With Indiana Jones, director Steven Spielberg was able to create an iconic franchise, but some might wonder if there's actually a correct order to watch these movies. After the release of The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, George Lucas partnered with his great friend, Steven Spielberg, to bring the whip-carrying archeologist to the big screen. Collectively, the Indiana Jones movies were a huge box-office achievement, grossing nearly $2 billion worldwide. The success of the franchise enabled the character to have his own exclusive theme park at Disneyland and also be adapted into books, video games, and even action figure toys.
Rather than being one cohesive narrative, each of the four movies was its own standalone adventure. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) was the main piece of the puzzle, which also included his wife, Marion Ravenwood (actress Karen Allen), their son, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), and even Indy's father, Henry Jones Sr (Sean Connery). The popularity of the Indiana Jones movies was attributed to their fast-moving plots, likable characters, and countless moments of humor. The scenery and cinematography, as well as the gritty action scenes, during the search for various ancient artifacts put audiences on the edge of their seats. With a fifth film—Indiana Jones 5—set to hit theaters next year in 2023, here's a guide for how to watch the Indiana Jones movies in order, both chronologically and in order of their original release.
Related: Indiana Jones Complete Movie Timeline Explained
The Best Way To Watch The Indiana Jones Movies (Chronologically)
Although the Indiana Jones movies weren't released in a linear in-universe timeline, the proper way to watch them chronologically isn't too hard to follow. George Lucas made Temple of Doom a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark primarily because the producers didn't want to use Nazis as the bad guys for a second time. Considering that the third and fourth films take place after one another, it's likely that Indiana Jones 5 will do the same and continue after the events in the fourth movie. Including the TV series about young Indy, the franchise's chronological order is as follows:
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1993)
- Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984)
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- Indiana Jones 5 (2023)
The Indiana Jones Movies In Order (By Release)
Except for The Temple of Doom, the stories in the Indiana Jones movies take place one after the other, making things easy for audiences to follow. As seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, audiences get to see more of young Indy's life and the relationship between him and his father. The proper way to watch these movies based on how they were released in theaters is as follows:
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1989)
- Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984)
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- Indiana Jones 5 (2023)
The Future of Indiana Jones' Franchise
Due to the polarizing reviews of The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the job of Indiana Jones 5 becomes much harder in bringing closure to an iconic character's story and ending the franchise on a good note. In a first, Steven Spielberg won't be directing Indiana Jones 5 nor will it have a story written by George Lucas. Disney+ has explored the possibility of developing a spin-off TV series for Indiana, but it would be without Harrison Ford, who has stated Indiana Jones 5 is his final ride as the adventuring archeologist. It's definitely possible to bring justice to the iconic hero, but the right pieces must be put into play in order for that to happen. Before that happens, watching the Indiana Jones movies in chronological or release order is much fun either way.
Next: Every Indy Franchise Mistake Indiana Jones 5 Must Fix
Key Release Dates
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of DestinyRelease Date:2023-06-30
- Movies
- SR Originals
- Indiana Jones
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