3/10

Archeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis.

Raiders of the Lost Ark

There are few adventure films in all of movie history that are as exciting and timeless as Raiders of the Lost Ark. From Harrison Ford’s iconic turn as Indiana Jones to the eye-popping action sequences to the endlessly quotable dialogue (“Snakes? Why’d it have to be snakes!”), Raiders of the Lost Ark is that rare movie that’s almost flawless in its execution – with Spielberg’s superlative directorial choices certainly playing a significant role in its success. The filmmaker does an excellent job of balancing the disparate elements in Lawrence Kasdan’s screenplay, and it’s no wonder that the American Film Institute has named Raiders of the Lost Ark one of the best 100 movies ever made.

Initial release: June 1, 1981

Screenplay: Lawrence Kasdan

Story by: Philip Kaufman, George Lucas

Awards: Academy Award for Best Visual Effects,  Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Academy Award for Best Film Editing, Academy Award for Best Production Design, Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, Academy Award for Best Sound Editing, Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Special Achievement Academy Award, Saturn Award for Best Director, Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Director, American Movie Award for Best Director, BAFTA Award for Best Production Design, People's Choice Award for Favorite Movie