Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Movie, 2008, The Later Years, Set in 1957
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is #5 of 6 in release order and #5 of 6 in chronological order in the Indiana Jones.
The story
Set during the Cold War, the Soviets—led by sword-wielding Irina Spalko—are in search of a crystal skull which has supernatural powers related to a mystical Lost City of Gold. Indy is coerced to head to Peru at the behest of a young man whose friend—and Indy's colleague—Professor Oxley has been captured for his knowledge of the skull's whereabouts.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull recap
In 1957, Indiana Jones and his friend Mac are kidnapped by Soviet agents led by Colonel Irina Spalko and taken to the warehouse in Nevada where the Ark is stored, to find the remains of an alien. Indy escapes, survives a nuclear test by hiding in a lead-lined fridge, and is suspected by the FBI of being a communist. At his college, a young greaser, Mutt Williams, tells him his old colleague Harold Oxley has found a crystal skull in Peru and vanished, and Mutt's mother has been kidnapped. In Peru, Indy and Mutt find Oxley's trail and the crystal skull, then are captured by the Soviets, along with Oxley, who has gone mad, and Mutt's mother, who is Marion Ravenwood. Mac turns out to be a double agent. Marion tells Indy that Mutt is his son.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ending explained
Spalko is destroyed when the aliens she wants to learn from share too much knowledge, Indy and the others escape as the alien ship leaves, and Indy marries Marion. They chase through the jungle and reach Akator, the lost city, where thirteen crystal skeletons, beings from another dimension, wake. Mac falls into the vortex. At the wedding, Mutt goes to put on Indy's hat, and Indy takes it back.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is streaming on Prime Video, Disney+, fuboTV, Paramount+, and YouTube TV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.2/10, Rotten Tomatoes 77%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, before Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
- Chronological order: after Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, before Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
What to watch before Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
In release order, the essentials before Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008) are Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
Cast
- Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
- Cate Blanchett as Irina Spalko
- Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood
- Shia LaBeouf as Mutt Williams
- Ray Winstone as George 'Mac' McHale
- John Hurt as Professor Harold Oxley
- Jim Broadbent as Dean Charles Stanforth
- Igor Jijikine as Antonin Dovchenko
- Dimitri Diatchenko as Russian Suit
- Ilia Volok as Russian Suit
- Emmanuel Todorov as Russian Soldier
- Pasha D. Lychnikoff as Russian Soldier
Directed by Steven Spielberg.