The film betrays no human impulse higher than that of a ten-year-old boy trying to gross out his baby sister by dangling a dead worm in her face.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:58
Fresh:49
Rotten:9
Average Rating:7.2/10
Runtime: 1 hr 58 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: Filmmaker Steven Spielberg returns as director for this rip-roaring prequel to 1981's smash hit RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Here dashing, whip-wielding archaeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison... Filmmaker Steven Spielberg returns as director for this rip-roaring prequel to 1981's smash hit RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Here dashing, whip-wielding archaeologist-adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is joined by comely chanteuse Willie (Kate Capshaw) and a 12-year-old sidekick named Short Round (Ke Huy Quan). Together they search for a mystical stone stolen from an Indian community and stumble upon a dangerous Thuggee cult. Exotic locales, wild chases, death-defying cliffhangers, last-minute rescues, screaming damsels, and tribal sacrifices are the order of the day as the threesome attempt to acquire the stolen stone. A few scenes originally planned for RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK showed up in INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM--most notably the mine chase sequence, which was part of the 80 percent of TEMPLE OF DOOM shot on a soundstage. After the film's release, the MPAA's Classification & Ratings Board created a new rating--PG-13. Spielberg cast actress Kate Capshaw, who would later become his real-life wife, for the film. [More]
Starring: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri
Starring: Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan, Amrish Puri, Roshan Seth, Philip Stone
Director: Steven Spielberg
Director: Steven Spielberg
Screenwriter: Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz
Story: George Lucas
Producer: Robert Watts
Composer: John Williams
Get This Movie
Reviews for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Yes, Temple of Doom still stinks -- save that spectacular opening Shanghai nightclub scene.
...makes you wonder if Spielberg and series producer George Lucas might have been going through some sort of drug phase.
I honestly think this edgier prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark does an even better job of being a non-stop rollercoaster ride than the original.
Part of the trouble is that anything clearly does go, including the slender hold on credibility that Raiders managed to maintain.
stilted attempts to soften Doom's gloom only create a sense of manipulative phoniness
Terrific opening with 'Anything Goes' in Chinese -- then the kid shows up and it's downhill.
[T]he best of the Indiana Jones movies...it's insanely wonderful, in every sense of those words.
It lacks the sense of detail that made Raiders such a treat. It isn't very clever, very funny or very compelling.
Pic comes on like a sledgehammer, and there's even a taste of vulgarity and senseless excess not apparent in Raiders.
Fantastically choreographed action sequences and another comely companion for Indy (Capshaw) and gloriously overdone visual devices make up for the shameless lack of plot.
A breakneck adventure that moves at twice the pace of the original but has only half the creative strength.
One of Steven Spielberg's best movies, because he for once isn't trying to say anything at all. He's just having fun.
Where the brilliant "Raiders" was an adventure film aimed at the child at heart, "Temple of Doom" is really designed for the kiddie market itself.
Doesn't live up to the excitement and thrills of the original, but still a pretty wild ride.
Latest News for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
July 28, 2008:
Lucas Considers a Fifth Indiana Jones ![]()
George Lucas is bringing Clone Wars to a theater near you, getting down to work on the Tuskegee Airmen-inspired Red Tails, and -- oh yeah -- contemplating a fifth Indiana Jones... More...
May 21, 2008:
Indiana Jonesin': How Does the Latest Chapter Measure Up?
Everyone has their favorite Indiana Jones movie -- and their own thoughts on if Raiders of the Ark is better than Last Crusade. (Sorry, Temple of Doom -- there's no contest). ... More...
May 12, 2008:
RT on DVD: Indiana Jones Box Set, Narnia in Blu-ray, and a Porn Virus Epidemic?
Spaced, the UK cult hit series, is finally headed to the States this summer - but guess what's here now? A 3-disc Indiana Jones DVD collection and Narnia in Blu-ray! (Plus, we... More...
March 04, 2008:
Indiana Jones and the Special Edition DVDs
If you were one of the many Indiana Jones fans who purchased the four-DVD Adventures Of box when it was released in 2003, prepare to wish you hadn't. More...
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 66% 66% | Public Enemies |
| 83% 83% | Harry Potter and the H… |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 75% 75% | Julie & Julia |
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 88% 88% | Inglourious Basterds |
| 78% 78% | The Hangover |
| 49% 49% | Taking Woodstock |
| 26% 26% | The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard |
| 47% 47% | The Girl From Monaco |
RT On Current TV
DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
CloseSponsored Links
Around The Network
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at Rotten Tomatoes
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at IGN
Fresh Links
Featured

Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!
Promos

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!



Top Critic



