The long-awaited fifth entry in the Indiana Jones franchise is nearly here. Dial of Destiny claims to be the film legend’s greatest adventure yet, and fans are excited to see how it all ends. Harrison Ford has stated this will be his final outing as the character, which is bittersweet for fans. Fans are excited to see him return but sad to see him go. While this may be Ford’s last role as Indy, the other four Indiana Jones films will always be there. To celebrate the new movie, here are the previous four films ranked.
4. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
The fourth film, Kingdom of the Crustal Skull, had fans split almost immediately. The plot sees Indy reunite with his original love interest, Marion, and meet his son Mutt. The trio race against Russians to save an old friend and discover the secrets behind the mystic Crystal Skulls. Set in the sixties, the movie is filled with nostalgic imagery from that decade, including Howdy Doody, Elvis, and aliens. Many fans feel the magic of the original trilogy is missing from this film and is nothing more than a nostalgic cash grab. In recent years, fans have begun to enjoy the movie for what it is in hindsight. Regardless of one’s feelings, the movie is typically seen as the weakest of the Indiana Jones films. This is primarily due to the overuse of CGI and several shark-jumping (or fridge-nuking) scenes.
3. Temple of Doom (1984)
Before Crystal Skull, Temple of Doom was seen by many as the weakest of the franchise. Temple takes place a few years before Raiders and sees Indy in India. After a trade deal goes south, Indiana and his partner Short Round are joined by a reluctant nightclub dancer as they help a tribe recover their missing children and their most sacred artifact. The movie is filled with some incredible action set pieces. The minecart chase is frequently called one of the best in the series. Regardless, the film has a dark tone that many fans find unpleasant. The other films do not share this tone, making Temple stand out like a sore thumb tonally. Stephen Spielberg claims he was in a dark place when the film was made, and he isn’t proud of it in hindsight. Hopefully, Dial of Destiny will take on a more light-hearted tone.
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
This is where it all began. Raiders of the Lost Ark introduced the world to Indiana Jones and cemented Harrison Ford as a superstar. The film sees Dr. Henry Jones Jr, an archeologist, as we discover the location of the fabled Ark of the Covenant. Indy learns the Nazis are looking to harness the power of the Ark for evil, and he is the only one to stop them. Teaming up with old flame Marion and friend Sallah, Jones races against the Nazis to find the Ark first. There is hardly anything wrong with this movie. It is as close to a perfect adventure film as one can get. It is no surprise as to why this movie spawned the legacy it did. The only reason it isn’t number one is that one other film does the formula better.
1. The Last Crusade (1989)
To many, the third of the Indiana Jones films is the best of the bunch. Indy learns that the Nazis have located the resting place of the Holy Grail. They learned this by kidnapping the world’s most renowned expert on the Grail. The expert happens to be Henry Jones Sr., Indiana’s father. Setting out to find his father, Indy finds himself wrapped up in the search for the Grail, joining his father in the search for the fabled cup. This film takes everything that made Raiders great and dials it to eleven. From incredible stunts to classic humor, Last Crusade has it all. Sean Connery portrays Henry Sr. and does a fantastic job. The dynamic between Connery and Harrison Ford is nothing short of amazing.
One of the reasons Kingdom of the Crystal Skull failed before it had a chance was because this was the perfect ending to the story. The film ends with the characters riding into the sunset. Fans may be excited for Dial of Destiny, but odds are it won’t hold a candle to this movie.
