Though it's universally considered the worst installment, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull actually saved the Indiana Jones franchise. After the massively successful and influential Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Indiana Jones franchise received two generally well-loved sequels, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Each introduced new characters into the franchise, while seeing the titular adventurer-archaeologist undergo a quest that gradually took him into the realms of the supernatural.
Though the first three films were all released in the same decade (in 1981, 1984, and 1989, respectively), it wouldn't be another 19 years until the fourth film's release in 2008. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has long since been considered the worst of the franchise, thanks in part to its departure from the established narrative themes of previous films. However, despite Kingdom of the Crystal Skull's mistakes and problems, another sequel was planned, with Indiana Jones 5 currently scheduled for release in 2023.
Though it's often reviled - particularly in comparison to the other films in the franchise - Kingdom of the Crystal Skull actually saved Indiana Jones. Not only did it revive a franchise that had been dormant for almost two decades, but it did so by opening up a number of new narrative avenues, while introducing ideas that could help the franchise exist beyond its titular character. This makes Kingdom of the Crystal Skull a far more important film than it's ever recognized to be, and it thus deserves far more credit than it gets.
Crystal Skull's Sci-Fi Opened New Possibilities For Indiana Jones Stories
One of the biggest changes that the fourth film made to the franchise was Crystal Skull's aliens - something that Indiana Jones hadn't even hinted at previously. The first three Indiana Jones movies all concerned ancient relics of religious or spiritual power, giving their action-adventure stories a subtly fantastical twist. Because these plot elements were primarily rooted in established history, they fit nicely within Jones' role as an archaeologist, which in turn lends nice thematic credence to the idea of the power of history and historical knowledge.
However, though Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull hit many of the same story beats, it actually made use of a sci-fi story, as opposed to anything fantastical. By attributing the power of one of the Indiana Jones franchise's artifacts to alien technology, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull brought science fiction into the fold. The merit of this has been much debated in the years since, but the simple truth is that in doing so, Crystal Skull has paved the way for countless new stories in the franchise. Though it's widely considered to be an unpopular decision, it's actually very much in line with both George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's careers, as both men have had outstanding success with sci-fi stories. In spite of Crystal Skull's missteps, Indiana Jones 5 may prove that science fiction was a worthwhile innovation after all.
Crystal Skull Hinted That Indiana Jones Will Need To Be Replaced
Another often criticized addition to the franchise that actually hides an important development was Shia LaBeouf's Mutt Williams. After acting as Jones' sidekick, he's later revealed to be the son of the iconic adventurer. Despite being poorly written, the character does possess some potential. Though the various scandals that have since complicated Shia LaBeouf's career make his eventual return to the franchise distinctly unlikely, his role in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is actually a very important one for the Indiana Jones franchise.
By including a character clearly created as a potential successor to the franchise, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull gently hints at the idea that Harrison Ford cannot continue forever in the role. Of course, Harrison Ford cannot be replaced as Indiana Jones, but the truth is that his age makes his continued place in the franchise an impossibility. Though Mutt Williams isn't likely to be the character that takes over as the face of cinema's most iconic action-adventure franchise, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull introduced the prospect of Harrison Ford being replaced, which will help to soften the blow when it comes time for Indiana Jones to find its new lead.
The Last Crusade Closed The Book On Indiana Jones – Crystal Skull Opened It Again
The most obvious way that Kingdom of the Crystal Skull saved the Indiana Jones franchise might also be the most important. As Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ended with the hero quite literally riding off into the sunset, it did, at one point, seem to be the end of the franchise. Even though The Last Crusade didn't close the door on continuing Indiana Jones' story, the 19 years after its release seemed to mark the end of the Indiana Jones franchise.
Though Kingdom of the Crystal Skull might be considered a disappointment, it kept the franchise alive. It renewed Indiana Jones in a new century for a new generation, and though some consider it to have missed the mark, it delivered another action-packed adventure for the titular character. Even after being subjected to an unfavorable comparison with the previous movies, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull still brought the franchise forward by merit of its very existence, because it introduced the idea that an older Jones could still lead movies within the franchise.
Why Crystal Skull Is Underrated (Despite The Hate)
When compared to other Indiana Jones movies, Crystal Skull might come off favorably, but it's still not an inherently bad film. It largely stays true to the spirit of the Indiana Jones movies, and bar one or two plot holes, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull has a generally fun and exciting story to tell. Critics praised the film's action, score, costume design, and cast - meaning that there are actually a number of important things that Crystal Skull did right.
In fact, perhaps the thing that hurts Kingdom of the Crystal Skull the most is simply that it isn't as good as the previous movies. Unfortunately, the fourth film in the franchise not only had to clear the high bar set by previous Indiana Jones movies, in addition to almost two decades of built-up expectations. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull may not have fully lived up to the expectations set by the franchise, but it did succeed in saving Indiana Jones in more ways than one.
