Raiders of the Lost Ark
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman. It drew a wide audience and shaped its genre.
Plot
In 1936, American archaeologist Indiana Jones recovers a Golden Idol from a booby-trapped Peruvian temple. Rival archaeologist René Belloq corners him and steals the idol; Jones escapes in a waiting float plane. After returning to the United States, Jones is briefed by two Army Intelligence agents that Nazi German forces are excavating at Tanis, Egypt, and one of their telegrams mentions Jones's former mentor Abner Ravenwood. He deduces that the Nazis are seeking the Ark of the Covenant, which Adolf Hitler believes will render their army invincible. The agents recruit Jones to recover the Ark first.
Production
Written by Lawrence Kasdan, the film was produced by Paramount Pictures. John Williams composed the score. Douglas Slocombe handled the cinematography. The film runs 115 minutes. The crew and editing refined every shot.
Reception
On a budget of $18,000,000, Raiders of the Lost Ark grossed $389,925,971 worldwide at the box office. A critic consensus praised its screenplay and score.
Legacy
Raiders of the Lost Ark is part of the Indiana Jones Collection franchise; its influence and legacy endure in later cinema.
See also
References
- "The 100 Greatest Films of All Time". topfilms100. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
- Ebert, Roger. The Great Movies. Broadway Books.
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