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Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt ... see more see more... , Jim Broadbent , Shia LaBeouf , Igor Jijikine , Alan Dale

Everyone's favorite archeologist adventurer dusts off his hat and trusty whip for yet another globetrotting trek as Indiana Jones returns to the big screen nearly 20 years after racing for the Holy Gr... read more read more...ail alongside his father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Harrison Ford reprises his role as the iconic, snake-loathing screen hero in a sequel that also finds Karen Allen returning to the series for the first time since 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, and Shia LaBeouf round out a cast that also features Cate Blanchett in the role of villainous Russian operative Agent Irina Spalko. Steven Spielberg calls the shots on a script penned by David Koepp (and adapted from the screen story by executive producer George Lucas). ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

59% liked it

1,177,264 ratings

Critics

77% liked it

253 critics

DVD Release Date: October 14, 2008

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Stats: 103,284 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (103,284)


  • November 20, 2008
    An older Indy but the same feel at least to me. A solid adventure film in the old school style of cinema from Lucas and Speilbergs youth.
  • March 14, 2012
    it isnt as good as the first 3 indie films and the ending was a bit disappointing but is worth a watch and still action packed with some laughs
  • March 10, 2012
    Definitely the worst of the Indiana Jones "quadrilogy"... Disappointing
  • March 5, 2012
    Despite what the nay-sayers say, and there are a lot of them, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is not quite as bad as they make it out to be. I'll admit straight up that it has problems. They stem mostly from some of the aspects of the story, the editing and the... read more non-gritty feel, which is part of the series' original appeal. They aren't reality-based, but they feel dirty and sweaty, yet in a popcorn-fueled kind of way. Crystal Skull lacks some of these qualities, but still winds up being entertaining anyways. I felt that the strongest scenes and the best ideas for the movie came from the opening moments. The teenagers drag racing, the '50s diner scene, the motorbike chase... and yes, even the atomic bombing (despite the nuked fridge and how unrealistic it is). It still manages to feel like an Indiana Jones movie for the most part. I also think Shia LaBeouf is really good in the movie, and has some great lines. I also adore Cate Blanchett in her role, although I think she could have been a bit more of an overt villain. Once the actual plot of the movie gets underway, basically everything that happens after the plane ride, then the movie becomes problematic and can't really save itself. It's a shame because this movie has a lot of good things in it. I even liked the killer ants dragging the bad guy's body into their underground hive. That's so ridiculously messed up that I was laughing and enjoying it. It's just that the window dressings need a lot of improvement, like an old Victorian house missing a few windows or with holes in the ceiling. It looks bad but it's still nice to look at, and Crystal Skull is just that. It's still fun, even if it does miss a lot beats and lose its character focus a bit.
  • February 9, 2012
    What have they done to Indy???? someone tell me...tell me what I saw was a dream and there's a good Indy film out there, please :(

    Where to start, oh my god!, its a flippin mess, utter shambles, the worst film Ive seen for ages. Jesus christ, from the very start I got shivers of... read more an impending pile of poo, this can't be happening. The start is just a mess from the get go, bad green/blue screen shots against the actors, a really corny baddie in Blanchet and the absolutely terrible 'Indy survives a nuclear blast' idea is laughable just laughable.

    From there its not too bad, the university scenes, the plot ideas, meeting 'Mutt', the punch up and following bike chase is nice, just about right for an Indy adventure. BUT THEN WHOA!! all of a sudden we're in Peru, Mutt hasn't even changed his clothes and we're searching graveyards where strange people seem to live and try to kill you!!! eh??

    Then they've found the crystal skull and we're off again into the jungle, the plot lost in the dribble being spewed along the way. It just gets worse, for no reason 'Marian' appears, terrible acting all the way and the obvious plot line that Mutt is Indy's son, no really, didn't see that coming.

    From then on its just awful, plain embarassing, the jungle chase in the vehicles is dreadful, again bad green/blue screens, no one can hit the goodies with machine guns when they are right along side the other truck hahaha the Tarzan sequence with Mutt is THE WORST THING IVE SEEN FOR ALONG TIME, unbelieveable, then there's the stupid monkey attack AND then there's the elastic band tree! what the hell is that about!??? are we watching a cartoon?

    Then after all this nonsense we have killer ants that carry people into their nests and all the goodies some how surviving three HUGE waterfall drops. By this time I was practically laughing my ass off and cringing with embarassment.

    There's a touch of normality as the group discover a ruin and proceed inside, looks nice, looks 'Indyish', oh before that you do have another ridiculous attack from an unknown tribe of people for no reason whatsoever, but luckily the crystal skull scares them off so we're back on track.
    Once inside the temple ruins there's lots of treasures and ancient texts to read etc...before the conclusion of the film that (as you are aware from awhile back in the film) its all about aliens for gods sake, aliens with crystal skeletons.

    You can guess what happens a mile off, just a copy of the original 'Raiders' ending really, but less gruesome of course. There's a another absolutely ridiculous plot twist in the final sequence, won't spoil it but its just a big joke really, didn't know I was watching the 'X-Files'.

    I also forgot the brilliant, using a huge python as a rope to get out of some quicksand or a bog...whatever.

    This is the worst film I have seen in awhile, terrible, I just can't describe how bad it was and how disappointed I was, they have disgraced the Indy series with this, I just cant believe it!! I really can't, the film is an absolute joke from start to finish. Anyone who says this is better than the original film or even 'Doom' or 'Crusade' is fudging of their trolley.

    Lucas is a bad word for me now, after this and the 'Star Wars' prequels (which were miles better than this crap). What the hell has gone wrong here? huge disappointment to the Indy franchise.
  • January 14, 2012
    Harrison Ford has still got it in him to return his landmark action hero to the screen and please old fans and new ones alike. To bad that everything else didn't turn out so well. Shia laBeouf was the worst choice for a supporting actor and a lot of the plot elements have been re... read more-hashed. Watching it, it reminded me of the Jaws sequels. Not Jaws number two. Because that was the good one.
  • October 30, 2011
    This is going to be short and simple. Crystal Skull isnt only the worst of the Indiana Jones films but nearly ruins the franchise for me. I love Spielbergs films and Herrison's work (I mean come on it's frickin Hans Solo) But Spielbergs urges to fit alians into everything he d... read moreoes not only makes my heart weep, but makes me want to take away every one of David Koepp's pens and pencils so that he can never do this EVER AGAIN!
  • fb1664868775
    October 26, 2011
    fb1664868775
    I can't believe I can say now that I couldn't sit through a Indiana Jones film. Spielberg, Lucas, Ford, you guys let me down.
  • fb729949618
    October 25, 2011
    fb729949618
    I'm really indifferent about this one. First of all the original 3 are classic, and are full of their own unique style. This film has elements of those films, but doesn't quite give you the feeling of the old films. I also found this film to be the cheesiest out of all films, whi... read morech is surprising since technology is way better in 2008. All in all, it's worth seeing but definitely cannot be compared to the orignal 3.
  • August 14, 2011
    I'm afraid I must agree with most of the audiences that didn't like this movie better than the previous trilogy.. To me, Spielberg too enforce himself to made another sequel to Indiana Jones' series, which is for me is better to end up in a trilogy.. The story itself just like th... read moree previous Indiana Jones' movie before, but the whole movie wasn't look alike because I thought Spielberg took too many similarity to other movies.. With the alien thing, I guess it's too similar to 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.. When Mutt just hanging around with those vine and acting like a tarzan, I feel like I watching 'Mutt of the Jungle'.. While the whole movie itself just looks like a big reunion with the comeback appearance from Karen Allen, and new cast like Cate Blanchett and Shia LaBeouf.. I have no comment for the cast's performance, for me they're doing their best, even for the youngest one here Shia LaBeouf.. But having they idea of bringing back Indiana Jones to the adventure just like bringing back old man to go around the world and look for some treasure.. Overall, it's still an enjoyable movie to be watched, but I must say this movie isn't as good as the previous trilogy before, sorry Steven..

Critic Reviews


David Denby
May 27, 2008
David Denby, New Yorker

Crystal Skull isn't bad -- there are a few dazzling sequences, and a couple of good performances -- but the unprecedented blend of comedy and action that made the movies so much more fun than any othe... Full Review

Richard Roeper
May 27, 2008
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

There's nothing but entertainment value here.

David Edelstein
May 27, 2008
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

The action is the movie's raison d'être, of course, but the setups are wittier than the payoffs. Full Review

Peter Rainer
May 23, 2008
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

Crystal Skull is a fun ride, but if we have to wait 19 years for the next one, that's OK by me. Full Review

Dana Stevens
May 22, 2008
Dana Stevens, Slate

Expecting Brando-esque menace or Dreyfus-ian uplift from the Indiana Jones tetralogy is like going to the candy counter at the mall multiplex and asking for some goat cheese and a nice cabernet. Full Review

Christopher Orr
May 22, 2008
Christopher Orr, New Republic

Even as the movie occasionally trips over its nostalgias, it's still a likable, if unremarkable, entertainment, a pleasant echo of past delights. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
May 22, 2008
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

It's not bad, exactly. It's not a desecration of the franchise. It's just . . . tired. Full Review

Rick Groen
May 22, 2008
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Nearly two decades after the last appearance, Indiana Jones is back, along with its diminishing returns and its aging principals and their trademark tools. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
May 22, 2008
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Ultimately, The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is instant artifact. It's a vessel with a great deal of pictorial images on its surface. But its contents are long gone. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
May 22, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

The character and plot contrivances are dumber than ever, but this is basically vaudeville, not narrative, and the thrills keep coming. Full Review

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Facts


    • Mutt Williams: What's he gonna do now?
    • Marion Ravenwood: I don't think he thinks that far ahead.
    • Indiana Jones: I'd cover my ears if I were you!
    • Mutt Williams: You're not my Dad, ok?
    • Indiana Jones: You bet I am and I got news for you. You're gonna go back and finish school.
    • Indiana Jones: For God's sake man, go get help!
    • Professor Oxley: Help.
    • Indiana Jones: HELP!
    • Professor Oxley: HELP!
    • Indiana Jones: HELP! Go!
    • Professor Oxley: ...seems we've reached an age when life stops giving you things and started taking them away.
    • Mutt Williams: You know, for an old man you ain't bad in a fight.
    • Indiana Jones: Thanks.
    • Mutt Williams: What are you, like, 80?
    • Irina Spalko: You're a hard man to read Doctor Jones.

Indiana Jones and... : Watch Free on TV


Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Trivia

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of ... Trivia


  • What is the correct chronological order (when the stories takes place and not when they were filmed) of the Indiana Jones movies?   Answer »
  • The next Indiana Jones movie is called Indian Jones and the ???  Answer »
  • What is the name of the 4th Indiana Jones Movie? (to be released May 22 2008)  Answer »
  • What is the name of the up coming 2008 Indiana Jones film? Indiana Jones and the....  Answer »

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