Parents' Guide to

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

By Randy White, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

More gore, gross-outs than the other Indy blockbusters.

Movie PG 1984 118 minutes
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 48 parent reviews

Lotty6
Lotty6 Adult
September 26, 2021
age 12+
This one is more intense then the first one it still has lots of violence violence 6%10 gun fights hand to hand combat swords someone is tortured in the temple and his heart is ripped out but the camera films far away people eat monkey brains chases people fall of a bridge and are eating by crocodiles there is some language but I can’t remember I think one or two uses of s—t one use of barst—- d and probably damn my rating pg 13 violence some language and some scary scenes
1 person found this helpful.
bjsmons
bjsmons Adult
July 23, 2009
age 5+

It realy weighs on maturity. I think many of the reviews are an inflated overreaction.

I watched this movie as a young child. I did know that it was all make believe and was just a story. I saw movies I though was scary (gremlins) but Indiana Jones was not one of the scary. To me, Indiana Jones was a hero. I wanted to help people and be one of the good guys. I looked up to the character and it's really not a bad thing. When it comes to the Violence, again I think intellectually mature children can understand it is not real. Bad guys are out there, they do very bad things. I have no desire to over shelter my children by making them think world is all safe and full of good people. My daughters are 4 and 6. My 4 year old doesn't care much for movies so she doesn't watch it. My 6 year old is a huge fan of Indiana Jones. This series is not scary.

This title has:

Too much sex
Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 48 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Set before Indiana Jones tangled with the Nazis over the lost ark, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM finds the archaeologist-adventurer on a mission to recover another priceless artifact and rescue enslaved children. After a narrow escape from Chinese gangsters, Indy (Harrison Ford), nightclub singer Willie (Kate Capshaw), and precocious 12-year-old Short Round (Ke Huy Quan) are asked by humble villagers to take on the Thuggees, an evil cult that practices human sacrifice. Indy and his friends face trained assassins, mind control potions, enormous bugs, and a wild ride in a mining cart as they try to retrieve the village's sacred stone -- and their kidnapped children -- from evil Mola Ram and his gang of Thuggees.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (48):
Kids say (151):

Despite superior chase sequences and dazzling stunts, this loud and frenzied sequel is mostly an exercise in excess. It's loud, creepy, violent, and, at times, incoherent. While the pacing and tone of the first movie felt spot-on, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom never really finds its rhythm. What the movie does have are some of the best stunts of the series, as well as outstanding chases.

Intrigue quickly disintegrates into endless pandemonium and the antics of two annoying sidekicks who never stop shouting and shrieking. Ford, so effortlessly heroic in Raiders, just seems mean in this film. Children will probably like Short Round and the movie's silly elephants, but parents should note that PG-13 rating was invented for this movie, after so many children who went to see it had the living daylights scared out of them.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about stereotypes in movies. Do you see any stereotypes in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom? How can a stereotype be fun -- and how can it be offensive? Where do you draw the line?

  • What does Indiana Jones stand for? If he's a good guy, why does he break the rules? Is that OK? What separates him from the "bad" guys? Are real-life bad guys as thoroughly evil as the ones in movies?

  • Talk about the history behind the PG-13 rating. Do you think it was a good addition to the rating system? Why do you think this movie contributed to that decision?

  • How do the characters in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom demonstrate perseverance, teamwork, and courage? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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