With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny opening in theaters this week, it's the perfect time to watch the Indiana Jones movies in order. Harrison Ford is hanging up his fedora as the whip-wielding archaeology professor, so you'll want to see his final adventure.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is set in two different time periods. In 1944, the archaeologist and colleague Basil Shaw (Toby Jones) are recovering Nazi-stolen artifacts when they prevent scientist Jürgen Voller (Mads Mikkelson) from taking a time-traveling device called the Archimedes Dial. In 1969, Voller is working for NASA and trying to get his hands on the the dial again. Jones and Shaw's daughter, Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), team up to stop him for good.
Viewing all the Indiana Jones films is easy with a Disney Plus subscription, since Lucasfilm is owned by the Mouse House, though the main movies are also on Paramount Plus. Here's a guide on how to watch the Indiana Jones movies in order by release date order or by the chronological timeline.
How to watch Indiana Jones movies by release date
The Indiana Jones movie franchise was born in 1981 with the release of the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. From there, four more movies followed (including Dial of Destiny), as well as a television series titled The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.
The blockbusters can be attributed to George Lucas, who created the initial story with Philip Kaufman. From there, various screenwriters penned the scripts, while Steven Spielberg directed four of the five Indiana Jones movies.
Here they are in release date order, along with cast and crew details, synopses and Disney Plus streaming links:
How to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark online
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Lawrence Kasdan
Stars: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies
Synopsis: In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.
Watch on Disney Plus and Paramount Plus
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.
Here at Tom’s Guide our expert editors are committed to bringing you the best news, reviews and guides to help you stay informed and ahead of the curve!
How to watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom online
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriters: Gloria Katz & Willard Huyck
Stars: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan
Synopsis: In 1935, Indiana Jones is tasked by Indian villagers with reclaiming a rock stolen from them by a secret cult beneath the catacombs of an ancient palace.
Watch on Disney Plus and Paramount Plus
How to watch Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade online
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Boam
Stars: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, John Rhys-Davies
Synopsis: In 1938, after his father goes missing while pursuing the Holy Grail, Indiana Jones finds himself up against the Nazis again to stop them from obtaining its powers.
Watch on Disney Plus and Paramount Plus
How to watch Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull online
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: David Koepp
Stars: Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf
Synopsis: In 1957, Indiana Jones becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.
Watch on Disney Plus and Paramount Plus
How to watch Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny hits theaters on June 30, 2023, and comes to Disney Plus later — likely this fall.
Director: James Mangold
Screenwriter: Mangold, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and David Koepp
Stars: Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, John Rhys-Davies
Synopsis: Archaeologist Indiana Jones races against time to retrieve a legendary artifact that can change the course of history.
How to watch The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles online
Since it's not a movie, we have't included The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. It aired on ABC in 1992-1993 and was followed by four made-for-television films from 1994 to 1996. Completists can watch The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles on Disney Plus, though the TV movies are unavailable on streaming.
How to watch the Indiana Jones movies in chronological order
If you want to watch the Indiana Jones movies in order, you can follow the release order with one exception:
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Set in 1935
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Set in 1936
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Set in 1938
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Set in 1957
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Set in 1969 (with prologue set in 1944)
And again for the completists, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is set before the events of all the films as it follows Jones in his childhood and teen years. Episodes take place from 1908 through 1920.
More from Tom's Guide
Kelly is the streaming channel editor for Tom’s Guide, so basically, she watches TV for a living. Previously, she was a freelance entertainment writer for Yahoo, Vulture, TV Guide and other outlets. When she’s not watching TV and movies for work, she’s watching them for fun, seeing live music, writing songs, knitting and gardening.