Ranking All 5 Indiana Jones Films from Least to Most Favorable

      The finest Indiana Jones film ranks among the greatest movies ever created, while the least favored could have been left unmade.

      Although George Lucas is primarily recognized as the mastermind behind Star Wars, he also introduced us to Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, a scholarly archaeologist and occasional adventurer dedicated to seeking out artifacts that rightly belong in a museum.

      He’s resilient, irascible, exceedingly clever, and adept with a whip. Portrayed by Harrison Ford (along with River Phoenix for a brief moment in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), he might just be the most iconic action-adventure star in Hollywood history.

      In a stroke of divine fortune for cinema fans, Lucas collaborated with his close friend Steven Spielberg on this franchise, with Spielberg directing nearly all the Indiana Jones installments except one. When the films excel, they truly shine; when they falter, they simply make the successful ones look even more magnificent.

      Here’s our ranking of all five Indiana Jones films, listed from least to most favorable.

      **Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny**

      Paramount – Credit: C/O Paramount

      To clarify, we adore Indiana Jones films — in fact, we wish the series had concluded with the third installment. Spielberg was not at the helm of the 2023 release, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, but we can only assume it would have seen modest improvement under his direction.

      James Mangold, an acclaimed director known for films like Logan and Walk the Line, took over for Spielberg, who served only as an executive producer this time.

      The main issue with this installment was simply age, which catches up with us all. Harrison Ford, a legendary actor and movie star, was approaching 80 during filming.

      One of the appealing aspects of Indiana Jones movies is his consistent role as the underdog, who faces overwhelming odds while humorously outmatched. However, Dial of Destiny demanded an implausible level of suspension of disbelief, particularly during an ill-conceived CGI-laden opening where a de-aged Ford appears (above).

      Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny turned out to be the least profitable film in the series, grossing around $384 million against a substantial budget — Forbes estimated it lost over $100 million.

      We also felt the conclusion was excessive. This unfortunately placed it on our list of sequels that no one needed to see.

      **Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull**

      Paramount – Credit: C/O Paramount

      This film is satisfactory, but it fell short of what we expect from Indiana Jones. The franchise should embody exhilarating peaks, seemingly effortless deadpan humor, and introductions to captivating mythologies, tailored for a theatrical audience (or even better, a drive-in).

      Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull had an intriguing backdrop — we appreciated the nod to 1950s sci-fi cinema and atomic-era B films, highlighted by the delightfully absurd scene where a refrigerator helps Indy survive an atomic explosion.

      The cast was also enjoyable. Cate Blanchett played the challenging role of the villainous KGB agent competing with Indy for a telepathic crystal skull located in Peru— a nice reference to the first scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark set in Peru.

      Harrison Ford delivered a commendable performance, and we were excited to see Karen Allen return as Marion Ravenwood. Shia LaBeouf was passable as Mutt Williams, although we wish he had never joined the franchise given his unfortunate fate revealed in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. We appreciated the film's flirtation with passing the Indy legacy to Mutt, only to have Indy himself negate that idea.

      **Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade**

      Paramount – Credit: C/O Paramount

      As previously mentioned, we truly wished this film had been the final crusade — the Indiana Jones saga could have stood as a remarkable trilogy.

      After a significant deviation in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Last Crusade returned the franchise to its essence: Indiana Jones battling Nazis. We love it, and the inclusion of Sean Connery as Indy’s father, Henry, elevated it to instant classic status.

      With numerous twists and surprises, the conclusion— where Indy unravels a series of perilous puzzles to discover the Holy Grail— was brilliantly executed, allowing the audience to engage rather than merely watch Indy jump, roll, and crack his whip.

      We absolutely cherish this film, along with the two remaining films on our list.

      **Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom**

      Paramount – Credit: Paramount

      Indeed, we believe Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom surpasses Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. We appreciate both, but we anticipate that many will be upset by our decision, so here’s our rationale.

      More than almost any other film, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a nonstop thrill ride. Even during the brief exposition in the dinner scene, classic Indiana Jones distractions abound, notably the grotesque food served at Pankot Palace.