Honestly, if you're trying to figure out what is the order of the Indiana Jones movies, you aren't alone. It’s a bit of a mess. Most people think you just start with the first one and hit "play" until you reach the fifth. But Hollywood loves a good curveball.
Back in the early '80s, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg decided to get creative with the timeline. They didn't just make sequels; they made a prequel right out of the gate. This means the year a movie hit theaters isn't necessarily when the story takes place for Indy himself.
You’ve basically got two choices: the way the world saw them (Release Order) or the way Indy lived them (Chronological Order). Both have their perks. One is a nostalgia trip; the other is a character study. Let’s break it down so you can actually enjoy the whip-cracking without a headache.
The Classic Release Order: How Most People Saw It
If you want the "original" experience, this is it. You watch them as they were delivered to the public.
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) – This is the blueprint. It introduces us to the man in the hat, the fear of snakes, and the Nazis-as-villains trope that defines the series.
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) – The "sequel" that isn't. It’s darker, weirder, and famously gave us the PG-13 rating because it was too intense for kids but not quite "R" material.
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) – This one brings in Sean Connery as Indy’s dad. It’s a masterpiece of chemistry and closure (well, temporary closure).
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) – The long-awaited return. It jumped into the 1950s, traded Nazis for Soviets, and introduced aliens (er, "inter-dimensional beings").
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023) – The final ride. It deals with aging, retirement, and a literal trip through time.
Watching this way lets you see the filmmaking evolve. You see Harrison Ford age naturally. You see the special effects go from practical puppets to heavy CGI and then back to a mix of both.
The Chronological Timeline: Indiana’s Personal History
Now, if you want to be a completionist and watch the story from start to finish based on the calendar years within the films, things get a little funky.
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1935: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Surprise! The second movie released is actually the first one on the timeline. If you look closely at the opening title card, it says "Shanghai, 1935." That’s a full year before he goes looking for the Ark.
In this movie, Indy is a bit more of a mercenary. He’s looking for "fortune and glory." By the end, he’s starting to care more about the people and the history, which sets him up to be the hero we see later. It’s a rougher, meaner version of the character.
1936: Raiders of the Lost Ark
One year after surviving the Thuggee cult in India, Indy is back at Marshall College. The government shows up, asks him to find the Ark of the Covenant, and he’s off to Nepal and Egypt. This is the "definitive" Indy.
1938: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
We skip two years. It’s 1938, and the world is on the brink of World War II. Indy is reunited with his father to find the Holy Grail. Interestingly, this movie starts with a flashback to 1912, showing us a 13-year-old Indy (played by River Phoenix). If you’re being extremely technical, the first ten minutes of this movie are the earliest moments in the film franchise.
1957: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
A massive jump occurs here. We skip the entire second World War (mostly) and land in the middle of the Cold War. Indy is older, grumpier, and dealing with the fact that the world has changed.
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1969: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
The main story happens in 1969 against the backdrop of the Moon Landing. However, the movie opens with a massive 20-minute flashback to 1944. This fills in the gap of what Indy was doing during the tail end of the war, fighting Nazis on a train.
The "Secret" Layer: The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles
If you’re a true nerd for the lore, you can’t ignore the TV show. The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (later re-edited into The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones) covers Indy’s life from 1908 to the early 1920s.
You see him as a kid traveling with his dad, and as a teenager fighting in World War I. It’s actually canon. George Lucas spent a fortune on it to make sure it felt like the movies. If you add these, your "what is the order of the Indiana Jones movies" list gets a lot longer.
- 1908–1910: Indy as a child (the world tours).
- 1916–1919: Indy as a soldier and spy (the war years).
- 1920: Indy in Chicago and Hollywood.
Most casual fans skip these, and that's fine. But if you want to know why Indy speaks 27 languages and knows everyone from Teddy Roosevelt to Mata Hari, the show explains it.
Why the Order Actually Matters
You might think it doesn't matter since the adventures are "episodic." That’s mostly true for the first three. You can watch Raiders or Temple of Doom in any order and not feel lost.
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But Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny change the game. They rely heavily on your emotional connection to Indy’s past. If you haven't seen Raiders, the return of Marion Ravenwood doesn't hit the same. If you haven't seen Last Crusade, Indy’s complicated relationship with fatherhood in the later films won't make as much sense.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Marathon
If you're planning a rewatch or introducing someone to the series, here is the best way to handle it:
- Start with Raiders of the Lost Ark. Don't do chronological first. Raiders is the best introduction to the character’s world and tone. Starting with Temple of Doom can be jarring because it’s so much darker and the sidekick, Short Round, is a very specific vibe.
- Watch in Release Order for the first time. It’s how the filmmakers intended you to experience the growth of the legend.
- Save the TV show for last. Use it as "bonus content" if you find yourself wanting more after the movies are over.
- Keep an eye on the dates. Part of the fun is seeing how the "history" of the 20th century weaves into Indy's life, from the Nazis to the Space Race.
Basically, just grab some popcorn and enjoy the ride. Whether you go by the year on the screen or the year on the box, Harrison Ford’s performance is the glue that holds it all together.
For your next session, try to spot the "C-3PO and R2-D2" cameo in the Well of Souls in Raiders. It’s a classic Easter egg that reminds you just how much Lucas loved crossing his universes. Happy hunting.