The fifth and final installment of the long-running adventure film series Indiana Jones is all set to release on 29th June 2023 in Indian cinemas, one day before its US release. The franchise which debuted in the early 1980s set a benchmark for adventure films forever, also paving the way for more summer blockbusters. As most of Indian audiences may not have watched the films before but wish to catch the fifth part on the big screen or just need a revision before stepping in, here is everything they need to watch to prepare themselves for the best experience. All of the material is readily available on Disney+ Hotstar. This list will be in chronological order
The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (TV series), aired in 1992-1993, set between 1908-1920
This series showcases Indiana Jones exploring several historical events and meeting figures in the same events in every episode. In these episodes, the younger Indiana Jones would travel to different parts of the world with his parents and tutor. Corey Carrier and Sean Patrick Flanery play the role of 8-10-year-old and 16-21-year-old Indy respectively. with George Hall playing an elderly version of Jones who reminisces about his adventures. However, the series was met with mixed critical reception and got low ratings due to which it was canceled after two seasons. The show provides enough backstory for the films
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, released in 1984, set in 1935
This is the second film in the series but chronologically, it comes first in the order of events. The film is set in India where a group of villagers ask the adventurer to bring back a mystical stone and save their children from a cult practicing slavery and black magic on them. The film starred the late Amrish Puri as the main antagonist Mola Ram and Ke Huy Quan as Indy's sidekick, who recently won an Oscar for Best Male Supporting Actor for Everything Everywhere All At Once. The film was also subject to controversy as parents found the film to be too dark, thus earning it a PG-13 rating making it the first film in history to do so and also getting a temporary ban in India due to its stereotypical treatment of the country but the ban was lifted later and the film was released on streaming and home video.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, released in 1981, set in 1936
This is the first film in the series but the second one in chronological order. The film follows Indy battling the Nazis, his most despised group of people, in the pursuit of the Ark of the Covenant, which makes any army wielding it invincible. The film was a major cultural phenomenon in the year it was released, becoming the highest-grossing film of that year, and is also considered one of the best films ever made along with winning 5 Oscars and countless other notable accolades. It will forever go down in history as one of the most iconic blockbusters of all time so watching this is a must.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, released in 1989, set in 1938
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This is the third film both chronologically and release date-wise. The film follows Indy searching for his estranged father Henry while on the journey to look for the Holy Grail as his father is a Holy Grail scholar himself and Indy rescuing him from the Nazis with whom he holds a long rivalry. It is the second-most well-received film of the franchise with an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes which is better than all the entries of the franchise barring Raiders of the Lost Ark. It was also the highest-grossing film of the year it was released in.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, released in 2008, set in 1957
This is the fourth film both chronologically and release date-wise. It was released and also set 19 years after the previous installment which was The Last Crusade. It replaces Nazis with Soviet KGB agents led by Irini Spalko, played by Cate Blanchett becoming his adversaries, and helped by his former lover Marion Ravenwood, played by Karen Allen, and their son, Mutt Williams, played by Shia LeBouf in his pursuit of a telepathic crystal skull located in Peru. The film got a positive reception from the critics but the audiences weren't too kind to it, having polarised views on it.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will be set in 1969, 12 years after the last installment, and is looking to be the swansong of the character. It will also be the first film not directed by Steven Spielberg with James Mangold now being at the helm of affairs and the first film not to be distributed by Paramount Pictures post the acquisition of Lucasfilm by Disney. The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival on 18th May 2023 to mixed reception but it is all remaining to see how the audiences react to it when the film makes its way to theatres on 29th June 2023 in India and the day after in the US.