How to Watch Indiana Jones Movies in Order

The Indiana Jones franchise, created by George Lucas and Steven Speilberg, began in the early 1980s and features five main films starring Harrison Ford. The saga also includes the TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, which serves as the canonical starting point for the character's life.

Viewers can watch the movies in release order, beginning with Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), or in narrative chronological order, which starts with The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and then Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). The series includes The Last Crusade (1989), The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and concludes with the most recent entry, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023).

The adventures of Indiana Jones have spanned over four decades, culminating in the most recent film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. The franchise's canon includes five movies and the TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, which ran for two seasons in the 1990s. While dozens of other stories exist through novels, comics, and video games, the film and TV saga forms the core narrative.

Key Facts

• The franchise was created by George Lucas and Steven Speilberg.
• Harrison Ford stars as the thrill-seeking archeologist.
• The saga includes five movies and a TV series.
• The most recent film is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Watching the films in the order they were released allows viewers to experience the franchise as it unfolded. The release timeline begins with the 1981 original and extends to the 2023 finale.

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
2. The Temple of Doom (1984)
3. The Last Crusade (1989)
4. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (TV series: 1992–1996)
5. The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
6. The Dial of Destiny (2023)

The narrative chronological order presents the story of Indiana Jones from his youth through his final adventure. This viewing order differs from the release dates, with The Temple of Doom serving as the first chronological film despite being the second released.

0. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1996)

Though nonessential to the film saga, this series is the story's canonical starting point. It follows four iterations of the adventurer: the child, the teen/young adult (played by Sean Patrick Flanery), the middle-aged man (played by Harrison Ford in one episode), and the elder. The series explores Indy's background, including his relationship with his father, and features encounters with historical figures like Theodore Roosevelt, Leo Tolstoy, and Al Capone.

1. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Set a year before Raiders of the Lost Ark, this film is the first movie chronologically. It begins in Shanghai and moves to India, where Indy helps locals locate missing children and a stolen sacred stone. This entry is considered the series' darkest, featuring a scene where a man's heart is ripped from his chest. Its content, alongside the film Gremlins, led to the creation of the MPAA's PG-13 rating.

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Set in 1936, this film pits Indy against Nazi forces in a race to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant. It is the first on-screen adventure and established the franchise's globe-trotting formula.

3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

This adventure features a quest for the Holy Grail. Sean Connery plays Henry, Indy's estranged father, who goes missing while researching the relic. Indy races against the Nazis to find both his father and the artifact.

4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Released after a nearly 20-year hiatus, this film introduces Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams, the son of Indy and Marion Ravenwood. Cate Blanchett stars as Irina Spalko, a Soviet agent. The plot involves a race against the Soviets to obtain a telepathic crystal skull and introduces extraterrestrial elements to the series.

5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

The final film in the saga features Mads Mikkelsen, Boyd Holbrook, Antonio Banderas, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy's goddaughter, Helena. The story follows Helena's reunion with Indy as they chase down an ancient artifact.

How many Indiana Jones movies are there?
There are five movies in the film saga: Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and The Dial of Destiny.

Is the TV series part of the canon?
Yes, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is considered part of the franchise's canon and serves as the chronological beginning of the story.

Which movie comes first chronologically?
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is the starting point, followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.