Indiana Jones' Worst Movie Somehow Made the Most Money in Box Office

Summary:

• The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, considered by fans to be the worst film in the franchise, made the most money – $786 million.
• At the same time, The Temple of Doom, one of the best Indiana Jones movies, earned more than half as much – $333 million.
• What makes The Temple of Doom one of the best movies in the franchise is Jones' undeniably best companion, Short Round, and the girl with whom Indiana had the healthiest relationship, Willie Scott.

George Lucas and Steven Spielberg started the wild adventure franchise with Harrison Ford in 1981, inspired by the treasure hunters and James Bond movies.

Like the action films about Agent 007, the Indiana Jones projects all followed the same formula – there was an ancient and very valuable artifact, Indiana had to rescue a damsel in distress, fight the villains and find a worthy companion.

The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Is the Worst Movie with the Biggest Box Office

The classic trilogy of the 1980s had a charm that was enough for viewers to forgive everything, including plot holes and completely unrealistic tricks.

But Spielberg's wonderful era came to an end, and at its end he made Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Many would like to forget this movie and pretend it never existed.

Even the professionalism of Spielberg, who knows a thing or two about making big-budget blockbusters, could not save the film.

In the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull the family storyline suddenly appeared: the eternal wanderer Indiana Jones got married and realized that he was a loving father. All this led to the project being awarded the Golden Razzie.

The Temple of Doom Is the Best Movie with the Worst Box Office

But do you know how much the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull made? Yes, this is the box office champion of the entire franchise, with revenues of $786 million.

At the same time, the second part, the Temple of Doom, undoubtedly one of the best installments in the franchise, earned the least – only $333 million.

The Temple of Doom Has the Best Girlfriend

It is generally accepted that Indiana's main love is Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark. She runs a bar in Nepal and can out-drink any local drunk, but her relationship with Jones is, well, unhealthy: their relationship began when she was sixteen.

Indiana's romance with singer Willie Scott, his next (or, according to the chronology of events, previous) girlfriend from the Temple of Doom, seemed much more harmonious. Willie was forced to travel with him when he destroyed the Shanghai Obi Wan Club where she was performing.

The Temple of Doom Also Has the Best Companion

In addition, the Temple of Doom has Indiana's best companion, Short Round, which most, if not all, fans will agree with.

First, he saves Indiana from enemies more than once, participates in all the action scenes, and even helps his older friend at the risk of his own life. Second, he makes really funny jokes.

Third, the acting talent of future Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan makes Short Round charismatic and touching. And most importantly, there is a real chemistry between Harrison Ford and Quan that makes you believe in their strange friendship.