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Between movies about Christmas presents you shouldn't feed after midnight and aliens that need to make a phone call, the 1980s were rife with family films that became iconic in their own right, one in particular being the Richard Donner-directed, Steven Spielberg-produced adventure movie, "The Goonies." Released in 1985, this now-treasured, er, treasure hunt launched the careers of a handful of stars, including Corey Feldman, Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, and Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan. You must know the story by now, and if you don't, then, well, boy, was your childhood lacking. Anyway, "The Goonies" follows the titular band of kids as they find a treasure map and are swept off on an adventure searching for a pirate ship that could hold enough "rich stuff" to prevent their homes from being flattened for a newly-approved golf course.

While Donner's film has been homaged many times over, it's also...

Although "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" wasn't the worst movie in the franchise, it was definitely the worst performing financially. It made $384 million at the box office, which sounds good until you remember that the movie cost $300 million to make. /Film's box office expert Ryan Scott has long insisted that modern blockbusters really need to knock it off with the over-inflated budgets, and "Dial of Destiny" serves as a prime example of why. If this movie had been produced for the same reasonable $67 million budget that went into "Raiders of the Lost Ark", its box office performance could've been considered a success. 

But the movie's inflated budget can't be undone, and the fact remains that $384 million is significantly below the performance of the much worse "Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull" back in 2008, which earned $786 million worldwide. It seems that whatever public appetite there was for a new...

What do Indiana Jones and Rick Sanchez have in common?

Aside from their love of liquor, penchant for khakis and status as the titular characters in franchises with absolutely insufferable fandoms, the adventurous pair shares one notable attribute: They’ve both witnessed partygoers lose their shit after being served a severed monkey head.

Last week, Redditor oooohweeee13 dropped by the Rick and Morty subreddit with an observation connecting the Adult Swim series to the adventure franchise, noting what appears to be a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it homage to 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in Season Two’s “The Wedding Squanchers.”

“I never connected the dots,” they captioned two juxtaposed screengrabs, one depicting Willie Scott being served a monkey brains dessert at The Guardian of Tradition Dinner and the other showing a plant-like attendee at Birdperson’s wedding screaming at a salad-filled skull.

While several weren’t surprised at Rick...

Indiana Jones is one of the most enduring characters in all of media. The idea of a swashbuckling archaeologist exploring the world and finding ancient treasures just hits that sweet spot for fans who love nothing more than a good treasure hunt. At the same time, what Indy has experienced during his decades-long career can be defined as more than just treasure. He has encountered holy artifacts with a direct line to the divine, met aliens, and recently time-traveled.

For one man to do all that, well, it can be hard to sort through. Especially when the timeline of his own movies is more muddled than one would have expected. Each one brought Indy to a different part of the world and gave him a different experience. From the fantastic to the disturbing all the way to the absurd, Indiana Jones' life is one of adventure and no small amount of trouble.

Indiana Jones hasn't reached the same heights that it did when the original trilogy had released. Yet, there are new viewers every day experiencing the magic of Indy for the very first time and instantly understanding why every release is a classic in its own way. With Indiana Jones and the Great Circle soon to be released, taking the archaeologist on yet another adventure, it seems like the perfect time to revisit the franchise for those who have never seen any Indy outing before. Indeed, there seems to be a great deal of material to get through, which can be very overwhelming for potential fans. 5 films, a TV show, countless comics, books, games and other spinoff materials; it seems like a lot to get through. However, the canon status of many of these projects is up in the air, making things even more confusing.

The timeline for the Indiana Jones...

As of today, a piece of memorabilia from the Indiana Jones franchise has become one of the most valuable items in history: Indiana Jones' hat from the film Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The hat recently exchanged hands for an enormous amount of cash and is now probably worth more than the Chachapoyan Fertility Idol Indy risked his life to obtain in his first movie outing.

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As reported by the BBC, the hat was sold during an auction in Los Angeles last week for $630,000. Per the notes on the item, the hat was featured during the movie's opening sequence, up until the point Indy and his group arrive in the village that's been ravaged by a curse. This is the second Fedora from the movie to have been sold in recent years, with the previous auction in 2021 ending with a winning bid of $431,000.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom...

Before the fourth and fifth film in the Indiana Jones series, fans mostly agreed on which movie was the worst. Yet Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom has a complicated legacy that goes beyond fan opinion. It's the most important chapter as far as defining who Indiana Jones is and what makes him a hero. However, in trying to capture the sensibilities of the old Republic serials that inspired the character, the film veers into deeply problematic territory.

The Temple of Doom is a prequel and chronologically Indy's earliest adventure (the opening to The Last Crusade and The Young Indiana Jones Adventures notwithstanding). George Lucas and Steven Spielberg set the story earlier in time and half a world away from the nascent Third Reich -- also ensuring Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood can't return. Christian mysticism is replaced in the story by a fantastical interpretation of the Thuggee cult,...

The Indiana Jones movie franchise is one of the most well-known works of Steven Spielberg. Not only was it a popular and long-enduring title, but it also became a box-office success. More than the fame of the films, it was Spielberg’s personal life that changed forever.

Harrison Ford and Kate Capshaw in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom / Paramount Pictures

He would meet the love of his life on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in 1983. After a whirlwind of romance, they would eventually end up together.

How Kate Capshaw Landed The Role In Indiana Jones

Speaking with Empire Magazine, veteran filmmaker Steven Spielberg shared how the making of Indiana Jones movies brought him the best gift of his life – his wife, Kate Capshaw.

And then again the greatest thing that ever happened to me in my life came out of the Temple of Doom experience.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom holds a strange place in every Indiana Jones fan’s heart. The awkward middle child, Temple of Doom is a dark, problematic prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark, one which takes the series in a weirder, wilder direction—and manages to pull off one of the greatest openings of any action movie ever.

Today there’s often an assumption that contemporary critics weren’t enamored by director Steven Spielberg and writer George Lucas’ second collaboration, but that’s slightly misleading; The New Yorker’s Pauline Kael preferred Temple to Raiders because it fully embraced being “preposterous” and “implausible,” though she also writes that her friends labeled it “heartless” and “overbearing.” Meanwhile Roger Ebert gave the film a perfect four stars while People magazine warned that children may be traumatized by it.

Kael and her friends’ analysis perhaps best sums up why The Temple of Doom...

Since his 1981 debut in George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones has been the face of the adventure genre. From his quest for the Ark of the Covenant to his encounter with aliens, the archaeologist hero has traveled to almost every continent, taken on Nazis, and safeguarded lost relics. With five films, a TV series, comic books, video games, and more centered around the hero, there have been plenty of brilliant moments in the franchise's history.

Indiana Jones has provided some of cinema's most iconic scenes and imagery, not to mention music, props, and chase sequences. As one of the film industry's most influential franchises, the adventure genre continues to pay homage to the exploits and travels of the hero. There are plenty of brilliant scenes and moments to choose from, but some certainly stand out above the rest for their quality, tone, and significance in the franchise.

Ahmed El-Shenawi, the Egyptian-born actor whose character delightfully announces that a slithering helping of “snake surprise” is about to be served in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, has died. He was 75.

El-Shenawi died Feb. 1 in Chelsea, London, his daughter, Eman El-Shenawi, told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been in the hospital for an operation to repair a fracture and developed an infection that led to sepsis, she said.

El-Shenawi also portrayed a prisoner who inherits a radio in Alan Parker’s harrowing Midnight Express (1978), starring Brad Davis, and he had the pivotal role of the therapist who hypnotizes the detective (Michael Elphick) in The Element of Crime (1984) — Lars von Trier’s first feature and the first in his Europa trilogy. Both movies played at Cannes.

“I believe his brief but impactful moments of fame resonated so much among many,” his daughter said.

In Steven Spielberg’s Temple of Doom (1984), the extremely large El-Shenawi,...

"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" is the most contentious of the first three "Indiana Jones" movies. Director Steven Spielberg's filmmaking instincts are sharp as ever, as is Harrison Ford's charisma, and even before the mine tunnel sequence, the film moves like a roller coaster in the best way possible.

But in aping early 20th-century pulp, the film inherits their exoticized distortions of non-American cultures. "Temple of Doom" is mostly set in British-occupied India, but the villains are not these colonizers. No, Indy and co. face off against an indigenous threat: the vicious Thuggee cult that enslaves children and makes human sacrifices to the Hindu god Kali. I'm admittedly not an expert on Indian culture (nor were the writers of the movie), so I'll defer to one who is; Indian-Canadian writer Saffron Maeve has taken the film to task over at Little White Lies. Otherwise, I'll let...

The alligators shown in the rope bridge scene of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are actually American alligators, which is an inaccuracy since the scene takes place in India. Alligators do not eat in a communal manner in the wild, contrary to how they are portrayed in the film. They are known to rip off pieces of prey for immediate consumption. The inaccurate portrayal of Indian culture and religion in Temple of Doom, including the depiction of the Thuggees and their practices, perpetuates harmful stereotypes and led to the film being banned in India.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom features a significant error during one of its most iconic scenes. The scene in question occurs when Indy, Short Round, and Willie Scott are being pursued by Mola Ram and the Thuggees, and find themselves cornered on a rope bridge. Indy famously declares, "Mola Ram! Prepare to meet Kali.

Mola Ram's sharp teeth in the official poster for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom were a powerful and impactful design change that impressed George Lucas. The film is iconic for its memorable cast, dark antagonist, and thrilling action sequences, including the climactic scene on a broken rope bridge. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom introduced a more humorous tone to the franchise while embracing goofier ways for the characters to escape trouble, which influenced the sequels. Mola Ram's poster design adds to the film's memorable nature.

An Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom poster created by Drew Struzan featured a character change so good, George Lucas called the artist. The second film in the franchise follows Indy as he uncovers the mystery behind a secret cult in India while searching for lost treasure. Thuggee priest Mola Ram serves as the main antagonist of the film, performing...

When it comes to the female companion characters of the "Indiana Jones" franchise, Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood stands above the rest. After her debut in "Raiders of the Lost Ark," Marion has returned for two other adventures — "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," and the recent "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."

Even before "Dial of Destiny" came out, Indy himself, Harrison Ford, made it clear that this would be his last time playing the part of the globe-trotting, whip-cracking archeologist. And based on the less-than-stellar box office returns for "Dial of Destiny," it's unlikely Disney is going to be rushing to make another Indiana Jones movie anytime soon. But while Ford has hung up his hat and whip, Allen isn't quite ready to say goodbye to Marion just yet.

Never Say Never

In "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny," we learn that Indy...

After foiling a Nazi plot to unleash the power of the Ark of the Covenant on the world, the intrepid archaeologist, Indiana Jones, is heading beneath the Pankot Palace in India to recover the mystical Sankara Stones from the evil Thuggee cult, led by the deranged priest Mola Ram. This mission is all in a day’s work for Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones Jr., whose heroism is becoming a legend worldwide after his thrilling adventure in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Grab your trusty braided kangaroo leather whip, bury your entomophobia deep, and bring your appetite for chilled monkey brains because we’re looking back on the second chapter of Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom!

When executive producer and story writer George Lucas teamed up with Steven Spielberg for the Indiana Jones project, the creator of the Star Wars Universe said he...

Star Wars and Indiana Jones have gone hand in hand virtually since their inception. The swashbuckling archeologist was famously conceived on a beach in Hawaii, as George Lucas hid from what he thought would be a disastrous opening for Star Wars: Episode IV. He and Steven Spielberg fleshed out what became Raiders of the Lost Ark on the spot. The two franchises practically swapped summer pole positions from year to year, dominating the box office four of the first five years of the 1980s. That pattern paused iin 1982 only for Spielberg's equally mammoth hit E.T. The Extraterrestrial.

Between all that and a shared star in Harrison Ford, it was inevitable that the two franchises would find some way to acknowledge each other. While Star Wars has some logistical difficulties in doing so it's set long before Indiana Jones was even born), Indy had no such limitations. Each of...

Anticipation is high for the next iteration of James Bond, but the 26th movie in the franchise needs to reckon with the series’ ongoing struggle with tone. The James Bond character has been popular since his theatrical film debut in 1962, with the franchise being the second-longest running in film history, behind Godzilla. However, it’s this same longevity that bogs the James Bond franchise down in questions of its tone. With such a substantial legacy to uphold, the questions of who James Bond is, how he ought to act, and how serious the movies should be, weigh heavily on the shoulders of Bond 26.

The James Bond franchise has undergone numerous transformations over the years. Some changes, like the dropping of its outdated misogyny, were undoubtedly for the better; others, such as the Daniel Craig era’s darker, more serious direction, were controversial. While Daniel Craig's James Bond movies were a...

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny finally hit theaters with Harrison Ford returning as the iconic adventurer one last time. He was joined by a number of new cast members, with Fleabag creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge portraying the female lead opposite Ford. Waller-Bridge portrays the character of Helena Shaw, Jones's goddaughter and quite the adventurer in her own right. With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny confirmed as the last installment featuring Ford as the whip-wielding, world-traveling archeologist, there are growing rumors that the franchise itself may continue. However, it would be with Waller-Bridge as the new lead character.

Update July 10, 2023: This article has been updated following the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Back in September 2022, the Daily Mail reported on the rumors that Waller-Bridge would be taking over the franchise’s leading spot, with possible future films centering on her new character,...

With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in theatres and playing to divisive audience reactions and less spectacular than expected box office, we thought now would be the time to do our definitive ranking of the Indiana Jones films. Of course, these rankings are just our opinions, so if you disagree – and many of you probably do – make sure to hit us up in the comments. Time to let er’ rip!

5 – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Some of you reading this probably think I’m crazy. Am I actually saying Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is better than Dial of Destiny? Here’s the thing – some parts of Crystal Skull are worse than anything in Dial of Destiny. There’s nothing horrifically embarrassing in this movie, but the thing is, there’s nothing terribly memorable, either. The action is bland, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge,...

As “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” hits theaters, it’s time yet again for the fan debate over whether the MacGuffin and/or ending of the latest “Indiana Jones” movie is too far-fetched. This debate ignited when “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” was released in 2008, which found Harrison Ford’s rugged hero coming face-to-face with a literal alien, but how quickly fans seem to forget that this is a franchise rooted in the mystical – going all the way back to Steven Spielberg’s original, iconic “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

“Dial of Destiny” takes a big swing in its third act, but it’s a swing that is – on the whole – not much bolder or bigger than what’s been portrayed in the previous films. So why does this always seem to catch fans by surprise? Because “Indiana Jones” is too good.

Spielberg, Ford,...

With the release of Harrison Ford’s final Indiana Jones film, The Dial of Destiny, the saga is officially over. But before we put all five movies in a museum, let’s take a look back. Below, The Hollywood Reporter ranks Dr. Jones’ adventures from the worst to the best. It’s a franchise that helped define the summer blockbuster and represented some of the best work of creators George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Ford — who will probably be forever more closely identified with his intrepid archaeologist than any other character from his career.

But since we’re starting at the bottom, that can only mean that we must first discuss…

Harrison Ford and Shia Labeouf in ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.’ 5. The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

A hokey ramshackle mess. Everything about the fourth film feels weirdly distant and off somehow; slathered in a CG haze.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny finally hits theaters on June 30th and will conclude the long and storied adventures of Harrison Ford's Indiana Jones. Although the new installment of the franchise is exciting, nothing will ever be able to top the three original Indiana Jones movies.

Temple of Doom, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and The Last Crusade all show their age in certain places, but the original Indiana Jones trilogy has still aged particularly well. From iconic characters to timeless scenes and catchy music, the three Indiana Jones movies still hold up.

Related: 10 Funniest Quotes From The Indiana Jones Movies

The Indiana Jones Trilogy Characters Are All Timeless

There are plenty of highlights to be found within the original trilogy of Indiana Jones films, including the array of iconic characters. All three films include one character or more who has become iconic, such as Karen Allen's Marion Ravenwood,...

It truly goes without saying that the first three Indiana Jones films are some of the most beloved films ever made with one of the most beloved characters ever to grace the big screen in Harrison Ford’s Henry Jones. Jr. Spawned from the gray matter of George Lucas and brought to the screen by Steven Spielberg, these films are gilded in the eyes of cinema fans and sit alongside other beloved IPs such as Star Wars and James Bond.

I could sit here and indulge in a warmed-over analysis of why these films and the characters have endured so long, but that sounds boring and frankly, I don’t think I’m capable of offering anything new or unique to say. What I can do is gush about one of my favorite elements of the franchise – the veins of horror that run through them. Although these films are ostensibly seen as “family films,...

Eight minutes into Temple Of Doom, Indiana Jones kills someone by hurling a flaming kebab into his chest. As far as I’m aware, we hadn’t seen such a thing on screen before. Or in real life. It’s outrageous really, an insane thing to do, and to see. But all of Temple Of Doom is loopy. With Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas had made a genuinely classic film, got heaps of acclaim, and now here they were with a follow-up for which they, well, went mad. To which I say: Thank you.

Temple Of Doom is pulpier, funnier, sillier, scarier than Raiders. Each Indy outing is tonally different from the last; this one actually becomes a whole other film halfway through, switching unapologetically from knockabout farce to traumatic nightmare. And for all its faults – which, for all the film’s greatness, are admittedly plentiful – it is,...

Indiana Jones has had numerous romances in the Indiana Jones franchise, but they consistently either fail or face considerable difficulties. Indy's return to adventure in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is a fond-farewell to Harrison Ford's iconic archeologist, but Indy's adventures also have another side to them. Romance is also a factor in his escapades.

Throughout the Indiana Jones franchise, Indy has had major romances with Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw), and Dr. Elsa Schneider (Allison Doody). Indy's romances with Willie and Elsa both failed, while he would eventually go on to marry Marion in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. However, while each of Indy's major romances are unique, all three show some common characteristics that demonstrate why Indy's romances seldom last, and encounter great challenges when they do.

Related: Indiana Jones Would Never Have Survived The Last Crusade's...

In the West (and indeed by me), Ringo Lam is perhaps best known as the director of Jean-Claude Van Damme vehicles like Maximum Risk and the underrated In Hell, but like most of the Hong Kong filmmakers who started doing English language work in the ’90s and ’00s, he had a long history in action movies in his home country. He directed many contemporary action films, notably City on Fire, which Quentin Tarantino took liberal inspiration from for parts of Reservoir Dogs.

Burning Paradise, made in 1994, is Lam’s sole wuxia film. A remake of 1965’s Temple of the Red Lotus, starring the legendary Jimmy Wang Yu, it follows Fong Sai-yuk (Willie Chi Tian-Sheng), a survivor of the sacking of Shaolin Temple by the Manchu army. However, he is captured, along with a young girl, Dau Dau (Carman Lee Yeuk-Tung), who helped him and his master hide from the Manchu.

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy announced at The Walt Disney Company’s Upfronts Presentation that the iconic “Indiana Jones” movies will be available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar starting May 31.

Fans can stream “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” before the final instalment of the beloved franchise, “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” opens exclusively in theatres June 30.

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

In this first installment of the series, which was nominated for eight Academy Awards® including Best Picture and won four, archeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is tasked by Army Intelligence to track down an invaluable staff that is the key to locating the Ark of the Covenant, which is being sought by the Nazis.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom...

A new fan art captures Harrison Ford's iconic look from 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, complete with an intricate version of Indy's whip. The second Indiana Jones film saw the seasoned adventurer take on a more rugged look than any other installment. This includes a torn-open shirt from when Mola Ram almost used Indy for human sacrifice near the film's climax.

Recently, Paco Manzanera has posted an Indy fan art from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paco Manzanera (@pacomanzanera)

Manzanera's art captures Ford's signature look from the movie, complete with a stylized whip that wraps around the entire image. The stunning piece of art is also a reminder that Indy's final journey, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, will be coming to theaters soon.

Why Temple Of Doom Is Still Highly...

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom features an excellent cast of talented actors, and many of the film’s most memorable faces went on to have very successful careers after the success of this project. Temple of Doom is the second entry in the Indiana Jones franchise, following the titular protagonist as he attempts to retrieve an ancient stone that’s been stolen from a village in India by a High Priest and his followers. Just like Raiders of the Lost Ark, the movie sees Jones embark on several dangerous adventures and thrilling chases in his pursuit of this treasure.

The Indiana Jones movies are among the most popular and influential of their genre. They were majorly responsible for the boost of blockbuster adventure movies throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, with Temple of Doom, in particular, pushing the series to bolder, more dynamic heights. While it isn’t as...