Amrish Puri, Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw

Set in 1935, a professor, archaeologist, and legendary hero by the name of Indiana Jones is back in action in his newest adventure. But this time he teams up with a night club singer named Wilhelmina ...( read more  read more... )"Willie" Scott and a twelve-year-old boy named Short Round. They end up in an Indian small distressed village, where the people believe that evil spirits have taken all their children away after a sacred precious stone was stolen! They also discovered the great mysterious terror surrounding a booby-trapped temple known as the Temple of Doom! Thuggee is beginning to attempt to rise once more, believing that with the power of all five Sankara stones they can rule the world! Now, it's all up to Indiana to put an end to the Thuggee campaign, rescue the lost children, win the girl and conquer the Temple of Doom.

Flixster Users

80% liked it

491,882 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

58 critics

PG, 1 hr. 58 min.

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Release Date: May 1, 1984

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DVD Release Date: October 21, 2003

Stats: 27,847 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (27,847)


  • October 11, 2006
    An darker, bloodier sequel to "Raiders". Though it causes discomfort among those with younger viewers, the spectacular minecar chase and final fight between Indy & main villian Mola Ram keeps it watchable.
  • September 18, 2009
    Indiana Jones's second outing (although set before Raiders) is, unfairly in my opinion, regarded as the weakest in the series but I think it?s just as good as the original and The Last Crusade. It?s great!
  • September 1, 2009
    Everyone complains about Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. One of my friends and I used to argue for months on end about which Indian Jones film was the superior. Nearly anyone we ask say that Temple of Doom is their least favourite, and the worst in the Jones trilogy. I beli...( read more)eve the only reason people say this, is because it's the middle film, sandwiched between an all time classic, and a Hollywood blockbuster. To me, there is NO question that Raiders of the Lost Ark is the far superior Indiana Jones film. To anyone who says Last Crusade is the best I can do nothing but disagree (let me point out that all THREE films are nothing short of phenomenal). Temple of Doom had so much to live up to after the first film, and instead of trying to re-create Raiders (something I feel Crusade did), Lucas and Spielberg decided to take the franchise in a new direction. In my opinion, this was a great idea. Crusade and Raiders are too similar: both of them take place in desert terrain, both have Indy going after a very famous, biblical artifact, and both have Indy fighting off the Nazi's from attaining this object for global domination. Without Temple of Doom, Last Crusade would be an obvious copy of Raiders of the Lost Ark. A different style of Indy film is needed to expand the trilogy, making Indiana Jones a truly global character, and Temple of Doom did just that.

    The film itself is a non-stop action, adventure ride. Harrison Ford is once again AMAZING as the dashing professor/archaeologist thrill seeker. Short Round is a loveable character who adds a humorous touch, and reveals the more compassionate side of Indy's character. The ceremony scenes are truly breathtaking and tense. During these scenes the film contains some very graphic images, but are used justifiably to convey the real dark, feel of this film (i.e. the removing of the man's heart while he's still alive, and lowering him into a fiery pit). The mine cart chase scenes are the most amazing, fast moving action sequence in any of the Indy films, and you feel like you're on a roller coaster each time you watch it. All these events lead to the film's spectacular and memorable climax.

    I know with three films as amazing as the Indiana Jones trilogy, it's hard to pick a best and worst film, in fact it's nearly impossible. I'm just going to say that each film is great on it's own, and really shouldn't be compared to the other two.
  • November 30, 2008
    Swashbuckling archaeologist Indiana Jones returns to investigate an evil cult in India who have kidnapped the local children to search for the sacred stones of Shankara. Temple Of Doom has long been considered the weak link of the original trilogy, mainly because of the ill conce...( read more)ived inclusion of two sidekicks. The romance with Kate Capshaw is unconvincing as she literally spends the entire film either screaming or whining, and adding a streetwise kid to the mix is always the kiss of death. This obviously calculated attempt to appeal to a younger audience is added to by some broadly over-played humour that is completely at odds with the dark tone of the rest of the film. In the unlikely event that kids want to see a film about child abduction, slavery and human sacrifice I doubt very much they'd want to see their hero drinking blood from a human head and turning into an evil devil worshipper. In fact, looking at it objectively, the plot is really just a series of excuses for self-indulgent set pieces and contains a few serious lapses in logic and some of the dialogue is just plain bad. But it's Indiana Jones, so I'm just not objective about it and the combination of Spielberg, Ford and Williams ensures that it is at least entertaining throughout. Despite the flak it has taken, The Crystal Skull is not the weakest of the franchise; that dubious honour falls to this film but that's not to say it's bad. Just a little crude and sloppy when compared to Raiders and The Last Crusade.
  • November 5, 2008
    Harrison Ford is so awsome
  • November 7, 2009
    mon premier Indiana Jones, je l'ai vu en anglais et j'ai adoré bien que je ne comprenais rien ŕ ce qu'ils disaient
  • November 7, 2009
    A great adventure film. The only good Indiana Jones film. I probably liked it the most because it was thrilling and dark, unlike the other ones. This film was quite a ride.
  • November 3, 2009
    Beautiful flick: theme, characters, costume, etc.
  • November 1, 2009
    Marta your favourite flim!
  • October 31, 2009
    The second movie in this series is much funner and is aimed at a younger audience. If you do not take this movie seriously you will love it. The energetic scenes and the locations make it very watchable and it also features a great mine car scene. This movie is often criticised b...( read more)ut I think its just as good as the first 3 installations to the movie.

Critic Reviews


December 28, 2006
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Set years before the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is sillier, darkly violent and a bit dumbed down, but still great fun. full review

October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The kind of movie where your date is always grabbing your forearm in a viselike grip, as unbearable excitement unfolds on the screen. After the movie is over, you've had a great time but your arm is b... full review

View more Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • chamulton
    October 22, 2009
    the movie was not that bad but i like the suspence and wat wat goin 2 happen next
  • carmelabm
    April 12, 2009
    This was one of my first favourite movies. Shorty is my hero. =D
  • icedtoffee22
    April 10, 2009
    for me this is the best of all the indiana jones movie..!love it..!
  • coolchickbrooke1
    August 9, 2008
    i want see
  • sirius850
    August 3, 2008
    This movie was great like all the others.. i liked how it showed that not all his adventures were fun and games. Also i would like to note that this is a PREQUEL to raiders, not a sequel.
  • danceergirl64
    July 27, 2008
    Honestly I think im in love with shorty (Short round)
    <3
  • thedoctor2k7
    May 12, 2008
    classic sequal it's much darker which is great and funny at the same time
  • LaggiexArexThexy
    February 3, 2007
    *shudder* this movie was REALLY CREEPY at times, but otherwise it was really good. i liked it a lot.
  • SkywalkerJones
    November 12, 2006
    i don´t think that the temple of doom is the weakest of the series.is more intense and entertaining like raiders.
  • wolverinespussycat
    November 5, 2006
    this is a classic action/adventure movie you have to see it!!!

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Trivia

Indiana Jones and the Temple of D... Trivia


  • The Follow up To Raiders Of The Lost Ark! (Indianna Jones Triology!)  Answer »
  • Name the movie that features this exchange: "The entire place is crawling with living things." "That's why they call it a jungle, sweetheart."  Answer »
  • In Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , which of these is on the menu at the palace?  Answer »
  • In Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom what food course at dinner made "Willie" faint?  Answer »

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