Ranking All 5 Indiana Jones Movies, From Worst to Best
Harrison Ford already hit the octogenarian age (80 years old at the time of writing) but he still looks fit in his fifth and (presumably) final outing as Indy in the currently-in-cinemas Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. So, to honour the iconic franchise, here are all five Indiana Jones movies (yes, that includes Dial of Destiny) ranked from worst to best.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
It’s hard to believe that the much-maligned fourth Indiana Jones movie happened to be the franchise’s highest-grossing film back in 2008. How big? Well, it made a whopping US$790.7 million worldwide and set a new record for the Indiana Jones franchise previously held by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade‘s US$474.2 million total. But the success actually has to do with the strong nostalgia factor and not to mention, it has been 19 years since Indy rode off into the sunset alongside his father (Sean Connery), Sallah (John Rhys-Davies) and Marcus (Denholm Elliott) at the end of The Last Crusade.
For the fourth movie, Steven Spielberg retains the franchise’s trademark cliffhanger-style action set pieces (the elaborate jungle chase comes to mind). Harrison Ford’s older Indy still has the same roguish charm while Cate Blanchett’s scenery-chewing main antagonist Irina Spalko is a worthy addition to the franchise’s list of villains. It has all the usual sardonic wits too and yet, the movie falters with its outlandish plot revolving around the supernatural and… aliens (?).
Then, there are some of the sillier moments that are hard to believe this is the work of the legendary director himself. The much-ridiculed “Nuke the Fridge” scene where Indy manages to survive a nuclear blast after he locked himself inside a lead-lined refrigerator is unintentionally laughable. And what’s with Indy’s son, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf) swinging from vine to vine like a teenage Tarzan?
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny marked the last time Ford donned the iconic fedora and bomber jacket and carries his trusty whip as the title character. At least for now because in Hollywood, anything can happen. This is also the first time a different director taking the reins other than Spielberg, who was originally slated to direct but chose to back out eventually. James Mangold is a worthy replacement, considering he did such a good job in Logan and Ford v Ferrari.
But his take on the new Indy movie is more of a mixed bag. The extended opening flashback is hampered by the questionable de-ageing effect of Ford playing a younger Indy, complete with spotty CGI during the nighttime train sequence. The otherwise inspired casting of Mads Mikkelsen as the movie’s main antagonist is sadly underwritten and Ethann Isidore, who plays Helena’s (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) sidekick comes across as a poor boy’s version of Ke Huy Quan’s Short Round.
Still, credits go to Mangold for giving Ford’s Indy a worthy character arc that culminated in a bittersweet, yet poignant coda. Phoebe Waller-Bridge delivers a lively supporting turn as Indy’s spunky goddaughter, Helena Shaw. She and Ford even shared good onscreen chemistry. The action is equally noteworthy and this can be seen during the Tangier-set tuk-tuk chase scene, which showcases Mangold’s flair for elaborating a thrilling set piece.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
The second Indy movie (actually a prequel rather than a sequel) may have been surprisingly darker and grittier. And not to forget, a bold detour from the good old-fashioned fun and exhilarating action-adventure vibes seen in Raiders of the Lost Ark. I didn’t really like it the first time I watched Temple of Doom but it grew on me after revisiting the movie every now and then. Except for one unforgivable flaw: Kate Capshaw, who plays Indy’s new love interest and damsel-in-distress, Willie Scott is annoying as hell.
Spielberg gets off to a fantastic start with the elaborate Shanghai-set opening sequence. The chemistry between Ford’s cynical Indy and Ke Huy Quan’s iconic sidekick role as Short Round remains one of the movie’s key highlights. And so does the memorable action-packed third act from the rollercoaster-like mine cart chase scene to the final confrontation on the rope bridge.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
Spielberg is back in top form in The Last Crusade — the closest one to a great Indy movie should be. It boasts one of the greatest opening sequences in the franchise’s history featuring the late River Phoenix — who died of a drug overdose four years later — as the teenage Indy. A perfect casting choice, indeed. The third Indy movie also featured an unforgettable father-son dynamic between Sean Connery and Harrison Ford. Their love-hate relationship and frequently witty remarks between these two screen legends are just pitch-perfect.
The Last Crusade includes some of the franchise’s best action moments, namely the opening train sequence and the climactic tank chase. While there’s a nagging feeling that Spielberg somehow goes a tad too far with the story’s surprisingly lightweight approach, the movie contains enough fun throughout its confidently-paced 128-minute length.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Even after more than 40 years since Raiders of the Lost Ark premiered in 1981, the first Indy movie remains unsurpassed and arguably the greatest action-adventure ever made. Ford is perfect as the snarky Indy while his chemistry with Marion Ravenwood’s feisty Karen Allen is one of the best onscreen pairings. Spielberg certainly knows well how to elevate the cliffhanger thrills of the 1930s and 40s adventure serials, raising the stakes right from the beginning. I mean, who could have forgotten the rolling-boulder opening sequence?
