Netflix adding four movies from film series 'better than James Bond'

Netflix is set to thrill action-adventure fans next week by adding what many consider the ‘best film series of all time’ to its roster.

The post-Easter bank holiday cheer is poised to continue as Netflix gears up to drop the first four instalments of the Indiana Jones saga into its vast collection.

Fans can look forward to streaming Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Spanning from 1981 to 2008, each of these cinematic gems was helmed by the legendary Steven Spielberg. This move represents a significant win for Netflix, especially since Disney currently holds the rights to the franchise after acquiring Lucasfilm.

Although initially available on Disney’s own streaming service, these iconic films will soon reach an even broader audience on Netflix for a duration that remains undisclosed.

The whip-cracking archaeologist himself was conceived by George Lucas as a successor to his Star Wars triumph. He was joined by writer-director Phillip Kaufman, who pitched the idea of the Ark of the Covenant as the central plot device for the inaugural movie, reports the Mirror.

Lucas then enlisted Spielberg to direct, pitching the concept during a vacation with the promise of creating something “better than James Bond”.

Harrison Ford truly immortalised Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr. , the adventurous archaeology professor who mixes academia with high-stakes escapades.

Ford has brought Indiana to life in five thrilling movies, although the latest, ‘Dial of Destiny’, hasn’t hit Netflix just yet.

From his cinematic debut, Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr. has become legendary, with the character embroiled in action-packed archaeological undertakings across five blockbuster films—though the newest entry, ‘Dial of Destiny’, remains off Netflix for now.

Set in 1936, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ catapults Indiana Jones on a mission, employed by U.S. government agents, to track down the fabled Ark of the Covenant before Hitler’s minions can claim its power.

‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’ takes place in 1936 and has our intrepid hero recruited by government officials to retrieve the Ark of the Covenant—a chest believed to contain the Ten Commandments tablets—ahead of the Nazis.

The second instalment, ‘Temple of Doom’, is actually where it all began; a prequel set in 1935 sees Indiana summoned to an Indian village to recapture a sacred stone and free the missing local children.

‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’, despite being the second film released, acts as a prequel set in 1935, where Indiana stumbles into an Indian village and is charged with reclaiming a precious relic and rescuing kidnapped boys.

Continuing the saga, ‘Last Crusade’ follows Indiana in 1938 on a quest to find the Holy Grail, tracking clues left by his estranged father (a memorable Sean Connery), who vanished under mysterious circumstances—his journey intertwines personal discovery, paternal rescue, and outsmarting Nazi rivals.

Our third adventure, ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’, unfolds in 1938 with Indiana deciphering his missing father’s trail in search of the Holy Grail, facing not only his personal past but the Nazi threat once more.

In 2008’s ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’, nestled in the peak of Cold War tensions, Indiana races Soviet agents to unearth Peru’s Crystal Skull of Akator, accompanied by new cast member Shia LaBeouf, playing Mutt, the son he never knew he had.

Then comes ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’, jumping nearly two decades after the grail hunt to the Cold War era, with Indiana pitted against KGB adversaries and joined by newcomer Shia LaBeouf as his long-lost son Mutt Williams, all in pursuit of the mystical Crystal Skull of Akator.

According to Rotten Tomatoes, the inaugural film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, stands out with a remarkable 94% score, outpacing its successors. The Last Crusade follows with a respectable 84%, while Crystal Skull and Temple of Doom both hold a 77% rating.

The franchise has garnered an impressive seven Academy Awards in areas such as editing and visual effects.

For many film enthusiasts, Indiana Jones holds a treasured place in their hearts, with some regarding it as the greatest film series ever conceived. IMDB ranks it as the fifth most exceptional franchise, narrowly surpassing the James Bond series and lending credence to Lucas’s initial assertion.

One enthusiast shared their thoughts on the original film online, stating: “For me it is not only the best of the series but one of the greatest adventure films ever made. It is breathless excitement from start to finish, and to be honest I cannot fault it really. “.

Another fan echoed this sentiment, saying: “This movie is no doubt one of the best action movies ever…. but one of the best movies ever. This movie is a thrill ride from start to finish. If you never seen an Indiana Jones film come on man, what are you doing with your life? The movie starts off white probably one of the most iconic intros ever.”

Indiana Jones 1-4 is streaming on Netflix from April 25.