The Definitive Count: How Many Indiana Jones Movies Are There (And Is A Reboot Coming)?

The question of "how many Indiana Jones movies are there" has a definitive, and recently updated, answer as of late 2025. The iconic action-adventure franchise starring Harrison Ford as the titular archaeologist, Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr., spans five theatrically released feature films, covering over four decades of cinematic history. The latest installment, *Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny*, released in 2023, concluded the main saga for its star, prompting new discussions about the future of this beloved Lucasfilm property.

The total count of major motion pictures stands at five, but a comprehensive view of the entire canon must also include the Emmy-winning television series that explored the character's early life. We dive into the full list of films, the key figures who brought the whip-cracking hero to life, and the current status of a potential Disney-led franchise reboot.

The Creative Architects: Biography Profiles of Ford, Spielberg, and Lucas

The success of the Indiana Jones franchise is inextricably linked to the 'Holy Trinity' of Hollywood: the star, the director, and the visionary creator. Their combined filmography represents some of the highest-grossing and most influential movies ever made.

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• Harrison Ford (Actor - Indiana Jones)
  • Born: July 13, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
  • Key Franchises: Indiana Jones, Star Wars (Han Solo), Blade Runner (Rick Deckard), Jack Ryan.
  • Career Highlights: Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for *Witness* (1985). Regarded as one of the biggest box-office stars of all time. His final appearance as Indiana Jones was in *Dial of Destiny* (2023).
• Steven Spielberg (Director - Films 1-4, Executive Producer - Film 5)
  • Born: December 18, 1946, in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
  • Key Films/Franchises: Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan.
  • Career Highlights: Three-time Academy Award winner (Best Director for *Schindler's List* and *Saving Private Ryan*). Co-founded Amblin Entertainment. He directed the first four Indiana Jones films.
• George Lucas (Creator/Executive Producer)
  • Born: May 14, 1944, in Modesto, California, U.S.
  • Key Franchises: Star Wars, Indiana Jones.
  • Career Highlights: Founder of Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), and THX. He conceived the character of Indiana Jones and co-wrote the stories for the first four films. He is one of the most financially successful filmmakers and entrepreneurs in cinema history.

The Complete List of 5 Indiana Jones Theatrical Films (In Release Order)

The core of the Indiana Jones saga consists of five major motion pictures. Each film is a high-octane adventure centered around a mythical artifact, pitting Indy against nefarious forces, most often the Nazis or the Soviets.

1. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

This is where the legend began. Set in 1936, the film introduced the world to Dr. Indiana Jones, a professor of archaeology with a fear of snakes and a penchant for danger. The plot follows Indy as he races against the Nazis to locate the Ark of the Covenant, the biblical chest that holds the Ten Commandments. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, the film was a massive critical and commercial success, earning $389.9 million worldwide on a modest $18 million budget.

2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

A prequel set in 1935, this film is famously the darkest entry in the series. Indy, alongside singer Willie Scott and his sidekick Short Round, lands in India and is tasked with recovering a sacred stone—the Sankara Stones—and rescuing children enslaved by the Thuggee cult. Directed by Spielberg, the film’s intense violence and horror elements led directly to the creation of the PG-13 rating in the United States. It earned $333.1 million worldwide.

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3. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

Widely regarded as a return to form after the darker second installment, *The Last Crusade* introduced the crucial character of Indy's father, Professor Henry Jones Sr., played by the legendary Sean Connery. Set in 1938, the film sees Indy once again battling the Nazis, this time in a race to find the Holy Grail. The dynamic between Ford and Connery provided a mix of high adventure and comedic chemistry, helping the film gross $474.2 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 1989.

4. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

After a 19-year hiatus, the franchise returned with this fourth film, set in 1957. The plot shifted the villains from Nazis to Soviet KGB agents, led by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), who are searching for the telepathic Crystal Skull of Akator. The film also introduced Indy's son, Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), and featured the return of Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen). Despite mixed reviews and a controversial climax involving aliens, the film was a major box-office success, grossing $790.7 million globally.

5. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

The most recent and—for Harrison Ford—the final adventure. Directed by James Mangold (taking over from Spielberg for the first time), the film is set in 1969 and involves Indy and his goddaughter, Helena Shaw, searching for the Dial of Destiny (the Antikythera mechanism), a device that can locate fissures in time. While critically receiving a mixed reception, the film’s worldwide gross of $384 million was considered a box-office disappointment against its massive budget, capping the Harrison Ford era on a lower financial note.

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Beyond the Big Screen: The Full Indiana Jones Canon

For purists or those seeking a truly complete answer to the question, the Indiana Jones story extends beyond the five theatrical films, significantly expanding the overall topical authority of the franchise.

• The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1993): This Emmy-winning television series aired on ABC and explored the character's formative years, showing him as a boy (Corey Carrier) and a young man (Sean Patrick Flanery) traveling the globe and encountering historical figures like Ernest Hemingway, Leo Tolstoy, and Theodore Roosevelt.
• Video Games and Comics: The franchise has spawned numerous video games, including popular titles like *Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis* and the *Lego Indiana Jones* series, along with a vast collection of tie-in novels and comic books, further cementing the character's place in popular culture.

The Future of the Indiana Jones Franchise: Reboot Rumors

With *Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny* confirmed as Harrison Ford's final performance as the adventurer, the question now pivots to the franchise's continuity. As of late 2025, there are no officially announced sequels or spin-offs, but the landscape is defined by a strong possibility of a complete reboot.

Despite the underwhelming box office performance of the fifth film, Disney and Lucasfilm are reportedly unwilling to let the intellectual property (IP) retire permanently. Industry rumors suggest that a full reboot is being considered, which would involve recasting the role of Indiana Jones with a younger actor or focusing on an entirely new character within the same adventurous universe. The challenge remains how to replace an actor as iconic as Ford, who has been synonymous with the fedora and whip for over 40 years. For now, the theatrical adventures of Dr. Jones are complete, but the relic-hunting legacy is likely to be unearthed again.