IMDb > Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Raiders of the Lost Ark
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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) More at IMDbPro »

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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) -- Trailer for the first in this classic film series
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?

Down 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay)
George Lucas (story) ...
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Contact:

View company contact information for Raiders of the Lost Ark on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

12 June 1981 (USA) more

Genre:

Action | Adventure more

Tagline:

Indiana Jones - the new hero from the creators of JAWS and STAR WARS.

Plot:

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

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 24 wins & 21 nominations more

NewsDesk:
(201 articles)

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User Comments:

Excellent movie and brilliantly crafted entertainment with a superb casting more (588 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Also Known As:

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (South Africa: English title) (DVD box title) (USA) (video title)
more

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

USA:PG (edited for re-rating) (certificate #26345) | USA:R (original rating) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Italy:T | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-11 (DVD rating) | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Israel:PG | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2004) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | West Germany:16 | Canada:G (Quebec) (re-rating) (2003) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) (original rating)


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

Alfred Molina's screen debut. His first scene on his first day of filming involved being covered with tarantulas. more

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Map of Indy's plane route includes Jordan, which before 1949 was known as Transjordan. more

Quotes:

[first lines]
Satipo: [picking up poison dart] The Hovitos are near. The poison is still fresh, three days. They're following us.
Barranca: If they knew we were here, they would've killed us already.
more

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Dopperugengâ (2003) more

Soundtrack:

A British Tar more


FAQ

Why does Indy and Marion's relationship appear tumultuous when they meet?
What is the golden head at the beginning?
A note regarding spoilers
more
90 out of 122 people found the following comment useful.
Excellent movie and brilliantly crafted entertainment with a superb casting, 24 December 2004
10/10
Author: Richard Brunton (imdb-update@brunton.org.uk) from Edinburgh, Scotland

I remember seeing this movie when I was young, and it may well have been in the cinema with my Father, I can't quite remember (if he does, then please post the answer), anyway I do remember seeing it and being thoroughly entertained and that feeling of excitement and total fun staying with me to this very day as that is the feeling that the movie conjures up whenever I think of it.

I think a part of that is down to the fact it's a complete retake on the old serial movies combined with obvious comic book style, and that is just perfect for kids and appeals to them no end, or rather it did then! So it was with excitement that I opened my presents on my birthday and found the boxset for the Indiana Jones Trilogy, and with even more excitement when I finally watched the first in the trilogy, Raiders of the lost Ark.

It was just as I remembered, fun, excitement, wise cracks, a tiny splattering of romance but with a manliness that kids would allow, and lots of stunts and action. It's a superb movie and captures that style of serials, adventure stories and comic books perfectly, how I know that for sure is only through repeats since I wasn't alive during those times.

The set pieces are fantastic, and although some of the wilder end sequences are slightly dated now, it hasn't lost the excitement factor. It's a perfectly crafted movie as well, moving from location to location without any distraction or superfluous scenes, it just feels like it's all there for a reason and that it belongs there.

Harrison Ford is excellent in the role, and I'm inclined to think he was more Indy than he was Solo, but that's a personal opinion. He has many more facial movements and voice inclinations in this early movie than he does nowadays, now he belongs to the moody, quiet school of acting, then he was dynamic, adventurous, strong and as wisecracking as the best of them.

There are some excellent movie making moments in this with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg showing talent galore just oozing out of every pore (where did all that go for Star Wars I to III Mr Lucas?), and they end up making an excellently entertaining movie.

Some could argue that there could be a bit more depth or seriousness to the story, but come on, it's a ripping adventure yarn, you don't need depth. Saving the Ark from the Nazi's, surely that's enough! An excellent movie and great fun too, without a doubt one of my favourite of all time.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (588 total)

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Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
'This watch is worthless...Five dollars off a street vendor.' petekrug17
any movies with a 10 rating on IMDB? patkav6
Rene Belloq - one of cinema's greatest villains? facambria
The Most Overrated Film Ever! satyanshu_singh
Vote for your Favorite Indy death Jammer81386
Huge anachronism? mrpalaces
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