy getting his heart ripped out of his chest made me long for a time when family-friendly films were not as sanitised as they have now become. Kate Capshaw’s constant shrill complaining always used to bother me, but I enjoyed her chemistry with Ford this time around and the addition of Ke Huy Quan as Short Round is genuinely inspired. The three of them make for a loveable trio and while certain elements of the screenplay are a little problematic, there is nothing here written with bad intentions and most of it holds up just fine.
The Temple of Doom boasts some of the most memorable set pieces of the franchise (the wall of spikes and the heart-ripping are both visually breathtaking), It finds Spielberg at the top of his game following the runaway success of E.T., and Ford is again in top form as the leading man. In short, Temple of Doom is a wildly successful sequel prequel that deserves to be remembered as more than simply the ugly child of the original trilogy.
2. The Last Crusade (1989)
On another day, this would be my favourite entry. It’s definitely the funniest. It’s possibly the most propulsive. And in Sean Connery, it boasts perhaps the only actor who could fit into the world as seamlessly as the eponymous hero.
The Last Crusade sets its stall out early with a breathless opening set piece that sees River Phoenix doing a masterful job as a young Indy and while this origin story is a little too neat (both the hat and the whip are introduced here, as is his mistrust of authority), there is no denying that it is also a wonderful time at the movies.
The Last Crusade is not the best film in the franchise, for that, there can only be one, but it’s probably the most flat-out enjoyable entry. A terrific picture.
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
I’m not sure what else I can say about this movie that hasn’t already been said but here goes. My dad loved Raiders. My mum loves Raiders. My brother loves it. Hell, even my grandma loved it. If I could give my cat the power of cognitive thought I’m sure he would love it as well. Now, I’m a pretty open-minded guy and I try my best not to shame others for their cinematic opinions but, put frankly, if you don’t like Raiders of the Lost Ark – you’re a moron.
This is a film that works so well because of balance. It’s funny, exciting, warm-hearted, cynical, frightening and family-friendly. It’s all of those things and more whilst remaining compelling and captivating throughout. It features some of Spielberg’s best-ever filmmaking, Ford is utterly irresistible and Karen Allen’s Marion has always been the best love interest of the franchise.
This film, and I do not say this lightly, is one of the greatest films of all time. It is the epitome of a masterpiece. The world is a better place with this movie in it.