‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ 40th anniversary: Harrison Ford sequel opens to record-breaking box office

On May 23, 1984, the much anticipated sequel to “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) was released. As it was the early years of what is now the norm of summer blockbuster sequels, “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” opened to a record-breaking box office, and became one of the highest-grossing films of its time. It’s been four decades since Harrison Ford donned Indy’s famous fedora for the second time, and, although it didn’t receive the praise of its predecessor, the film has had some long-lasting effects, and is now an appreciated part of the beloved franchise. Read on for the “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” 40th anniversary.

“The Temple of Doom” is technically a prequel, as the story by George Lucas is set a year prior to the events of “Raiders of the Lost Arc” in order to feature villains other than Nazis. There are still plenty of thrills in this installment, some of which led to criticism at the time over its darker tone than “Raiders.” Human sacrifices and kidnapped children forced into labor by Thuggee cultists sparked controversy over its PG rating by parents of young children. Two weeks later, “Gremlins” was released with a PG rating that led to similar complaints. In response, director Steven Spielberg recommended that another rating be added to fill the gap between PG and R-rated films, and the PG-13 rating was introduced in July of that same year.

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Kate Capshaw‘s character Willie Scott also failed to connect with some viewers, with Spielberg aiming to create a character who is the complete opposite of Indy’s love interest in “Raiders,” Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen). Whereas Marion is strong-willed and independent, Willie is a pampered child from a wealthy family with aspirations of stardom, and is a singer at Club Obi Wan (a “Star Wars” reference). More of a damsel-in-distress than Allen’s feisty Marion, Willie was deemed too “shrill” by some. She might not have been the public’s favorite of Indy’s love interests, but Spielberg likes Capshaw just fine — they connected during the making of this film and have been married since 1991.

Despite any criticism, most agree that a highlight of the movie is the character Short Round, a 12-year-old orphan who proves to be one of Indy’s best sidekicks. Thousands of young actors vied for the role, but it was Ke Huy Quan who was chosen when he accompanied his younger brother to the audition. In his film debut, Quan captured the hearts of viewers everywhere; fans would cheer him on 39 years later when he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022). With Ford making his rounds promoting the latest Indy film, “Indiana Jones and the Dial Destiny,” in 2023, the two had some wonderful reunion moments, including Ford presenting the Best Picture Oscar to “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Fandom for Indiana Jones has only increased over the years, with three more sequels released between 1989 and 2023. The five films have found love not only at the box office, but have earned numerous accolades as well, including 14 Academy Award nominations. In 1982, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” received nine bids, including Best Picture and Director, and won five technical awards, ending that Oscar ceremony with the most wins of the night. Composer John Williams received nominations for Best Score for four of the five films. “The Temple of Doom” earned two nominations at the 57th Academy Awards, winning Best Visual Effects like its predecessor.

Over the past 40 years, audiences have found a greater appreciation for “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.” Although it’s not quite as lighthearted as the original, it still captures the old-fashioned thrills of adventure films of yesteryear, and finds new fans with each generation.

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