Indiana Jones Movies in Order: Release Order, Chronological Order and Where the Game and TV Series Fit

Watch the Indiana Jones movies in release order: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989), Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) and Dial of Destiny (2023). In story order, Temple of Doom comes first because it is a prequel, set a year before Raiders.

This guide gives both orders, explains where the 2024 video game The Great Circle and the 1990s TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles fit, and says which films you can skip. It is spoiler-free.

Indiana Jones movies in release order

Dates are US release dates as listed on Wikipedia’s franchise page. Dial of Destiny is the only film not directed by Spielberg. It premiered out of competition at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 18, 2023, runs 154 minutes and reached Disney+ on December 1, 2023, according to Wikipedia. Streaming rights change by country, so check your local service rather than assuming one platform has every film.

Indiana Jones chronological order

Using the in-universe years on Wikipedia’s franchise page:

1. Temple of Doom (1935)
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1936)
3. The Last Crusade (1938, with a prologue set in 1912)
4. Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (1957)
5. Dial of Destiny (1944 opening, main story in 1969)

Dial of Destiny opens in 1944 during World War II, then jumps to 1969, so its placement depends on whether you count the prologue or the main story. Either way, it is the last film in the story.

Our recommendation: watch in release order the first time. Temple of Doom works best as the second adventure, and the later films lean on what you already know about Indy.

Where does Indiana Jones and the Great Circle fit?

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a video game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks, released on Windows and Xbox Series X/S on December 9, 2024. Wikipedia lists a PlayStation 5 release on April 17, 2025 and a Nintendo Switch 2 release on May 12, 2026, plus a DLC called The Order of Giants from September 4, 2025.

The game is set in 1937, between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. Troy Baker provides Indy’s voice and motion capture, and Wikipedia notes Harrison Ford has called his performance “brilliant.” You do not need the game to follow any film. Treat it as an optional extra adventure for after Raiders.

Where does The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles fit?

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles ran from 1992 to 1996: 28 episodes plus four TV films, per Wikipedia. Corey Carrier plays Indy as a child and Sean Patrick Flanery plays him as a teenager and young adult, with an elderly Indy in 1992 as a framing device. It is a prequel to the films and fills in backstory such as his relationship with his father.

Wikipedia notes that the series streamed on Disney+ in the US in 2023 and was removed in May 2024, so availability may differ now. It is optional: the five films stand on their own.

What is optional?

• Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It is the most divisive entry in the series and introduces new characters, but Dial of Destiny refers back to the era it covers, so skipping it leaves small gaps.
• The game and the TV series, as explained above.
• Anything outside the films, game and series. This guide covers only those.

What is coming next?

Wikipedia describes Dial of Destiny as the fifth and final film in the series, and no further Indiana Jones film is announced. It also reports that a Disney+ prequel series to Raiders of the Lost Ark was reported in November 2022 and was reportedly canceled by March 2023, so treat any new live-action project as unconfirmed.

For a deeper look at the first film, read our Raiders of the Lost Ark review, or see where it lands in our best action movies of all time ranking. Everything we publish on the series lives in the Indiana Jones hub.

Planning another adventure marathon? Our National Treasure watch order and Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies in order guides cover two more treasure-hunt and blockbuster-adventure series.

FAQ

What order should I watch the Indiana Jones movies in?

Release order: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989), Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) and Dial of Destiny (2023).

What is the Indiana Jones chronological order?

Temple of Doom (1935), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1936), The Last Crusade (1938), Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (1957) and Dial of Destiny (1969, with a 1944 opening).

Is Temple of Doom a prequel?

Yes. It is set in 1935, a year before Raiders of the Lost Ark, though it was released in 1984.

Where does the Great Circle game fit?

It is set in 1937, between Raiders and The Last Crusade.

Do I need to watch The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles?

No. It is an optional prequel series about Indy’s youth.

Will there be another Indiana Jones movie?

Wikipedia calls Dial of Destiny the final film and none is announced.

For another action franchise with a clear watch order, see our Mission: Impossible movies in order guide.