Indiana Jones: a look back at the franchise and Harrison Ford's best moments

This Summer, ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ is one of the big titles in movie theaters. Harrison Ford returns as the most famous archaeologist in the world for the fifth - and possibly final - time. The now 80-year-old hasn’t lost any of his charm and the new movie was a hit at Cannes film festival.

At Cannes in May 2023, viewers were finally able to get a glimpse of the long-awaited fifth instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise. The result? A standing ovation and some difficult questions for the actor that received a chorus of laughter from those present.

As My Modern Met reports, an unnamed reporter began her question by stating she still found the actor ‘hot’ and referred to a moment in the film where he takes his shirt off. At 80, the reporter said he has ‘still got it’ and questioned how he stayed fit. His response? “I’ve been blessed with this body”.

As is suggested by the title, the movie focuses around time. Expect to see nostalgic moments, artefacts that ‘ought to belong in a museum’, Nazis and a general nod to the memory of Spielberg’s originals. Some of Hollywood’s most loved phrases, most creative special effects and most gripping chase scenes came from this franchise and, as the new film hits cinemas, we take a look at what made Indiana Jones so successful.

In 1981, the world met and fell in love with Dr Indiana (Indie) Jones. It was the beginning of the journey for this archaeologist, professor and thrill seeker who fought the Nazis and saved the world in the brilliant ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.

Harrison Ford was chosen to lead the franchise as its lead character, but not without difficulty. George Lucas didn’t want to cast Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones because he had already worked with him twice. Instead, he wanted Tom Selleck - but he was unfortunately committed to Magnum and CBS refused to let him go.

Of course, watching Dr Jones running from the huge boulder - one of the iconic sequences of all Indiana Jones films - has to be our best memory of this film. Additionally, we remember the special effects of the melting face of the Nazi and the phrase, “Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?”

A special mention has to go to Indiana’s run-in with the swordsman in Cairo. The crowd part to reveal the character showing off his moves, proving a dangerous opponent for the archaeologist. As the audience expect a crack of Indiana Jones’ whip and a gripping fight scene, Indie just takes out his gun and shoots him.

Indie returned 3 years later in ‘The Temple of Doom’ which was technically a prequel as it was set a year before the original. It was supposed to be a darker film but we question how you could possibly get darker than Nazis.

The film includes a man pulling the beating heart out of another a man who is then lowered into a searing pool of lava to die. Did you know it was still rated a family-friendly PG by the Motion Picture Association of America?

Once a controversy about the violence in ‘Temple of Doom’ and ‘Gremlins’ arose, Spielberg wrote to the-President of the MPAA, suggesting a new rating for movies of similar type. The director suggested four new potential examples, including “PG-13,” “PG-14,” “PG-2” or “R-13,” which would limit or allow certain audience members admittance between PG and R-rated films.

We have to give the best moment to the end of the film - that rickety bridge Indiana tries to cross which then breaks and is flung by gravity towards the gaping mouths of hungry crocodiles below - just textbook childhood fear. To make matters worse, the villain also survives as they fight it out on the cliff-face before Indie's opponent falls and is snapped up by the reptiles.

With the introduction of his father (Sean Connery), Indiana Jones took on the Nazis again in the third and brilliant instalment of the Indiana Jones franchise.

'The Last Crusade' opens with Indiana Jones as a child. River Phoenix played the young Indiana in this scene. Phoenix had already played Harrison Ford’s son in ‘The Mosquito Coast’, and he suggested the casting, stating that Phoenix looked like Ford when he was a kid.

Spielberg’s involvement in the third Indiana Jones film came about as way of an apology to fans for the series’ disappointing second film, and to revive the spirit of the original.

In general, the best parts of this film were thanks to the chemistry between Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. They provided audiences with humour and emotion that snapped from anger to despair to unrequited love throughout the movie. Special mention goes to the ambush of the Nazis where Indiana had a very close call... but, of course, managed to stop a tank single-handedly.

The fourth film is set in 1957, almost 20 years after ‘The Last Crusade’. It received mixed reviews and introduced some new less-than-successful characters, while still maintaining that Indiana Jones ‘feel good’ factor.

Former Bond and Indiana Jones father, Sean Connery sadly could not be tempted to come out of retirement for the fourth film in the series but there was still a family feel to it as the movie introduced us to Indiana Jones’ son.

We have to mention the sinking sand pit - again, the concept speaks to audiences, tapping into a common childhood fear. We also loved seeing the fabulous Cate Blanchett work her magic on screen as the villain. Yet, the best part has to be seeing Indie and Marion reunite. Indie then says that over the years there had been 'plenty of women, but they all had the same problem. Marion questions, "Yeah? What's that?" Indy replies "They weren't you, honey".

15 years after 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull', the new film takes place in 1969, where Indiana Jones races against time to reclaim a legendary dial that can change the course of history.

Harrison Ford confirmed at D23 this year that the new film would be his last outing as the famous archaeologist. But at 80 years old, you can see why the actor might want to slow down a bit.

There has been a lot of discussion about the future of the series, both in films and on television and now of course also streaming. Disney seems to think it is possible to turn Indiana Jones into one of their landmark franchises, even without the original star - but who would take on the iconic role?

A poll was made by comingsoon.net which saw people calling for Chris Pratt and Bradley Cooper as the new Indiana Jones. But some online publications such as movieweb are suggesting the person to take the reins for future films will be Harrison Ford’s co-star in the latest film - Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Either way, we are confident this isn’t the end.