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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

PG | | Action, Adventure | 12 June 1981 (USA)
Raiders of the Lost Ark Poster
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In 1936, archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones is hired by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before Adolf Hitler's Nazis can obtain its awesome powers.

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(screenplay by), (story by) | 1 more credit »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Indy
... Marion
... Belloq
... Toht
... Sallah
... Brody
... Sapito
... Dietrich
... Gobler
... Barranca / Monkey Man
... Col. Musgrove
... Major Eaton
Bill Reimbold ... Bureaucrat
... Jock
... Australian Climber
See full cast »
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Storyline

The year is 1936. An archeology professor named Indiana Jones is venturing in the jungles of South America searching for a golden statue. Unfortunately, he sets off a deadly trap but miraculously escapes. Then, Jones hears from a museum curator named Marcus Brody about a biblical artifact called The Ark of the Covenant, which can hold the key to humanly existence. Jones has to venture to vast places such as Nepal and Egypt to find this artifact. However, he will have to fight his enemy Rene Belloq and a band of Nazis in order to reach it. Written by John Wiggins

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

ark of the covenant | nazi | archeologist | egypt | archeological dig | See All (236) »

Taglines:

The Return of the Great Adventure. See more »

Genres:

Action | Adventure

Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Official Sites:

Lucasfilm / Paramount | Official Facebook

Country:

Language:

| | | | |

Release Date:

12 June 1981 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Indiana Jones  »

Filming Locations:

 »
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Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,305,823, 14 June 1981, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$248,159,971

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$389,925,971
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

,  »
Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(70 mm prints)| (35 mm prints)| (IMAX version)| (IMAX version)| (IMAX version)| (IMAX version)| (IMAX version)

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Indiana Jones has two Herbert Johnson Poet hats in this film. He has a grey dress hat (seen in the shot of him boarding the plane to Nepal, and in the ending scene on the steps of the Capital building) and the iconic brown "work" hat. See more »

Goofs

When Indy is pointing a bazooka at the ark, Belloq grabs a machine gun from one of the German soldiers, with his left hand on the trigger. In the next shot, it is his right hand on the trigger, before immediately switching back to the trigger being in his left hand again. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Satipo: [picking up poison dart] The Hovitos are near.
[tastes the end of the dart, spits it out quickly]
Satipo: The poison is still fresh, three days. They're following us.
Barranca: If they knew we were here, they would have killed us already.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The mountain in the Paramount logo dissolves into the mountain in the Peruvian jungle. See more »

Connections

Referenced in Nostalgia Critic: Suburban Knights: DVD (2013) See more »

Soundtracks

I am the Monarch of the Sea
(1878) (uncredited)
From "H.M.S. Pinafore"
Music by Arthur Sullivan
Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert
Sung a cappella by John Rhys-Davies
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Was there really a long fight scene planned between Indy and the swordsman?
Q: What is the golden head at the beginning?
Q: How was Marion able to stay sober during her meeting with Belloq?
See more »

User Reviews

 
Harrison Ford, in the role that suited him best...
27 July 2008 | by – See all my reviews

Ford stars as Indiana Jones, an archaeologist adventurer, who spends his time traveling all over the world through jungles, deserts, oceans, and caverns in search for hidden treasures—like the priceless long-lost Ark of the Covenant (the Hebrew sacred artifact that held the supposed Ten Commandments). Unfortunately, a group of treasure-hungry Nazis wants it too, having heard that any army who wins it would receive supernatural powers…

With his trademark hat, whip, leather jacket, and pistol for backup, our stubborn, intelligent, determined and loyal hero escapes innumerable dangers, evades multiple obstacles including fearsome thugs in a busy Cairo bazaar, and hangs underneath a fast-moving truck in an exciting chase through a road… These are only some of the film's incredible set pieces… Steven Spielberg likable hero is not invincible, though, facing impossible odds, capable of getting beaten, struck violently, heart broken, and falling asleep after the first kiss…

The villains—especially Indy's suave and cultured French rival wearing a Panama hat and white suits, Rene Belloq (Paul Freeman)—are not really that much different from him, except in their motivation… The shrill heroine, Marion (Karen Allen)—is not the girl always in discomfort either, but a resourceful, dynamic and formidable woman who doesn't require the hero at all…

"Raiders of the Lost Arc" is a perfect package of unforgettable scenes, countless action, humor, astonishing technical effects, thrilling sequences, and terrific performances… It was followed by three fun sequels…
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