Plus, The Best and the Worst of the Movies

I remember seeing these movies in the theater years ago. Recently we rewatched all the Indiana Jones movies by release date. 1) That is the correct way to watch them, and 2) if you watched them by Indiana Jones age in the movie, you may get discouraged and quit watching because you would have to start with the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. The Indiana Jones franchise is based on Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr., an archaeology professor. Harrison Ford plays Dr. Jones.

Dr. Jones is a fictional character, and in one of the movies, you see how his persona of Indiana Jones developed. These adventure movies and series are over-the-top in daring feats. They are a little bit James Bond and a little bit TinTin in their absurdity, but that is what makes them work. Here is a List of all the Indiana Jones movies by release date in the theater.

Indiana Jones Movies by Release Date

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

This first movie starring the character of Indiana Jones was released on June 12, 1981. To give you an idea of theatrical releases in the 1980s, there was no PG-13 rating at this time. Movies (even bad movies) stayed in theaters much longer. We saw this movie in September 1981. I know because I saved my ticket stubs for a few years in the 80s while I was dating my husband.

This is the first movie in the series and was directed by Steven Spielberg. The story was created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. It features Indiana Jones on a quest to find the lost ark of the covenant as found in the Bible. Jones is sent on a mission to Tanis, Egypt, on behalf of the US Government. He realizes that the Nazis are looking for the Lost Ark of the Covenant, and he is trying to find it before they do. Adolf Hitler thinks the powers of the ark will help him on his trek toward world domination.

This original film was set in 1936. Filming took place in LaRochelle, France and in Tunisia and Hawaii. In my opinion, this is the best Indiana Jones movie out of all of them. 

Raiders of the Lost Ark won Five Academy Awards, seven Saturn awards, and one BAFTA award. Additionally, this first film became the highest-grossing film of 1981. It played in some theaters for over a year. The Academy Awards won were: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Effects, Visual Effects, and Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects. 

Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984)

The second film was also considered a prequel as it is the year 1935. This movie was rated PG by the MPAA, and along with the movie Gremlin, was responsible for the change in movie ratings. After this movie, the Motion Picture Association of America adopted new ratings at the suggestion of Steven Spielberg. The first film to use the PG-13 rating was Red Dawn. 

The setting is a village in India, and this movie overall is much darker and more sinister than the first. It is difficult to watch and features human sacrifice, child slavery, and a human heart being ripped out of a body while the person is alive. It is reported that Steven Spielberg was going through a divorce, which is the reason for the more somber film. This film was banned in India due to its portrayal of the culture. They felt that it was racist and offensive. Since it was banned, most of the filming took place in Sri Lanka and England.

In the second movie, Jones travels to an Indian village with Short Round and a nightclub singer, Willie Scott played by Kate Capshaw. In the village, he discovers that a sacred stone has been stolen. The villagers believe the missing stone protected them from hardship. After the stone’s disappearance, they have suffered from drought, and all of the village’s children have disappeared. Jones works to recover the stone and ends up finding the children too.

The Temple of Doom won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989)

Film number three was the first Indiana Jones movie to have a PG-13 rating. 

Furthermore, it explains to the viewer where the classic Indiana Jones look came from, and what propels Indiana to do the things he does. It also answers the question, “How did Indiana get his name?” We meet Indiana Jones’s father, played by Sean Connery. 

The majority of the movie is set during the year 1938. Jones, Jr. searches for his missing father, who was searching for the Holy Grail. Once again, Indiana is followed by a group of Nazis and the Nazi army as he attempts to find the grail before they do. The film also features Adolf Hitler (Michael Sheard) and a book-burning scene.

Filming for this film included the following locations: Spain, Italy, West Germany, the UK, the United States, and Jordan.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was the highest-grossing film of 1989. Additionally, it won an Academy Award for the Best Sound Effects Editing. The cast includes: River Phoenix as a young Indy, Denham Elliott as Marcus Brody (who starred in the first film), Alison Doody as Dr. Elsa Schneider, John Rhys-Davies as Sallah, and Julian Gover as Walter Donovan. 

Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

The fourth film in the series features Karen Allen. She is back as Indiana Jone’s love interest Marion Ravenwood. The film also features a darker plot. It is in this movie that it is revealed the true identity of Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf). Rated PG-13.

It is now the year 1957. Soviet agents are searching for a crystal skull. Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), a KGB agent, kidnaps Indiana Jones and his partner, George McHale. This movie features Roswell, alien corpse, and a Soviet plot.

Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny (2023)

Finally, a new movie in the Indiana Jones series. This is the fifth film and comes 15 years after movie number four. Lot of changes in the Indiana Jones series. First, this is the first produced by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The other movies were produced by Paramount Pictures. Additionally,  it is not directed by Steven Spielberg, but instead by James Mangold. Finally, it was not written by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge plays Helen Shaw as Jone’s goddaughter. Antonio Banderas plays Renaldo, an old friend of Indiana Jones. Karen Allen once again plays Indiana Jones wife. John Rhys-Davies, who played Sallah in Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, reprises his role. However, Shia LaBeouf is absent in this film.

Indiana Jones Movies and Series By Release Order

First Movie – Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark – June 12, 1981

Second Movie – Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom – May 23, 1984

Third Movie – Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade – May 24, 1989

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (Season 1) – March 4, 1992

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (Season 2) – September 21, 1992

Young Indiana Jones and the Hollywood Follies (made for TV film) – October 15, 1994

Young Indiana Jones and the Treasure of the Peackock’s Eye (made for TV film) – January 15, 1995

The Young Indiana Jones and the Attack of the Hawkmen (made for TV film) – October 8, 1995

Young Indiana Jones: Travels with Father (made for TV film) – June 16, 1996

Fourth Movie – Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull – May 22, 2008

Fifth Movie – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – June 30, 2023

Indiana Jones Movies and Episodes by Chronological Order

Chronological order means arranging the movies in order of occurrence in time. This means that if a movie or show was released after another one, but is earlier in history than the previous movie, you would be watching it first. For example, even though The Raiders of the Lost Ark was made first, it occurs in history after The Temple of Doom so you would watch The Temple of Doom first. I have listed the movies and episodes by the events in the films. YIJC is Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.

Indiana Jones Chronicles Highlight his life from Age 9 through Age 21. This was the original release of the series. The current episodes on Disney+ are taken from this series and renamed and reorganized. See below for more about the Disney+ Young Indiana Jones.

Indiana Jones Movies Begin when Indy is 36 years old

1935 Temple of Doom (Movie released 1984)

1936 Raiders of the Lost Ark (Movie released 1981)

1938 The Last Crusade (Movie begins in 1912. It was released in 1989)

1957 The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Movie released 2008)

​1969 Dial of Destiny (Movie released 2023)

The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones Currently on Disney+

Disney has taken the original Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and repackaged them. This is how they are streaming on Disney+.

1) My First Adventure

Edited from Egypt May 1908 and Tangiers July 1909.

2) Passion for Life

Includes British East Africa September 1909 and Paris September 1908

3) The Perils of Cupid

Episodes Vienna November 1908 and Florence May 1908

4) Travels with Father

Edited version of the television filmed that aired on June 16, 1996.

5) Journey of Radiance

Episodes Benares January 1910 and Peking March 1910

6) Spring Break Adventure

Princeton, February 1916 and the second half of Youngstown Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Jackal (Mexico, 1916)

7) Love’s Sweet Song

Ireland, April 1916 and London May 1916

8) Trenches of Hell

Somme Early August 1916 and Germany Mid-August 1916

9) Demons of Deception

Verdun September 1916 and Paris 1916

10) Phantom Train of Doom

Edited from the Phantom Train of Doom which originally aired June 5, 1993.

11) Oganga, the Giver and Taker of Life

German East Africa, December 1916 and Congo January 1917

12) Attack of the Hawkmen

Ravenelle, Early February 1917 and Ahihorn, Late February 1917

13) Adventures in the Secret Service

Austria March 1917 and Petrograd July 1917

14) Espionage Escapades

Barcelona May 1917 and Prague August 1917

15) Tales of the Desert

16) Tales of Innocence

17) Masks of Evil

18) Treasure of the Peacock’s Eye

19) Winds of Change

20) Mystery of the Blues

21) Scandal of 1920

22) Hollywood Follies

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is Dr. Henry Jones called Indiana?

It is a nickname that Henry Jones adopted from his childhood dog.

What does Indiana’s father call him? 

Indiana Jones father calls him Junior. His real name is Henry Jones, Jr.

Who played Indiana’s father?

Sean Connery played Indiana’s father. 

What is Indiana Jone’s fear?

Indiana Jones is afraid of snakes. He says, “Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” In all the films, he is faced with snakes.

Where Can I Stream the Indiana Jones Movies?

Disney bought the rights to the Indiana Jones franchise. You can stream the first 4 movies on Disney+. On June 30, 2023, the fifth movie, Dial of Destiny released to the theaters. It should come to Disney+ in approximately 3 months.

Where Can I Watch the Indiana Jones Movies and the TV Series?

You can stream them on Disney+. Additionally, you can rent the movies on Amazon Prime Video.