Milestone Years
- 40th Anniversary: May 23, 2024
- 45th Anniversary: May 23, 2029
- 50th Anniversary: May 23, 2034
- 60th Anniversary: May 23, 2044
Inspiration Behind the Movie
After the success of Raiders, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg wanted to take the sequel in a darker direction. Inspired by 1930s adventure serials and stories of underground cults, the film drew on real and mythic elements, pushing the limits of PG-rated content and sparking the creation of the PG-13 rating.
You Might Not Know
- Kate Capshaw, who played Willie, later married Steven Spielberg.
- The movie’s intensity directly led to the creation of the PG-13 rating.
- Ke Huy Quan was cast after accompanying his brother to auditions.
- Harrison Ford injured his back during filming and had to take time off for surgery.
- Some scenes were so controversial they were banned or edited in certain countries.
Food Ideas
- “Chilled monkey brain” gelatin molds (fun and spooky dessert!)
- Spicy curry meatballs inspired by Indian cuisine
- Rope bridge pretzel sticks
- Golden idol cupcakes with edible gold dust
- “Temple torch” veggie skewers with flame-colored peppers
Release Date: May 23, 1984
Summary:
Set before Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones crash-lands in India and uncovers a village plagued by dark magic. Teaming up with a nightclub singer and a brave young sidekick, Indy journeys to a hidden temple where a deadly cult threatens to unleash chaos across the land.
Genre(s) and MPAA Rating: Adventure, Action, PG (originally; helped lead to creation of PG-13)
Key Cast Members:
- Harrison Ford
- Kate Capshaw
- Ke Huy Quan
- Amrish Puri
- Roshan Seth
- Philip Stone
Ways to Celebrate
- Host an adventure-themed movie night with treasure maps and torches
- Dress as Indy, Short Round, or Willie for a fun group photo
- Build a mini mine cart race game using toys or DIY crafts
- Set up a trivia challenge based on Indiana Jones lore
- Rewatch the Indy trilogy (or full saga) as a marathon
Filming Locations
- Sri Lanka stood in for most of the Indian setting
- Kandy, Sri Lanka provided jungle and temple exteriors
- Sound stages in London (Elstree Studios) were used for interior temple scenes
- The famous rope bridge was actually built and suspended over a real canyon