Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is out now (you can read my review here), and it wraps up a five-film movie saga that has spanned over four decades. The franchise is among the most loved in movie history, and Indy himself among cinema’s biggest heroes.
Ranking movies can be a tricky subject, since it’s quite subjective and since the point of enjoying movies isn’t to compare them to everything else. But still, I thought it would be fun to think about the franchise and rank these five movies, especially to see where Dial of Destiny fits in. Here’s how I’d rank them:
5. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
If you haven’t watched Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in a while, it’s probably not nearly as bad as you remember it. But it still doesn’t come close to any of the other four films in the Indiana Jones franchise. It’s got some real enjoyable moments, and any time we get to see Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones going on an adventure that’s awesome. The movie brings back Marion Ravenwood and introduces her and Indy’s son, Mutt. The crystal skull provides enough intrigue to drive the plot, but in my opinion it’s by far the least interesting and meaningful of any of the macguffins in this franchise. As such, while I enjoy this movie, it’s the worst of the bunch. But any Indy adventure is better than no Indy adventure, that’s for sure.
4. Temple of Doom
The second chapter of the franchise is actually a prequel, set a year prior to Raiders of the Lost Ark. After a fantastic opening scene at Club Obi-Wan, Indy and his new sidekicks, Short Round and Willie, find themselves in India. There, they stumble upon a cult filled with child slavery and human sacrifice – making this by far the darkest Indiana Jones movie. But it’s also got some truly terrific moments, from that club scene to the mine car chase to the finale on the bridge. I think it’s consistently underrated.
3. Dial of Destiny
The newest – and final – movie ranks in the middle of the pack, which feels about right. (You could probably flip this one and Temple of Doom and not get much pushback from me, just like you could flip the top two spots, as we’ll see in a moment.) The movie introduces some great new cast members, but it’s real strength lies in the fact that the macguffin works perfectly for the story, and the story dives into some really compelling themes about aging, grief, and the past versus future. It’s poignant and thoughtful, and while it’s got some great action sequences like any Indy film, it’s also a movie where some of the best moments are the quietest, allowing Harrison Ford the chance to shine.
2. The Last Crusade
You could make a case for this being the best Indy film, and it’s actually the most enjoyable to rewatch, in my opinion. The movie is a sequel that functions like a prequel too, filling in plenty of Indy’s backstory by introducing his father. We see what drives his dad, and how that has shaped the younger Jones into the man he is too. The introduction of Sean Connery as Henry Jones, Sr., is pure genius, and the chemistry between Ford and Connery makes the movie a joyride throughout. It’s got some of the best chase sequences in the saga (by land, air, and sea, too!), the best puzzles and traps (at the grail temple), and a great message about what matters most in life.
1. Raiders of the Lost Ark
For as fun as The Last Crusade is, I find it nearly impossible to rank any of these movies above Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is a gold standard, not just of Indiana Jones films but movie making in general. The storytelling, direction, action, heart, music, cast members, and so much more combine to make an all-time classic. It’s got thrilling chases, plenty of puzzle solving and adventuring, romance, history mixed with fantasy, and a tale about Indy’s growth from a “fortune and glory” archaeologist into something more. In many ways it’s actually quite unfair to the other four movies on this list that Raiders came first, because it all but guaranteed that everything else would be trying to live up to it. There are plenty of great Indiana Jones movies and moments, but nothing tops the movie that started it all.
Star Wars Thoughts 