He Played Indiana Jones for 40 Years—But Harrison Ford Just Called This Film His Least Favorite
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Harrison Ford has played some of cinema’s most legendary roles—Han Solo, Rick Deckard, Richard Kimble, President James Marshall—but few characters are as tied to his legacy as Indiana Jones. Since 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, Ford has donned the fedora and bullwhip across five films, battling Nazis, chasing ancient relics, and, most recently, defying time itself in The Dial of Destiny.
But when it comes to choosing a least favorite entry in the franchise, Ford has already been clear: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
“Too Dark and Too Violent”
In a 1989 interview with the Chicago Tribune—just ahead of the release of The Last Crusade—Ford admitted he didn’t hold the second film in the same regard as the original.
“I didn’t like it as much as the original,” he said. “I think there were a few miscalculations in the recipe, and that it was too dark and too violent. I’m pleased to say that The Last Crusade is much more like Raiders of the Lost Ark, and so anyone who felt the second one was too strong should be assured that this one doesn’t play that way at all.”
A Darker Turn for Indy
Released in 1984, Temple of Doom departed sharply from the swashbuckling, family-friendly tone of Raiders. Its villains—a murderous Thuggee cult—enslaved children, performed human sacrifices, and tore beating hearts from their victims’ chests. The film’s intensity was such that it helped prompt the creation of the PG-13 rating in the U.S.
While Temple of Doom remains a core part of the franchise’s DNA—introducing fan-favorite sidekick Short Round, played by Ke Huy Quan—it is widely regarded as the most divisive of the original trilogy.
Lightening the Mood
Director Steven Spielberg pivoted in The Last Crusade (1989), infusing the film with humor and warmth, particularly through the introduction of Sean Connery as Indy’s father. The change in tone was a deliberate move to recapture the breezy charm of Raiders, and it largely succeeded—cementing Last Crusade as one of the series’ most beloved installments.
Legacy Intact
Even if Ford wasn’t fond of Temple of Doom’s darker tone, it remains an essential chapter in Indy’s four-decade run. And while The Dial of Destiny may not have hit the box office highs of earlier films, Ford’s tenure as the adventurous archaeologist is secure in Hollywood history.
After all, as Temple of Doom proved, even Indiana Jones can survive a few miscalculations—and still come out a legend.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a franchise retrospective timeline that places Temple of Doom in context with the highs and lows of all five Indiana Jones films. That could give the piece more historical depth for readers.
