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Parents' Guide to

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

By Randy White, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Indy's first raucous adventure has peril, stereotypes.

Movie PG 1981 115 minutes
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 93 parent reviews

Zachary H.
Zachary H. Parent of 7 and 10-year-old
March 4, 2023
age 7+

Good Masculine Role Model for Young Boys

This is a great American movie that provides young boys with a role model who is strong, courageous, intelligent and adventurous. It is hard to find movies and TV shows today where men are valiant and masculine. My two sons loved this movie. It also led to some great historical and geographical discussions; and also ones regarding the Ark of the Covenant and the 10 Commandments. I did have them close their eyes at the end right before the main antagonists had their heads melted / imploded, but they watched everything else and even applauded at the end.
reformed_geek
reformed_geek Parent of 6-year-old
June 5, 2022
age 7+

High adventure, but some violence and cartoony gore.

Every parent has to make their own judgement call, but I knew my son (6) would love this movie and he did. The only part I was concerned about him seeing was the end sequence, but he wasn't phased at all. I imagine this would be intense for some children of his same age. These is some gore - primarily around the opening scene and the ending (in 2022 this looks pretty silly effects wise). Otherwise, some blood from fist fights. Some gun shooting and quite a fair bit of peril. There is drinking, smoking and a suggested sex scene (the camera cuts away before anything happens). There are some slower parts that might see children's attention wander, but one of the reasons I like to show my son movies from earlier periods is the slower pacing.
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What's the Story?

After a mission in the jungle at the start of INDIANA JONES AND THE RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) forks over a valuable relic to dastardly French archeologist Belloq (Paul Freeman), under threat of death. Indy 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 -- which purportedly contains the remnants of the Ten Commandments. He reconnects with former girlfriend Marion (Karen Allen), and they end up in Cairo, where they battle all manner of villains -- Nazi and otherwise -- as they search for the Ark.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (93 ):
Kids say (245 ):

When director Steven Spielberg and writer-producer George Lucas set out to re-create the serial adventure movie of the 1940s, they forged a masterwork. The key to the success of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is Ford's Indiana Jones, the archaeology professor and grand adventurer who seems perfectly at home as both a mild-mannered Clark Kent type -- right down to the glasses -- and a larger-than-life hero. Ford played a similar character in the Star Wars series, but here he's front and center. With Raiders, Ford established himself as one of the greatest action-adventure heroes of all time.

Despite the movie's quality, it's fun to note the small continuity and effects errors. If you go back to the film, you and your kids can make a game of picking out where even the best filmmakers make little mistakes. But it will be important to discuss how, despite its entertainment value, the film has aged poorly in terms of how it depicts people of color, most of whom are shown as violent and barbaric.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what Indiana Jones stands for in Raiders of the Lost Ark. If he's a good person, why does he break the rules? Is that OK? What separates him from the "bad guys"? Are real-life villains as thoroughly evil as the ones in movies?

  • Why is Indy so popular as a hero? Why is it so hard for other movies to duplicate the formula of the Indiana Jones series?

  • What makes for a good action film? Is action more important than plot?

  • Where and by whom should historical artifacts be preserved? Should they remain in their countries of origin, or should they be taken to museums or institutions in countries like the United States and England?

  • How do the characters in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark demonstrate perseverance and teamwork? What about courage and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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