Harrison Ford is back as Indiana Jones for a fifth and final time in the new movie “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.” The actor, 80, has been vocal that he won’t be returning as the intrepid, whip-wielding hero, and he also doesn’t want anyone else to step into his shoes either. Back in 2019, Ford addressed rumors that the role would be recast with Chris Pratt and said, “Nobody is gonna be Indiana Jones. Don’t you get it? I’m Indiana Jones. When I’m gone, he’s gone. It’s easy.”
Earlier this year, Ford doubled down on “Dial of Destiny” being the last time he’ll play his Indiana Jones character. “This is the final film in the series, and this is the last time I’ll play the character. I anticipate that it will be the last time that he appears in a film,” he told Total Film in April, adding that he won’t return for a rumored TV spinoff either.
Ford has played the character five times in five films, beginning with 1981’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” In that film, Indiana, Marian (Karen Allen), Sallah (John Rhys-Davies), and their allies try to keep the Ark of the Covenant out of Nazi hands. Before the ’80s ended, Ford returned to the role twice more, in 1984’s “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and 1989’s “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Ford (and franchise director Steven Spielberg) came back for another go-around in 2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” but after split reviews, it seemed that would be the end of Indy’s cinematic journey. But director James Mangold picked up the directing helm for 2023’s “Dial of Destiny,” giving Indiana a final, official send-off.
Ahead, find your guide to all of the Indiana Jones films.
Indiana Jones Movies in Release Date Order
- “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)
- “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984)
- “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989)
- “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” (2008)
- “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” (2023)
Indiana Jones Movies in Chronological Order
- “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”
- “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
- “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”
- “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
- “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
"Raiders of the Lost Ark"
“Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the first-ever Indiana Jones film, and its widely considered the best of the bunch. Set in 1936, in the film, Indy races against a Nazi archaeologist who wants the Ark of the Covenant, believed to make an army invisible. It became the highest-grossing film of 1981. Like the other Indiana Jones films, it features an iconic score from composer John Williams, including the instantly-recognizable Indiana Jones theme.
Courtesy Everett Collection
"Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"
“Temple of Doom,” released in 1984, technically takes place a year before “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and is set in 1935. In the film, Indiana teams up with nightclub singer Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw, who eventually married director Spielberg) and Short Round, played by then-future Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan in his on-screen debut. In the film, the three agree to help Indian villagers who want them to find a mystical stone and rescue their children.
Quan attended the June 14 “Dial of Destiny” premiere and wrote in part on Instagram, “Indy will always be a hero to Short Round and Harrison Ford will always be a hero to me❣️ I wish he could continue in this role forever, but I was happy to be there last night to see him crack that whip one more time.”
Fun fact: “Temple of Doom” and Spielberg helped inspire the Motion Picture Association of America to add the PG-13 rating in between PG and R, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Related: Ke Huy Quan Has an Emotional Reunion With Harrison Ford: "You're All Grown Up"
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
"Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"
“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” released in 1989, was generally better received than “Temple of Doom” and it seemed this would be the last movie in the franchise. It sees Indiana search for the mythical Holy Grail in 1938, once again trying to keep it out of Nazi hands. He’s joined by his father Henry Jones Sr., played by Sean Connery. Rhys-Davies returns as Sallah and Denholm Elliott returns as Marcus Brody; both original characters were absent from the second installment. River Phoenix also appears as a young Indiana in flashbacks. Alison Doody plays Dr. Elsa Schneider, Indiana’s love interest.
©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” saw Ford and Spielberg return for another go at the franchise. Set in 1957, this time the villains are Soviet agents who are looking for a crystal skull. Allen finally returns as Marion Ravenwood and Cate Blanchett plays the villain, Soviet agent Irina Spalko. Most notably, Shia LaBeouf joins the cast as Mutt Williams, Indy’s son with Marion whom he did not know about. Mutt is a greaser who wears a leather jacket and uses a switchblade for his fighting. The movie was, once again, a box office success but divided critics and fans. Most controversially, at the beginning of the film, Indiana hides in a fridge to escape a nuclear bombing and the movie’s skull is directly related to aliens. Many fans would not suspend their disbelief quite that far.
©Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny"
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is the only Indiana jones film to not be directed by Spielberg. Instead, Mangold, whose credits include “Walk the Line” and “Logan,” takes the wheel. The 2023 movie, set in 1969, sees Indiana team up with his goddaughter Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) to chase down a Nazi scientist played by Mads Mikkelsen. The movie also features cameos from some of Indiana’s old friends while adding in new ones played by Antonio Banderas and Toby Jones.
