Film · in order
Indiana Jones Movies in Order
All five Indiana Jones movies in order. Release order is the best first watch; the chronological timeline puts the Temple of Doom prequel (set in 1935) ahead of Raiders.
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Why this order?
There are only five Indiana Jones films, and for almost everyone the right way in is release order: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Temple of Doom (1984), Last Crusade (1989), Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and Dial of Destiny (2023). This is how the story was built for audiences, and Raiders remains the cleanest, most confident introduction to Indy. Each film is a self-contained adventure, so you lose almost nothing by watching them as they were made.
The gotcha is the timeline. Temple of Doom (1984) is actually a prequel: it is set in 1935, one year before Raiders, which takes place in 1936. So if you want to follow the events in their in-world chronology, the order becomes Temple of Doom, Raiders, Last Crusade, Crystal Skull, then Dial of Destiny. Only the first two films swap places; the rest already line up because Last Crusade (1938), Crystal Skull (1957), and Dial of Destiny (1969) move steadily forward in time.
Which should you pick? For a first watch, stick with release order. Temple of Doom is darker and more divisive, and Raiders simply sells the character better as an opener. The chronological order is a fun second pass once you already love these movies and want to watch Indy age in real story-time.
If you enjoy this brand of pulp adventure, the obvious neighbors are the Tomb Raider films and The Mummy series, both of which borrow heavily from the Indiana Jones template. Fans of director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas will also find clear DNA shared with the original Star Wars trilogy.
Timeline 1981โ2023
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
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Frequently asked questions
How many Indiana Jones movies are there?
There are five Indiana Jones films: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Temple of Doom (1984), Last Crusade (1989), Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and Dial of Destiny (2023).
What order should I watch Indiana Jones in?
For a first watch, use release order starting with Raiders of the Lost Ark. It is the strongest introduction to the character and the way the saga was designed to be seen.
Why does Temple of Doom come first chronologically?
Temple of Doom was released second in 1984 but is set in 1935, a year before Raiders of the Lost Ark (1936). So in the in-world timeline it actually comes first.
Is release order or chronological order better?
Release order is better for newcomers, since Raiders is the ideal opener. Chronological order is a fun second pass once you already know and love the films.
Does Harrison Ford play Indiana Jones in every movie?
Yes. Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones in all five theatrical films, from Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981 through Dial of Destiny in 2023.
Do I need to watch the movies in order to follow the story?
Not really. Each film is a self-contained adventure, so they can be enjoyed individually, though watching in release order gives the smoothest experience.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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