Described as ‘one of the greatest films ever made’ and with a Hollywood legend as the lead, this adventure blockbuster might just be your next Netflix watch.
Raiders of the Lost Ark has now landed on the streaming platform, 45 years after its original release.
Starring cinematic icon Harrison Ford, 83, it is the first in the Indiana Jones film franchise, followed by The Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989), The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), and The Dial of Destiny (2023).
Aged 38 at the time, Ford made his debut as the globetrotting archaeologist, who is hired by the US government to seize a biblical artefact called the Ark of the Covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments.
But while doing so, he discovers that Hitler’s agents are also after the ancient power, so he must locate it before the Nazis get there first.
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The film also stars Karen Allen as former flame Marion Ravenwood, who, upon teaming up with her past romantic interest, gets caught in various close scrapes on the mission that takes them from Nepal to Cairo.
Other cast members include various close scrapes in a quest that takes them from Nepal to Cairo, Alfred Molina, Frank Marshall, Ronald Lacey, and John Rhys-Davies.
Directed by Steven Spielberg, Raiders of the Lost Ark has certainly stood the test of time with film fans, sitting with a near-perfect 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Among the 250,000+ reviews, @BobRobb declares it ‘one of the best movies ever made’, while @Funkycat, who also gives it five stars, says: ‘I’ve watched this over 80 times in my life and still am blown away. Never gets old and has held up over the years as complete gold.’
@RT31220546 praises the ‘great cinematography and compelling story’, and @sherishark says Ford’s performance is ‘awesome’.
‘Raiders is such a classic story of adventure and fun. It’s one of those movies I have to rewatch occasionally because very few other adventure films match the quality and excitement of the original Indy trilogy’, writes @FozzieMcFly.
Critics have also long been impressed with Raiders of the Lost Ark, giving it a 94% total on the review aggregator.
Wesley Lovell of Cinema Sight says Ford brings and ‘effortless charm’ to the role that is both ‘brave and vulnerable’, while Harry Solomons of Loud and Clear reviews argues that it ‘cements Steven Spielberg’s place as the greatest blockbuster director ever’.
‘From the moment we meet the iconic adventurer all the way to its glorious finale, it remains one of the most fun times one could have at the movies. One only wishes modern action-adventure films had one iota of the craft and creativity of this one’, says Collider’s Chase Hutchinson.
‘To get to the point immediately, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most deliriously funny, ingenious and stylish American adventure movies ever made’, adds Vincent Canby of the New York Times.
Which is your favourite Indiana Jones movie?
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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
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The Temple of Doom (1984)
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The Last Crusade (1989)
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The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
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The Dial of Destiny (2023)
Filmed in 1980 on a $20million (£15m) budget, shooting for Raiders of the Lost Ark took place on sets at Elstree Studios in England, plus on location in La Rochelle, France, Tunisia, and Hawaii.
It grossed just under $390m (£293m) at the box office, sparking the beginning of one of the most popular franchises in existence, which has gone on to produce TV series, video games, comics, theme park rides, toys, and more.
To this day, the framework of Raiders of the Lost Ark still inspires other films, with Spielberg himself declaring it the most perfect of all the Indiana Jones instalments, as he’s never wanted to change anything about it.
Ford appeared as Jones for the final time in The Dial of Destiny, which was released by Disney in June 2023.
Speaking that year about donning the explorer’s famous fedora for one last rodeo, Ford told Variety that he’d ‘always wanted to do it’.
‘I wanted to do the rest of the story to see the end of his career.’
On his journey coming to an end, he also told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I don’t think I’m going to miss anything.
‘I appreciate all of the opportunities that the character has given me. I have been very grateful, and I have enjoyed myself for the 42 years that we’ve been making these.
‘The success of these movies has really given me not only a chance to satisfy a broad audience, but they’ve given me a freedom.
‘Because of their success, they’ve given me freedom in my chosen profession. And I’m grateful for that, I’m grateful for everything that’s happened to me. I’m a lucky guy.’
Raiders of the Lost Ark is now available to stream on Netflix.
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