One of the biggest box office hits of 1989, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is widely considered to be the greatest follow-up to Steven Spielberg’s pulpy masterpiece Raiders of the Lost Ark. After Temple of Doom took a dark turn with child slaves and ritualistic sacrifices, Last Crusade returned to the fun, lighthearted action-adventure tone of Raiders.

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From Indy’s father-son dynamic with his estranged dad to the breathtaking practical stunt work, there are plenty of elements in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade that still hold up today.

The Prologue Acts As Its Own Young Indy Prequel

River Phoenix as young Indiana Jones on a circus train in The Last Crusade

The opening set piece of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade features River Phoenix as a young Indy breaking away from his Boy Scouts’ field trip to confront a band of ruthless grave robbers. This sequence fills in the character’s backstory, explaining where he got his whip, his fedora, and the scar on Harrison Ford’s chin.

This prologue acts as its own little Indiana Jones prequel, but the inclusion of Indy’s stern, emotionally distant father at the end sets up the main conflict for the rest of the movie. It’s one of the most unforgettable openings of any sequel.

Harrison Ford And Sean Connery Share A Surprisingly Tangible Father-Son Dynamic

Harrison Ford and Sean Connery tied up in a room on fire in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

After the previous two movies shrouded the character in mystery, it was a bold move for Spielberg and Lucas to round out Indiana Jones’ backstory. But telling that part of Indy’s story through his relationship with his estranged father was a unique, emotionally resonant way to explain his origins.

Sean Connery’s casting may have been a gimmick since Indiana Jones was inspired by James Bond and Connery was the original Bond, but he and Harrison Ford shared a surprisingly tangible father-son dynamic in the roles of Indy and Henry, Sr.

Practical Stunt Work Is Timeless

The motorcycle chase sequence in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

These days, CGI-ridden action scenes can age poorly within a couple of years, but practical in-camera stunt work from decades ago is still timeless. The action scenes of The Road Warrior, Police Story, and the Indiana Jones movies all still hold up today, because daring stunt performers did them for real and all the director had to do was point and shoot.

The Last Crusade’s stunt team pulled off wild feats like a motorcycle chase, an underground explosion, and riding a speedboat through the narrow gap between two larger ships.

The Story Moves Along At A Nice, Brisk Pace

Indiana Jones enters the Grail temple in The Last Crusade

Much like the James Bond movies that influenced the Indiana Jones series in the first place, the fast-paced storytelling of The Last Crusade jumps all over the globe to such exotic locations as Venice, Berlin, and Hatay.

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The plot points are all driven forward by action, while the Nazis’ concurrent search for the Holy Grail gives the threequel a nail-biting ticking-clock element.

John Williams’ Oscar-Nominated Score Walks The Line Between Action-Adventure Thrills And Earnest Sentimentality

Indiana and Hnery Jones looking concerned in The Last Crusade.

Just like in George Lucas’ other franchise Star Wars, John Williams’ music in the Indiana Jones movies has arguably contributed as much to the feel of the series as Lucas’ storytelling. His Oscar-nominated Last Crusade score walks the line of the movie’s tonal balance perfectly.

In The Last Crusade, Williams brought his usual high-octane orchestrations to the action scenes, but he also composed some slower, more emotional pieces to punctuate the father-son drama.

The Holy Grail Is The Ultimate MacGuffin

The Grail Knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Par for the course, Last Crusade has a MacGuffin for Indy to search for. After tracking down the Ark of the Covenant and the Sankara Stones in the first two movies, he went out looking for the Holy Grail in the third one.

As a magical cup bestowed upon humanity by God himself to grant eternal life, the Holy Grail is the ultimate MacGuffin – and letting it go is the ultimate lesson for Indy to learn after years of seeking fortune and glory.

Steven Spielberg’s Kinetic Direction Still Packs A Punch

Indiana and Elsa escaping in the boat in The Last Crusade

It’s a shame that Steven Spielberg is stepping down from the director’s chair for the latest Indiana Jones sequel because his kinetic direction harking back to the classic westerns and adventure serials that inspired him as a kid is a huge part of what made the original movies so much fun.

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His bright lighting in Last Crusade scenes like the speedboat chase and the tank attack reflects the art of pulp magazines. Spielberg’s command of tension ensures there’s a refreshing clarity in all the movie’s action scenes.

The Tank Sequence Is Just As Brutal Today

Indy holding on to the side of a tank in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

When the Germans capture Indy’s father and best friend and trap them on a tank, he hops on the back of a horse and catches up with the tank. His daring rescue mission is cut short when the goons overpower him.

Indy getting dragged across a rock face while precariously dangling from the tank’s cannon by the strap of his satchel is just as rough and agonizing today.

It Recaptures More Of Raiders’ Pulpy Spirit Than The Other Sequels

Indiana Jones and his father look down the cliff in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

After Temple of Doom took an Empire Strikes Back-style turn into darker territory, Last Crusade returned to the fun tone established in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Once again, Indy finds himself on an exciting globetrotting adventure getting in and out of ridiculous situations like running through a circus train and facing a horde of rats in a sewer and hanging off the cannon of a moving tank.

Riding Off Into The Sunset Is (Or Was) The Perfect Ending For Indy’s Story

Riding into the sunset in Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade.

After Indy’s dad inspires him to let the Grail go, he realizes that what’s really important in life is the people he loves. And then, as John Williams’ iconic “Raiders March” theme kicks in, Indy and his friends ride off into the sunset, ready to close the book on their adventures.

Riding off into the sunset, like the final scene of so many classic westerns, was the perfect ending for Indy’s story. Spielberg later followed it up with a fourth movie – and a fifth is in production – but the definitive finale of Last Crusade still holds up today.

NEXT: 10 Ways Raiders Of The Lost Ark Still Holds Up Today