The fifth film in the Indiana Jones franchise,Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, is currently ranking at the bottom of the barrel in regards to its Rotten Tomatoes score when compared to its first four predecessors. Currently resting at a score of 69% on the Tomatometer, such a designation is inadequate given the scope and quality of the film. Make no mistake, it doesn’t surpass the originalRaiders of the Lost Ark, but it nonetheless deserves higher marks than it’s currently receiving.
Thefirst film in the franchise not directed by Spielbergdoesn’t exactly feel like an unnecessary addition to the saga of the adventure-seeking archeology professor. It does have its issues, but the movie manages to fit in well with the others as a final chapter in the narrative of Indiana Jones. The film is a classic Indiana Jones story without feeling contrived. It manages to lean into its nostalgic element without pandering to the audience, and the addition of Indy’s goddaughter, Helena, is a nice surprise thatends up being more than just a sidekick. There’s also an emotional depth to the film that is notably heartfelt in the action-adventure. So, why does it feel like most people hate it? Is it because the voice of the true fans is louder than others? Or is it because it’s a product of current times, after Disney’s acquisition of the IP?
In any case, the fifth entry in the Indiana Jones franchise deserves more than just a Rotten score in the review aggregator that most people take as a reference. Here’s why.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Update August 06, 2025: This article has been updated followingIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’s Disney+ debut.
Classic Indiana Jones Action
From the onset of the film, everything aboutIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyfelt like a quintessential Indiana Jones movie in the best possible way. True to form, the action throughout the film is on par with theaction styleof all the previous Indiana Jones films, which is nothing short of entertaining. It’s classic Indiana Jones in all the right ways, but it’s also updated slightly to fit within its new timeframe of 1969.
Thanks to the magic of CGI, audiences are given the set-up of the film’s premise as a de-aged Harrison Ford faces off with Nazis in a flashback scene in 1944 meant to set in motion the trajectory of the film. The end of the war is near, and the Nazis are fleeing with their tails between their legs as they scramble to maintain the spoils of war they’ve stolen over the years. In true Indy fashion, he happens upon half of what is known as Archimedes’ “dial of destiny,” an artifact called the Antikythera, which is believed to possess theability to locate fissures in time. Therein lies the catalyst present in every Indy film.
The film features plenty of new and exciting action. From a chase scene in New York City, which is something new for the franchise, to an incredible underwater diving sequence that expands the action of the franchise to the film’s incredible climax, which transports Indiana Jones back in time, the film keeps the spirit of what audiences love about Indiana Jones.
Skillfully Nostalgic Without Being Contrived
As with any beloved Indiana Jones film, audiences are sure to feel nostalgic onceJohn William’s score kicks into full gear. The film clearly understands it’s playing into a nostalgic element given the nature of the movie, but it does a good job of giving nods to the audience without pandering to their love of the previous films in the franchise too much.
Despite the complexities of its narrative, the film has a natural flow and doesn’t feel contrived. The way in which Indy’s newest adventure unfolds makes sense and fits into the overall arch of Indy’s story within the franchise. Previous events in the older movies are not glossed over but rather fully discussed, which ties the films together well. Thereasoning for the absenceor presence of certain characters whom audiences have seen throughout the first four films is logical and feels like a natural way life might unfold if Indy was a real person in the world.
Related:Indiana Jones: Is Phoebe Waller-Bridge the Future of the Franchise?
It also interrogates nostalgia in an interesting way. While the opening scene can be criticized for indulging in nostalgia by showing a classic Indiana Jones adventure, it does serve a purpose. It makes the audience nostalgic for Indiana Jones’s glory days the same way the character is, so in the film’s final moments, they understand why he wants to stay in the past. The idea of nostalgia can be a positive emotion but a toxic one also, believing that things were better in the past and ignoring the positives of the present.
Even the decision to bring back Nazis, which could be read as a way to pander to fans after the iconic villains were ditched for Russians inIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, is an important narrative choice. The villain is a Nazi who is nostalgic for the Nazis and thinks he can do it better than Hitler. While the idea of right-wing fascists making a big grand return used to be seen as the stuff of fantasy adventure movies, now, for modern audiences, it is a reality they often are faced with daily. Indiana Jones greatest enemies have returned, so the hero needed to as well.
The New Characters Are Good Additions
In what could have been an easily manufactured character thrown into the mix simply because Indy’s son is clearly absent from the film, his goddaughter Helena is a pleasantly surprising addition. The quick-witted charm of Phoebe Waller-Bridge is refreshing and enhances the film as well as the franchise overall.
The dynamic between her and Indy plays well, and the young boy she takes under her wing displays a sense of morality she spends much of the film pretending to deny. At first, it feels clunky, but then it gets much better as the character is developed.
Rather than a one-dimensional female character added to the mix simply to boost Indy’s character, Helena stands on her own in a complete way. She’s a whole person in her own right, and Waller-Bridge portrays it well. While this could be attributed to the fact that she’s very much a woman of her era, it’s refreshing to see her onscreen. In many ways, she’s a female Indiana Jones, which could be ahint as to the future of the franchise.
Also, Mads Mikkelsen does a great job as Jürgen Voller, the main villain of the film. Mikkelsen gives the character a true menace while also highlighting the worminess and cowardness that comes from Nazi ideology. Boyd Holbrook makes for a great henchman. The addition of Antonio Banderas and Toby Jones to the cast, playing former friends of Indiana Jones, adds a fascinating depth to Indiana Jones’s life that audiences infer between films but strengthens the film with some emotional moments.
Related:10 Reasons Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny Is a Must-Watch for Classic Film Lovers
Surprising Emotional Depth That Will Age Better As Time Goes On
Unlike the previous four films,Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destinytouches on some deeper emotional elements. In many ways, the newest film reminds the audience how human Indy truly is. He might be an adventure-seeking professor who is somehow constantly up against the Nazis, but he’s also a human being with emotional depth. There’s a sadness to Indy this time around that audiences haven’t seen before, and viewers eventually discover why, which provides nuance and heart that isn’t present in thefilm’s predecessors.
Although its current Rotten Tomatoes score isn’t necessarily a bad one,Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destinydeserve to sit a bit higher with critics. Only time will tell as more critics reflect their opinion on Rotten Tomatoes. Perceptions of movies do change over time, after all. WhileIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skullgot positive reviews from critics when it came out, most would say it is the worst in the franchise. Plenty of movies that get great reviews over time lose their luster, while others who were dismissed out of hand get reappraisal.
StreamIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destinyon Disney+
To keep celebrating the legacy of Harrison Ford, here’s a video of his best quotes as Han Solo in theStar Warsuniverse:
