Steven Spielberg’s four Indiana Jones movies have all suddenly disappeared from Disney+ worldwide. Released in 1981, Spielberg’s Raiders of the Lost Ark introduced Harrison Ford’s intrepid archaeologist to the world, and he would subsequently return in four sequels, three of which Spielberg would direct. Spielberg’s final installment in the franchise was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), with director James Mangold taking the reins for the fifth and seemingly final installment, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023).
Disney+ has now removed Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull worldwide. As of writing, Disney has not addressed the removal of the films. Check out a screenshot via What’s On Disney Plus below of the content currently available when using “Indiana Jones” as a search term, which includes Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and two specials:
What The Indiana Jones Movies’ Removal Means For Disney+
Disney’s Ownership Of The Indiana Jones Franchise Explained
Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, becoming the owner of the Indiana Jones IP in the process. It’s important to note, however, that Paramount Pictures retained the distribution rights for the first four movies. A deal was then made in 2023 and the films made their way onto Disney+, just in time for the release of Mangold’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. It’s likely that this licensing agreement has now expired, and that’s why the first four Indiana Jones movies have left the service.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
earned mixed reviews and was a major box office disappointment, meaning another film in the franchise is unlikely.
It’s not yet clear where these classic films will end up. They could theoretically end up on Paramount+, but it seems likely that Paramount will end up licensing them elsewhere, perhaps to a streamer like Netflix. Anybody wishing to check out all five films in the franchise will now seemingly need at least two subscriptions, however.
Our Take On The Removal Of Spielberg’s Indiana Jones Movies
These Situations Are Inconvenient For Consumers
Whenever there are multiple installments in a franchise, it’s convenient for consumers to have all of those movies in one place. The fact that the Indiana Jones films will now be scattered across at least two services speaks to a larger problem in the streaming landscape, which is that shifting licensing deals make it a challenge to know what’s on a given service at any one time.
Since Disney is the owner of Lucasfilm, it would certainly make sense for Disney’s streaming service to offer all the Indiana Jones movies in the same way that it offers all the Star Wars films. These types of inconvenient and/ or confusing streaming situations are another reason why physical media remains one of the best ways to retain access to watching a film, as a physical disc will belong to the owner forever. Hopefully, the Indiana Jones movies’ new streaming home becomes clear in the near future.
The Future Of The Indiana Jones Franchise
Indiana Jones Is Done – For Now
Last year, the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny brought forth a surge of nostalgia for the adventure franchise, with plenty of praise and affection geared specifically towards Ford and his performance. The arrival of the original four movies on Disney+, later joined by Dial of Destiny, only added to the overall sense of celebration. Though the fifth movie underperformed, it’s hard to deny that it revived feelings of goodwill towards the entire series.
Now, it seems Indiana Jones has come to an end, at least in its original form. Even before Dial of Destiny was released, Ford made it clear he was finished with the character, and Lucasfilm has been adamant that it will not replace him in the role. The fifth movie’s underperformance already made Indiana Jones 6 unlikely, but Ford’s lack of involvement firmly shuts the door. That being said, there are still ways for Indy’s world to continue should the powers that be wish to return to the IP.
A popular option for a new Indiana Jones project would be a spinoff centered on the fan favorite character Short Round (Ke Huy Quan). Though Short Round only appeared in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Quan’s career resurgence has found him leading a number of major projects, and there has been renewed love for his character. Quan even reunited with Spielberg and Ford in the lead-up to Dial of Destiny‘s release, proving his connection to the franchise still runs strong.
Quan made a huge comeback to Hollywood when he starred in – and won an Oscar for –
Everything Everywhere All at Once
in 2022.
Beyond that, the series could continue with a prequel, though that would require casting a new actor to play Indy. As it would be a younger version of the character, it wouldn’t explicitly be considered replacing Ford. Indy’s early days were previously explored in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles; perhaps Disney will wish to revive this for a new streaming series. Right now, there are no Indiana Jones projects officially in the works, and only time will tell if Disney produces any more.
Source: What’s On Disney Plus
Indiana Jones
Created by George Lucas, Indiana Jones is an action-adventure multimedia franchise that began with the launch of its first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, in 1981. The series follows Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, Jr., an archaeologist who adventures across the world with various friends as he faces off against the likes of Nazis and other groups bent on collecting ancient artifacts of power. Seeking to preserve history, Jones races against his incidental foes to stop them from conquering – or destroying- the world.
- Cast
- Harrison Ford , Denholm Elliott , John Rhys-Davies , Karen Allen , Kate Capshaw , Ke Huy Quan , Amrish Puri , Sean Connery , Julian Glover , Alison Doody , Shia LaBeouf , Cate Blanchett , Ray Winstone , John Hurt , Phoebe Waller-Bridge , Mads Mikkelsen
- Character(s)
- Indiana Jones , Marcus Brody , Sallah , Marion Ravenwood , Wilhelmina Scott , Wan Li , Mola Ram , Henry Jones, Sr. , Walter Donovan , Elsa Schneider , Henry Jones III , Irina Spalko , George Michale , Harold Oxley , Helena Shaw , Jürgen Voller
- Video Game(s)
- Raiders of the Lost Ark , Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures , LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures , Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues , Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine , Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb , Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings