Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
The return of the great adventure.
When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime.
| Type | Movie |
|---|---|
| Released | 12 June 1981 |
| Genre | Adventure, Action |
| Director | Steven Spielberg |
| Starring | Harrison Ford, Karen Allen and Paul Freeman |
| Runtime | 115 min |
| Rated | PG |
| Scores | Rotten Tomatoes (average) 9.3/10 · Metacritic 86/100 · Rotten Tomatoes 94% · IMDb 8.4/10 · TMDB users 7.9/10 |
| Budget | $18 million |
| Box office | $390 million worldwide |
Where to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is streaming on Prime Video ($8.99 a month) in the US. It is also on Disney+ ($15.99 a month), Fubo and Paramount+ ($13.99 a month). If that is the only reason to subscribe, one month of Prime Video is $8.99 at list price.
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What kind of watch this is
Steven Spielberg’s 1981 adventure turns a tweed-suited archaeologist into a government asset, pitting one man against the entire Nazi regime. It runs 115 minutes. The tone balances high-stakes action with dry, lived-in humor, relying on Harrison Ford’s deadpan delivery rather than exposition. It feels less like a blockbuster spectacle and more like a well-told campfire story about a man who accidentally outran history. That is a rare balance.
What the critics said
The critical reception was nearly unanimous, with Rotten Tomatoes reporting a 94% Tomatometer score and Metacritic assigning an 86/100 Metascore as of January 2026. Vincent Canby called it an "instant classic," while Roger Ebert described it as a series of "breathless and incredible" adventures. Stanley Kauffmann found the constant thrills eventually irritating, and Pauline Kael criticized the filmmaking as marketing-driven. Lucas later named a villain in his 1988 film Willow after Kael.
How it did with audiences
It cost $18 million and took in $390 million worldwide. In the United States, it earned $248 million. On TMDB, users rate it 7.9 out of 10. IMDb audiences, polled in March 2026, gave it an 8.4/10 weighted average. The numbers suggest people watched it, liked it, and kept watching it. For a film about a stolen ark, the retention rate was remarkably high.
Awards
The film took 6 of 8 nominations. Michael Kahn, Norman Reynolds, Bill Varney, and Richard Edlund each won an Academy Award in 1982 for editing, design, sound, and effects. It also claimed the Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation and a spot on the National Board of Review's Top Ten list. The Academy proved generous with the craft departments.
Where it left its mark
Spielberg calls it the most perfect film in the series, a verdict that explains why he never wanted to touch it. That refusal to revise created a framework other directors still copy. It also set off a chain reaction: Harrison Ford landed a role in Blade Runner, and Lawrence Kasdan wrote The Empire Strikes Back. Then there is the hat. After filming, it sat in a pile at Skywalker Ranch until 2012, when it was rescued for a London museum. A costume, not a relic, until it was found.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Sources
- Raiders of the Lost Ark on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q174284 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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