Very, very, very violent. The face melting scene is terrifying for kids. They can wait a few years.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
A thrill ride and a half.
updated 11.06.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 11 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark was written by Randy White
Parents need to know that kids will see lots of hand-to-hand battles (fists, swords, whips) and plenty of guns. Nothing graphic, but still way up there in the body count department. Much of the thrill of this movie is in the fright factor, so cadavers, snakes, and nasty villains also abound. Perhaps its no surprise that this cinematic thrill-ride inspired a real-life roller coaster. The film had fast-food chain tie-ins when it premiered, as well.
Families Can Talk About
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More on Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
What’s the Story?
After a heroic jungle rescue, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) forks over a valuable relic to the dastardly French archeologist Belloq, under threat of death by a band of spear-wielding natives. Jones is then sent by the U.S. military to outdo the Nazis in a race to find the secret resting place of the Ark of the Covenant. Jones stops in Nepal to retrieve a medallion from Marion (Karen Allen), his ex-girlfriend. The medallion is the key that tells where the ark is buried. Escaping Nazis, Jones and Marion head for Cairo, where they battle all manner of thugs. Jones eventually discovers the resting place of the Ark, but it is immediately stolen by Belloq, who now works for the Germans. Left for dead, Jones and Marion escape and, after a series of fights and chases, take the Ark to sea. The Nazis steal the Ark right back, though, and Jones and Marion must try to stop them from opening it.
Is It Any Good?
When director Steven Spielberg and writer/producer George Lucas set out to recreate the serial adventure movie of the 1940s, they forged a masterwork of action-adventure. INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK includes what may the best opening 10 minutes in movie history, and another scene that is among the most imitated. An exhausted Jones stands watching a bad guy twirl swords threateningly, then with a shrug, coolly shoots him (rumored to be a spur-of-the-moment acting decision on Ford's part because he was exhausted at the end of a long day of filming.) The key to the movie's success is Ford's Indiana Jones, archeology professor and grand adventurer, who seems perfectly at home as both the mild mannered Clark Kent type -- right down to the glasses -- and the larger-than-life hero. Ford played a similar character in Star Wars, but here he is front and center. With Raiders, Ford established himself as one of the greatest action-adventure heroes of all time.
Despite the superior quality of the movie, it's fun to note the small continuity and effects mistakes. Medallions appear and disappear, guns fire seven bullets, the glass separating a hissing snake and Karen Allen is clearly visible. And the biggest goof of all: how the heck does Jones stay with a submerging submarine for hundreds of miles? (Spielberg claims key scenes got lost in editing.) If you go back to the film, which you and your children will almost certainly want to do, it's fun to pick out where even the best filmmakers make little mistakes.
Movie Details
Studio: Paramount Pictures, Director: Steven Spielberg
Run time: 115 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/1/1981, DVD release: 10/21/2003
MPAA Rating: PG for parental guidance
Run time: 115 minutes
Theatrical release: 1/1/1981, DVD release: 10/21/2003
MPAA Rating: PG for parental guidance
Our Members Say
See all 57 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
The best movie ever !
My kid likes it! It's his favorite movie. He is constantly using the characters in his imagination. He makes a couple of bad characters good, and makes others extremely bad. My kid is a TohtFan , so he started crying during the Ark Ceremony. He makes jokes about the characters! Very funny ones.
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I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Violence makes it a no-go
This classic action movie has enough violence for two PG-13 movies, much less its one PG. Characters are shot, stabbed, hit by propellors, melted, ran over, and generally punched, kicked, and thrown, some of it fairly gory. It's a great movie, but just way too violent.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
good for tweens
It was OK.
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
movie for mature 6 year olds and older.
great movie with intense scary images and violence. My MPAA rating: PG for some violence, very scary images kissing and brief nudity. the violence is intense e.g. punching,gunshots,swords,violence.There is kissing and one part a women changes off screen.Lots of frightening scenes,espacially the end
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Great!
this movie is one of my all around favs! i'm a rlly big fan of Harrison ford and i think he did great! i still cover my eyes at the end with the melting faces so i don't rlly know whats it looks like the only person who i saw die was Majer Tont. my brother who is 9 years old saw it and was fine and he gets scared Easy with movies and now it's his favorite
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
4 year old should watch this
Omg I love this movie. Anyone rember when that on guy was going to get in a big sword fight with Indy but insteed Indy just shots him. Lol
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
4 year old should watch this
Omg I love this movie. Anyone rember when that on guy was going to get in a big sword fight with Indy but insteed Indy just shots him. Lol
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I rate this title iffy for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Good movie.
Indiana Jones has LOTS of violence in it. I think that it should only be seen when there is lots of day left to go. It can be very scary at night.
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
You need to watch this with your child if less than 12 years of age.
This is the original movie from the series of treasure searching expeditions introduced by Steven Spielberg. This is very much a movie for boys. I would say it requires a parent to be with the child to add context to the action. The only problem you’ll have is keeping them contained as they try to recreate scenes by jumping from the couch. There is a drinking scene, a domestic slapping scene and a couple of the violence scenes are gory (early impaling by spikes and a late scene where a Nazi mechanic meets the spinning propeller). The distinction between good guys and bad guys is as clear as a Jersey divider with little ambiguity, which makes it easy for the 7 – 10 year olds to understand. And who doesn’t like to see the good guy prevail and get the girl in the end?
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Off For Ages 11 And Under; Iffy For Ages 12-13; On For Ages 14 And Up
Tons of blood: especially the plane scene.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
A classic Steven Spielberg. Great movie with great story and action.
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
not for tweens but great for older kids.
It is avery good movie the best in the series. There is some swearing shooting and punching. There is quite alot of blood. I is the best but also the most violent.
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
Should be ok for tweens
Depending on your kids age and maturity level it should be okay. There is violence and mild language and some parts are a bit suspenceful.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
The best in the Indiana Jones series...
I just love this movie! Yeah, the effects can be a little cheesey at times, but it's still very good. The violence may be a little much fro young or sensitive viewers, and the language consiste of: d--n, h--l, b---ard, s--t, and b--ch. Each said one to three times. The sexual content is sparse and implied, but it still isn't age appropriate for younger viewers. Overall a great movie compared to what Hollywood puts out today.
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I rate this title iffy for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
Depends...
Depends on your family's personal attitudes. Kids can imagine worse than this. I like to laugh loudly during the horrific scenes (e.g., faces melting) to convey the message that it's just Hollywood. Worse is the bad role-modeling. Everyone is a mercenary, even the heroic couple. Don't really like that.
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
great for a younger kid thriller
not my fovorite indy movie but it was alright i suppose
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I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Classic film
The best in the Indiana Jones series. 12 and up will easily handle it.
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I rate this title iffy for age 5 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
fine for 8 and up kids
bloody and violent
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| 71% | of parents say it's too violent |
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