Look, this is the Indiana Jones movie that even fans pretend doesn't exist. The critics were kinder than audiences (77% vs 53% on Rotten Tomatoes), but the Letterboxd score of 2.8/5 tells the real story: this is a slog.
The plot is bonkers (aliens! nuked fridges! Shia LaBeouf as a greaser!), the CGI looks like a video game cutscene from 2008, and the magic of the original trilogy is nowhere to be found. Kids who've never seen the earlier films might enjoy the spectacle, but anyone comparing it to Raiders of the Lost Ark will be disappointed.
It's not unsafe—the action is typical PG-13 fare—but it's also not particularly enriching or imaginative. It's a popcorn movie that forgot to bring the popcorn. If your kid is desperate to watch every Indy film, fine, but don't expect this to spark a lifelong love of archaeology or adventure. Save your time and rewatch the originals instead.




