In the early 1980s, legendary filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created Hollywood’s seminal action-adventure series, starring Harrison Ford as thrill-seeking archaeologist and university professor Indiana Jones. Indy’s adventures have now spanned over 40 years of her life and culminated in the final film of the year, Indiana Jones and Her Dial of Fate.
Ahead of Dial of Destiny’s release later this year, we’ve created a guide to help you navigate the story of the series so far. Find out how to see by release date.
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How many Indiana Jones movies are there?
Indiana Jones movie saga includes 5 movies — 4 of them have been released. The franchise canon also includes his television series, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, which ran for two seasons (and four of his made-for-TV movies) in the ’90s.
Many other Indiana Jones stories have been told through novels, comics, and video games.
chronological indiana jones movies
These blurbs contain mild spoilers about characters, settings, and rough plot points.
0. Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1996)
where to see: Buy Episodes/Seasons on Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV
While not essential to the story of any Indiana Jones movie, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is the canonical starting point for a story. It’s an optional viewing, but I’ve included it on this list for those interested in the full story.
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles stars four iterations of the intrepid adventurer: a child (played by Corey Carrier), a teenager/young man (Sean Patrick Flanery), and a middle-aged man (played by Harrison Ford in one episode). , and the Elder (George Hall).
The series primarily follows Flannery’s teenage/young adult indie adventures around the world, starring former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt, author Leo Tolstoy, artist Pablo Picasso, and notorious gangster Al Capone. , follows you as you meet and work with real-life historical figures, including famous jazz musician Louis Armstrong. , such as the neurologist Sigmund Freud. The series also explores Indy’s upbringing, especially his relationship with his father.
1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Destiny (1984)
where to see: Stream with Amazon Prime Video or Paramount+
Temple of Doom is chronologically the first Indiana Jones movie, despite being released after Raiders of the Lost Ark. Set a year before his predecessor, Temple of Doom begins with Indy, who survived an assassination attempt in Shanghai, parachuting north from a cargo plane. India. There, along with buddies Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw) and Short Round (Ke Hoi Kuan), Indy helps the locals find missing children and a stolen sacred stone. I agree to
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is considered the “darkest” film in the series. Dozens of deaths in the film include a man’s heart being ripped out of his chest. In a grotesque dinner scene, live snakes, giant beetles, eyeball soup, and monkey brains were served fresh in decapitated heads. Temple of Doom, alongside Gremlins, led to the creation of his PG-13 rating in the MPAA. (The previous rating system consisted of G, PG, M, and X.)
2. Invaders of the Lost Ark (1981)
where to see: Stream with Amazon Prime Video or Paramount+
Over 40 years ago, Raiders of the Lost Ark started the Indiana Jones franchise. Set in 1936, Raiders of the Lost Ark takes Indy on a globetrotting adventure, from South America and the United States to Africa and Asia. His first on-screen adventure pits Indy against the Nazi Army, a recurring antagonistic group in the series. The two parties race to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant, a gold-plated Ark that Adolf Hitler believed contained divine power that could aid the Nazis in world domination.
3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
where to see: Stream with Amazon Prime Video or Paramount+
Indy’s next global adventure featured another quest for an ancient artifact, the Holy Grail, a relic said to hold the power of immortality. Indy’s estranged father, Henry (Sean Connery), has spent most of his life researching the Grail and eventually goes missing. Guided by his father’s detailed notes, Indy sets out to find both his father and the relic, once again racing against the Nazis.Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade before time-jumping to a new movie. is the last movie of
4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
where to see: Stream with Amazon Prime Video or Paramount+
After a hiatus of almost 20 years, Indiana Jones returned in 2008 with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. In his fourth and most recent entry in the series, Shire his LaBeouf was introduced as Matt his Williams, son of Indy and Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen). An agent named Irina Spalko.
In the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Indy and his allies once again compete with villainous entities (this time the Soviets) to claim another powerful artifact. In addition to familiar world travel and Double Crossing, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull introduces extraterrestrial elements serially.
Read IGN Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull review.
5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Fate (2023)
where to see: Theatrical release on June 30, 2023
next and last indiana jones movie Dial of Destiny is the first indie film since Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released 15 years ago. Details of the conspiracy have not been revealed, but actor Mads Mikkelsen, who plays the villainous ex-Nazi scientist Jurgen Vohrer, Said“They’re going big back to the first and second films to get that original vibe, that original indie, that dense, epic.”
Alongside Harrison Ford and Mikkelsen, Dial of Destiny stars Boyd Holbrook, Antonio Banderas, John Rhys-Davies, Toby Jones, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy’s granddaughter Helena. James Mangold (Logan), and Dial of Destiny will be the first film in the franchise not directed by Steven Spielberg. (Spielberg said deadline He was “peripherally involved” in the film.)
Dial of Destiny will be the first Indiana Jones film to be distributed by Disney. Acquisition of Lucasfilm year 2012.
How to watch the Indiana Jones movie by its release date
- Invaders of the Lost Ark (1981)
- Temple of Destiny (1984)
- The Last Crusade (1989)
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (TV series: 1992–1996)
- Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
- Dial of Fate (2023)
Future Indiana Jones Story
Dial of Destiny has been called the final installment of the Indiana Jones story, but two additional projects are known to be in the works. The first is a Disney+ TV series that Disney and Lucasfilm are said to be “actively” pursuing as of November 2022. According to Bethesda’s Todd Howard, the game will be set in the “heyday” of Indy’s career and will be a “mashup” of various genres.
Jordan is a freelance writer at IGN covering games, shows and movies.
