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Raiders of the Lost Ark

Play trailer 2:13 Poster for Raiders of the Lost Ark PG 1981 1h 55m Adventure Action Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
94% Tomatometer 157 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Dr. Indiana Jones, a renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the ark of the covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, Hitler's agents are also after the ark. Indy and his ex-flame Marion escape from various close scrapes in a quest that takes them from Nepal to Cairo.
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Raiders of the Lost Ark

Raiders of the Lost Ark

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Critics Consensus

Featuring bravura set pieces, sly humor, and white-knuckle action, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most consummately entertaining adventure pictures of all time.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Huddleston Time Out 12/12/2024
5/5
More spectacular and intricate action sequences may have been devised since, but it’s rare to find one with this level of bone-crunching realism and intensity. Go to Full Review
Vincent Canby New York Times 05/04/2023
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. Go to Full Review
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 05/04/2023
4/4
[Raiders of the Lost Ark] grabs you in the first shot, hurtles you through a series of incredible adventures, and deposits you back in reality two hours later -- breathless, dizzy, wrung-out, and with a silly grin on your face. Go to Full Review
Matt Neal ABC Radio (Australia) Dec 13
5/5
Before I understood what "cinema" was as an artform, before I understood film as something to study and devour and drown in, I understood that Raiders Of The Lost Ark was the greatest movie of all time. Go to Full Review
Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Jul 6
3.5/4
Harrison Ford’s skill as an actor has often been mischaracterized thanks to his myriad blockbuster roles like Star Wars but he brings a certain effortless charm to this role, one that’s both brave and vulnerable. Go to Full Review
M.V. Moorhead Phoenix Magazine May 1
Crisp and funny and filled with one unforgettable action set piece after another, yet also somehow unassuming. It truly feels like a vintage cliffhanger serial of the 1940s, directed by William Witney or some other master of the form. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jake P Jun 21 This movie is instant classic due to memorable characters awesome action sequences, iconic score, amazing story, and excellent casting. See more Sol F Jun 19 This isn't a nostalgia-based review, although I have seen this film a hundred times. But what strikes me as amazing, still, is the pace of the film (never a dull moment) and the dialogue. It's well filmed, well written, and well acted, although Karen Allen is a little raw, generally speaking. The practical effects and stunts still look good, with few exceptions, and the iconic moments have piled up over the years, obviously. It's still awesome to see it on the big screen any time I can, like I am age 10 again and again and again. See more David C Jun 19 One of the greatest films ever made. Hands down. See more Bryan D Jun 18 This movie is a classic and I wanted to see it in the theater where it was supposed to be seen. Highly recommend, thanks. See more Spencer OReilly Jun 16 Great movie, I love when theaters put older movies back on the big screen See more SavVy Jun 16 Raiders is simply one of the greatest films ever made. If you've never seen it, I envy you, because I would love to be able to watch it for the first time again. There is nothing else like it and there never will be. A masterpiece. See more Read all reviews
Raiders of the Lost Ark

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Raiders of the Lost Ark

Movieclips: Indiana Jones' Most Iconic Scenes Movieclips: Indiana Jones' Most Iconic Scenes 25:49 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - It Not the Years, It's the Mileage Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - It Not the Years, It's the Mileage 2:13 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Truck Chase Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Truck Chase 2:13 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - The Boulder Chase Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - The Boulder Chase 2:13 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Nazi Mechanic Fight Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Nazi Mechanic Fight 2:13 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Taking the Ark Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Taking the Ark 2:12 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Sword vs. Gun Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Sword vs. Gun 2:13 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Face Melting Power Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Face Melting Power 2:12 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - The Well of Souls Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - The Well of Souls 2:01 Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Top Secret Raiders of the Lost Ark: Official Clip - Top Secret 1:38 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Dr. Indiana Jones, a renowned archeologist and expert in the occult, is hired by the U.S. Government to find the ark of the covenant, which is believed to still hold the Ten Commandments. Unfortunately, Hitler's agents are also after the ark. Indy and his ex-flame Marion escape from various close scrapes in a quest that takes them from Nepal to Cairo.
Director
Steven Spielberg
Producer
Frank Marshall
Screenwriter
Lawrence Kasdan, George Lucas, Philip Kaufman
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, Lucasfilm Ltd.
Rating
PG
Genre
Adventure, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 1981, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Sep 14, 2012
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 28, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$248.2M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Dolby Stereo, Surround
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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