Raiders of the Lost Ark is available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and Digital.
Raiders of the Lost Ark is not only one of the best action and adventure movies ever made, but it’s also one of the most culturally significant, with its place in the history of cinema both genre-defining and immortal. Raiders of the Lost Ark helped define my childhood alongside Star Wars, James Bond and Superman.
At age twelve, I begged my mum and dad to buy me a leather jacket just like Indy’s, and I longed to own a battered and worn fedora hat. Indiana Jones introduced me to the wonders of history and the mythic tales of long-lost artefacts and religious icons; he encouraged me to be brave in exploring new places and ideas, and never stop seeking answers to the unknown. Indiana Jones was my hero, teacher, and guide for many years, and as I grew older, my love for the film series only deepened. Even now, Indiana Jones transports me back to my childhood, evoking a sense of wonder and adventure, and of the Indiana Jones films, Spielberg and Lucas gifted us, Raiders of the Lost Ark remains the best.
In 1973, George Lucas pondered two possible stories as he worked alongside his film school friends, including Coppola, Scorsese, De Palma, and Spielberg. Both stories had sat in his imagination since his teens, and both were built upon the matinee serials he enjoyed as a child.
The first drew inspiration from Flash Gordon and Japanese mythology, expanding them into a sweeping space opera of rebellion, religion, and empire. In contrast, the second explored the adventures of an archaeologist who travelled the world uncovering long-lost artefacts. Following the completion and critical success of American Graffiti, the space opera ‘Star Wars‘ would ultimately prevail. But that didn’t mean the archaeologist was consigned to the shelf. Lucas continued to work on the idea, building the story under the character name of Indiana Smith.
Lucas had agreed to a film partnership with Steven Spielberg in 1977, selling his friend on the idea of an archaeologist, a mythical ark, and a group of evil Nazi treasure hunters. Before ‘Star Wars,’ the pair had all but agreed to create the movie, with Spielberg directing and Lucas producing. However, both men were unaware at that time that their careers were about to hit the ‘big time’, and due to work, it wasn’t until much later that Spielberg and Lucas would find the time to build upon the initial idea with the help of the screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan.
With the screenplay completed, nearly every major studio turned down Raiders of the Lost Ark due to doubts over the proposed $20 million budget. That is, all but one, Paramount Pictures’ President Michael Eisner saw the potential but demanded rights to any sequels. Lucas agreed with the caveat that any sequel Paramount wanted would have to be attached to Lucasfilm, and with that, Raiders had the green light.
Spielberg was quick to suggest Harrison Ford when casting choices emerged, but Lucas was far less convinced, worrying that Ford would become associated with the new Lucasfilm as the go-to hero. Therefore, after multiple screen tests, Lucas and Spielberg opted for Tom Selleck; however, Magnum P.I.’s filming schedule and his associated contract ultimately halted Selleck’s casting, and Harrison stepped in with a boyish charm, a cheeky smile, and a truckload of charisma.
Raiders of the Lost Ark was a quick and dirty shoot, lasting just 12 weeks, to keep the budget in check. To achieve this, Spielberg requested over 6,000 storyboard images, each establishing how the film would appear on the big screen, as well as large-scale models of all significant external sets, allowing him to plan each shot before leaving the studio. The result was a pressured but smooth twelve-week shoot that progressed on time and surprisingly under budget despite a few accidents and crew sickness.
The legendary British director of photography Douglas Slocombe (The Italian Job, The Lavender Hill Mob) brought Norman Reynolds’ (Star Wars, Empire of the Sun) intricate Elstree sets to life in glorious colour and rich detail, while John Williams’ sublime and energetic score became one of the most recognised film scores ever.
Raiders of the Lost Ark opened in US cinemas on June 12th 1981, earning $8,305,823 on its first weekend. However, this figure would increase by the end of its global run to $389,925,971. Added to a worldwide theatrical run that earned it a top spot on the box office charts for 1980, Raiders would go on to win five Oscars and one BAFTA, cementing four sequels from 1984 to 2023 alongside The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles on TV.
Raiders of the Lost Ark continues to provide a template for action and adventure movies forty years after its release, with its cultural impact felt throughout the modern cinematic landscape. It remains unique, enthralling, and electrifying —a whip-cracking masterpiece that is a testament to the creative genius of Lucas and Spielberg. It’s an adventure that everyone can enjoy, regardless of age. Do I still wish I were Indiana Jones forty years on? Hell yeah!
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott, Ronald Lacey, Alfred Molina
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