Release OrderRecommended
0 / 5 watchedThe order the films reached theaters. Start here.
Original trilogy
- 1 Raiders of the Lost Ark
- 2 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Released second, but its story comes first. Set in 1935.
- 3 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Main story set in 1938. Opens with Indy at age 13 in 1912.
Later films
- 4 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Set in 1957. Introduces Indy's son Mutt.
- 5 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Latest film. Main story set in 1969 with a 1944 prologue.
Chronological Order
0 / 5 watchedThe in-story timeline. Temple of Doom moves to the front.
Original trilogy
- 1 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Set in 1935, a year before Raiders.
- 2 Raiders of the Lost Ark Set in 1936.
- 3 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Main story set in 1938.
Later films
- 4 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Set in 1957.
- 5 Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Main story set in 1969.
About Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones follows archaeologist Henry Jones Jr. across five films, from 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark to 2023's Dial of Destiny. Harrison Ford plays Indy in every entry. Steven Spielberg directed the first four, and James Mangold directed the last.
Release order and story order differ by one film. Temple of Doom came out second but plays first, set in 1935 Shanghai and India a year before Raiders. Start with release order. Character introductions assume it.
Good to know
The Last Crusade opens in 1912 and Dial of Destiny opens in 1944, so a strict scene-by-scene timeline would split those films. This guide keeps each film whole. The Young Indiana Jones TV series and the Great Circle video game (2024) are optional extras. No sixth film is announced, and Dial of Destiny closes Ford's run, so the franchise reads as completed.
