With the release of the latest and likely last film in the Indiana Jones franchise, Dial of Destiny, I decided to rank the 5 movies in the series.

On the whole, I like the series in spite of its faults. I do have a couple of possibly controversial opinions which should possibly make this an interesting list at least.

5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

We start the list off on an awkward note with Indiana Jones’s latest film being placed as my least favourite of the series. So far it has garnered a somewhat split reaction, and time will tell whether it’ll lean towards positive, negative, or just stay somewhere in the middle. I admit that while I have lots of issues, I still like the movie. I enjoyed the opening action sequence, I liked the story in concept, and there are some enjoyable moments. Most of all, Harrison Ford gives everything to his final performance as Indiana Jones, which helps elevate the movie so much more.

It’s a shame then that most of my praises of my movie sound like I’m damning with fine praise, probably because that’s exactly what I’m doing. The newer cast members are good in their parts but most of them are underutilized. Even Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who adds a lot of well needed energy to the movie, suffers from the flawed writing. Also the movie doesn’t even make the most out of Mads Mikkelsen as the central villain. While the story sounds promising in concept, it’s execution is rather dry and dull. The direction is competent enough, but considering James Mangold’s work on films like Logan, 3:10 to Yuma and Ford v Ferrari, you’d expect something more from him. Until it gets into the third act, the film really isn’t that memorable. Much of the action beyond of the opening isn’t special, and the imagery is bland and forgettable, especially when compared to the previous four movies. The most egregious part of all however is that it seems to reach the same end point as Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, except the film is far less interesting and a whole lot worse. The best thing I can say about it is that it provides detractors of the fourth movie an alternate final ending for the series. A someone who enjoyed that movie however, this was a disappointing and unnecessary sequel. I maintain that I still enjoyed Dial of Destiny, but I don’t think I want to watch it again.

My review of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

4. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

The first of my hot takes are my very mixed thoughts on Temple of Doom. I make it no secret that I don’t care for the second movie all that much. The sexist and racist stereotypes and caricatures are annoying at best, uncomfortable at worst. The comedy misses more than it hits, and it can become grating to watch. It’s also a tonally weird movie, with it being both the darkest and most immature film in the franchise. While I like the idea of mixing contrasting elements, the end result is very inconsistent and unsure of itself. Even if you were to look past the problematic aspects, I just find Temple of Doom to be a very dull movie for the most part. After the exciting opening sequence in Shanghai, it jumps between being incredibly juvenile and kind of boring. Regardless of the plot in concept, so much of the movie feels very drawn out and I wasn’t as intrigued in the adventure as I was with Raiders of the Lost Ark.

So there’s a couple questions raised here: why this movie is ranked higher than Dial of Destiny, whose lows aren’t nearly as low as Temple’s, and why do I like the movie at all? While I’d only ever watch Temple of Doom when rewatching the whole Indiana Jones series, by the end I don’t have regrets watching it again. The quality of the movie varies throughout its first two acts, but the third act is genuinely great and is some of the best that this series can offer. Tonally it finds its balance, definitely Indiana Jones but with a far darker and weirder flavor. It’s also just very impressive on a technical level, with it being some of Steven Spielberg’s best work across his four films in the series. The production design is outstanding, the set pieces are great, and there’s are some truly fantastic imagery and visuals. Also, from the opening action sequence, all the way through the monkey brain eating, the heart ripping sacrifice, to the finale on the bridge, Temple of Doom is undeniably memorable and iconic. While the overall movie is a mess as a result of it, I can’t help but admire how bold and it was. Any movie that helps spur the creation of the PG-13 rating is at least doing something interesting I guess. Temple of Doom’s lows are incredibly bad, but its highs are some of the best in the series. It’s a mixed bag of a movie, but definitely one I admire at the very least.

My review of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

3. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

My second hot take is that not only do I like Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but I also have it higher than any of the original trilogy. Ever since it came out in 2008, there’s been a large disdain for Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. However, I liked it when it came out, and I still really enjoy it. I’ve seen all the hate and the criticisms, and I don’t agreed with most of it. The infamous fridge nuking scene? Amazing and undeniably iconic scene, not to mention in line with the past ridiculous scenes of the franchise. The alien stuff? A bit out there for sure, but handled well enough in the movie that I didn’t mind it. I even liked Shia LaBeouf’s Mutt Williams. It’s a pretty good adventure, the cast is solid, the set pieces are enthralling, and I was consistently entertained throughout. I’m not going to say that it is without issues; it relies a bit too much on CGI over practical effects, even if it doesn’t ruin the experience. However, my biggest issue is that it feels like its in somewhat safe and familiar territory for an Indiana Jones movie. Nonetheless, the movie is executed quite well, and I am more than comfortable in saying that it’s better than Temple of Doom. Most of all, I was fully satisfied with the ending that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull presented; it works as a triumphant final adventure for Indiana Jones, and to me is the definitive conclusion to the series.

My review of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark remains an incredible and influential piece of filmmaking. There’s no end to the things that can be said about the movie, from the memorable characters, to the fantastic set pieces, quotable dialogue and more. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas created a tightly woven, straightforward and fun adventure. There’s a sense of wonder, a good amount of comedy, and surprising bursts of scariness and violence. It is perfectly crafted and directed with plenty of energy and style by Spielberg. It’s also beautifully shot, utilizes well aged practical effects, and is accompanied by an iconic score from John Williams. Then of course, there’s Harrison Ford himself; at this point we’ve come to expect him to deliver him in the role of Indiana Jones, and he does so with every film. But it’s difficult to undersell just how key he was for this movie and the sequels, bringing the perfect level of charisma and personality to this character. Raiders of the Lost Ark is still a classic, and its no surprise that it holds up today.

My review of Raiders of the Lost Ark

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

In most rankings of the Indiana Jones, the favourite usually ends up being between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, and for me it’s the latter. It’s an exhilarating adventure which feels more personal and emotional this time, and with more heart and comedy. The plot is well structured and kept at a fast pace, with never a dull moment. Steven Spielberg’s direction is as strong as ever with impressive and memorable set pieces, particularly in its fantastic third act. There is an argument to be made that it’s a bit too safe as an Indiana Jones movie. It goes back to familiar territory, once again focusing on Indy going after a biblical artifact before the Nazis get it. Except this time, it’s less gritty than Raiders, and the tone is significantly lighter (no doubt because of how dark and violent Temple of Doom was). One could say that perhaps Spielberg and George Lucas overcorrected following the last movie. All that being said, I can’t deny that the end result just really works for me.

Still, there’s a question as to why I prefer this over Raiders. The tipping point for me might just be Sean Connery as Indiana Jones’s father. He and Harrison Ford make for such an amazing duo and share perfect chemistry together. They are convincing as father and son and their relationship adds so much to the movie, both on an entertainment level and a story level. Perhaps it’s a little less ambitious than Raiders and less daring than Temple, but The Last Crusade was an incredibly entertaining ride, and it remains my favourite of the Indiana Jones films.

My review of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

How would you rank the Indiana Jones movies?