From Worst to Legendary: Nerdthusiast's Definitive Ranking of Indiana Jones Movies

From Worst to Legendary: Nerdthusiast's Definitive Ranking of Indiana Jones Movies

Indiana Jones is coming back. The iconic adventurer, brought to life by Harrison Ford, started his journey as the famous archaeologist in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark, and quickly became a cinematic landmark. The creative product of director Steven Spielberg, co-creator George Lucas brought adventures in classic pulp tales of excitement and suspense around the globe. It’s a bummer that the next installment Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be the last of the franchise. It’s one of the most popular action franchises of all time, and Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones is one of the most iconic roles in this history of cinema. While this is the end for Ford, Indiana Jones will likely continue in some capacity. There have already been rumors that the planned Indiana Jones TV series will be scrapped, but we don’t know what’s happening there. As of now, it’s time to get into the ranking of the Indiana Jones entries we’ve seen so far (excluding The Young Chronicles of Indiana Jones TV program).

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

Many fans consider Kingdom of the Crystal Skull the only misstep in the movie franchise, and it’s easy to see why. Released much later than the original trilogy, this 2008 revival aimed to do for Indiana Jones what the prequels did for Star Wars: reigniting the series for a new generation of fans. Sadly, the movie’s CGI-heavy action scenes and Shia LaBeouf’s unconvincing performance weren’t enough to carry the Indiana Jones name to a broader audience. It’s a shame, really: the entire mythology behind the Crystal Skulls was one of the most well-thought ideas ever to come out of the series, and they were just as visually stunning as all previous entries from an art design perspective. The 4th movie even reunites some classic favorites from the original trilogy: together with Harrison Ford, fans got to see Karen Allen as Marion for the first time since the first movie. If this movie existed in a vacuum, without any previous films to serve as references for what the franchise could be, it would be easy to see Kingdom of the Crystal Skull becoming a modern cult classic. After all, it is the highest-grossing Indy film to date. It simply fails to capture the excitement and overall soul of the original trilogy – and with a franchise that’s so dependent on nostalgia, that’s the only thing that matters.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Doom, the film that led the MPAA to the creation of the PG-13 rating might've been the second film starring Ford's titular archaeologist, but it's actually a prequel and takes place well before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark. It's a much darker affair, with the story including ritual sacrifice, mind control, child slaves, and monkey brains. Although it all works very well in the adventure, it feels much different from Raiders, some even consider Temple to be the black sheep of the franchise. While undoubtedly the weakest of the original three films, the performances are still top notch for the most part. It can go without saying that Harrison Ford kills it. Kate Capshaw is the weakest aspect of the film and her character Willie is unbearable to watch at times, especially as an adult. While she has a few good moments and some of the funnier bits, her character is every fan's least favorite of the original three Indiana Jones love interests. Ke Huy Quan is an absolute scene stealer. Short Round brings a joyful and energetic youth to the film that could’ve been an annoying performance without a highly skilled actor at the helm. The chemistry between him and Ford is magnetic and seeing the father son like relationship between the two always made me want to see him in Crystal Skull instead of Mutt. 

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 

Last Crusade is probably the most ambitious film of the franchise. The brilliance of this installment is that it’s almost a stealth origin story. You think you’re just watching the next adventure of Indiana Jones, but in fact, the entire film is telling the audience where Indy came from and why he is the way he is. The movie literally begins with Young Indy, as Spielberg channels his love of Westerns with a thrilling that runs through the foundation of some of Indy’s hallmark traits, all in the midst of an elaborate and supremely entertaining chase sequence. The intro with the late River Phoenix is such a great quick origin story. Solo: A Star Wars story got all the wrong lessons from this. In 15 minutes we find out how Indy got his name, scar, whip, hat and fear of snakes. The atmosphere in these movies is arguably defined by which companions Indy has for each adventure, and there's something so cheekily brilliant about bringing Sean Connery along for the ride. The pair of them hit that father-son dynamic perfectly, with Jones Sr. criticizing Jones Jr.'s actions and the way he goes about racing against the Nazis for the Holy Grail. The scene where they're both tied to a chair back to back while a castle burns down around them is perfect. And the tank chase towards the Iskenderun temple? Incredible. At the time, this was the last chapter of the trilogy, and it was a perfect cap on the series. It's a rip-roaring adventure from start to finish that stays true to the heart of the franchise.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Raiders of the Lost Ark captured lightning in a bottle, and four decades of action cinema have desperately tried to follow in its footsteps. Looking back, it seems almost hard to believe that no one in Hollywood really had faith in Lucas and Spielberg for the treasure-hunting adventurer. Once the movie was out, it ended up as a monster success, and the best action-adventure movie retains its icon status. While its genesis lies in paying tribute to the serial films of Spielberg and Lucas's childhood, it ended up standing the test of time all on its own. Steven Spielberg nailed the Indiana Jones formula on the very first film in the series. It had the right balance of adventure, comedy, and even frights to become an unforgettable film. The movie’s awesome practical effects have also stood the test of time: who wasn’t traumatized by the unexpectedly gory Ark of the Covenant scene? Raiders of the Lost Ark helped create what action movies and even video games would look like for the next four decades and of all the Indiana Jones movies, it is Raiders of the Lost Ark that remains the one undisputed masterpiece.

It’s been 15 years since we last saw Indy on screen, now as we get ready to say goodbye to our favorite hero, it's certainly no funeral. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny gives us audiences the chance to spend a couple more hours having fun with our Indiana one last time. There's only a legacy to celebrate when the film hits theaters on June 30, right alongside the adventurer we know and love.

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Danny Manna @Cinemanna24