Indiana Jones Franchise Ranking

With the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, I decided to re-watch all of the Indiana Jones films. The Indiana Jones franchise is one of my all-time favorite film franchises. Indiana Jones is an iconic movie character and the original three films are iconic adventure films. The practical effect with the subtle humor were some of my favorite parts of these movies. This is also a franchise that my mom and I share an interest in so I have fond memories of watching these films with her. With all that being said, here are my thoughts and ranking on the five Indiana Jones films.

5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a disappointing entry in this franchise. Thankfully it does, at least, somewhat capture the charm of the original films. It has quite a few fun sequences in the movie. The downtown car chase was fun as was the beginning storage base sequence. I also always just enjoy an action-adventure story regardless of how good it actually is. The way the story tied in cold war politics was also a bit fun. It was cool to see the movie change with the times and not just be about fighting Nazis. However, while it does capture some of the magic, it really doesn't come anywhere close to the magic of the original films. The biggest issue is that the movie used way too much CGI. The original films stood out because they were all about practical effects and huge action set pieces. However, with this film, everything was CGI none of the effects were practical and everything felt like it was on a green screen. I also wasn't a fan of the addition of Mutt. I didn't feel like he had good chemistry with Indy nor could I buy into his relationship with Indy. Finally, I felt that the whole alien plot was just so out of place and not a good fit for an Indiana Jones film. Indiana Jones is all about action and adventure, not Sci-Fi. Overall, this movie is very much a watchable film but it has some significant flaws that prevent it from reaching the levels of the originals.

Grade: B- Score: 6.5/10

4. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Indiana Jones and the Dial of the Destiny is the final film of this franchise to be released. Of course, it is fun to see Harrison Ford back as Indiana Jones. He still manages to have the same charm even when being 80 years old. There are also a lot of solid action sequences in the film. The parade chase and Tuk Tuk chase are both a lot of fun to watch. The sequences still use quite a bit of CGI but it is not at the level of most modern blockbusters. I also enjoyed the new addition of Helen as well as Dr. Voller. It was also a lot of fun to see Sallah again after 40 years. Finally, I felt that this film delivered a decent enough close-out to Indy's story. Unfortunately, the film as a whole pales in comparison to the original trilogy. It doesn't have the lows of Crystal Skull but it doesn't capture the magic of the original either. The biggest reason for this is the use of CGI. Indiana Jones is known for the practical stunt work and effects but this movie instead uses quite a bit of CGI. It isn't as excessive as Crystal Skull but it just doesn't feel like Indiana Jones. I also thought the third act and ending were a little weird. I wasn't a fan of the direction the finale went and while the ending did close things in a satisfying way, it definitely could have been better. Overall, while it was fun to see Indiana Jones again, the movie is not good enough to justify its existence.

Grade: B Score: 7/10

3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

While it may be the 3rd best Indiana Jones film, the Temple of Doom is still a very good movie. It is an iconic adventure story that still feels like classic Indiana Jones. The action in this film is great as always. There are a lot of solid action sequences with practical effects and stunt work. It also has some funny moments and dialogue as is typical of an Indiana Jones film. This movie also gives us the introduction of Short Round. Short Round is such a fun character and has such great chemistry with Indy. He also gets a few solid action moments of his own that really frame him as being a protégée to Indy. This movie also has a really great score from the great John Williams. The music does a great job of amplifying the tone and adventure of the story. While this movie is great, it probably has the weakest plot of the original trilogy of Indiana Jones films. That is not to say it isn't a good story. It just isn't as good as the other two. The only issue I have with the film is the Willie character. She is just so loud, annoying, and selfish that it is just so hard to see why Indy likes her. In the end, this is a great adventure movie and yet another win in this franchise.

Grade: A- Score: 8.5/10

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark is essentially tied with The Last Crusade on this list. This movie is the quintessential adventure movie with the quintessential adventure hero. Harrison Ford carries this movie and is so much fun in this role. There are so many iconic action sequences between the opening temple scene, the chase of the ark, and the plane battle that are just so cool to watch. The best part is that these are all done practically with real stunt work and effects. The score is also great in this film. John Williams created yet another iconic score that enhances what is going on in the movie. Marion is also a solid character in the film. She isn't a typical damsel in distress as she can hold her own in different fights and does a great job of going toe to toe with Indy. This is just a classic adventure story that set the stage for how adventure films would look for many years. This is a prime example of a perfect movie and is not only one of the best Indiana Jones films but also one of my all-time favorite movies.

Grade: A Score: 10/10

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is my all time favorite adventure movie. I really enjoy this movie. It is also in my top 5 favorite movies of all time. Harrison Ford is the perfect person to play Indiana Jones. This movie is just really funny and does a great job of including humor in the overall adventure story. The action sequences in this movie are also really well done. They are all done with practical effects and stunt work and with no CGI which a lot of movies just don't do anymore. There are some very exciting scenes such as Indy vs the Tank that are some of my favorite movie scenes ever. The best part about this movie is the dynamic between Indiana Jones and his dad. Their chemistry leads to some really funny moments. It is also really fun to see their differing approaches on how to handle certain situations. Finally, the score in this movie is just so good. John Williams really killed it with the music. This is a perfect movie. In the end, this film is so much fun and clearly takes the spot as the best Indiana Jones film and one of my all time favorite films.

Grade: A+ Score: 10/10