teamed with BFF Steven Spielberg on. Once again drawing on his love of matinee serials, Lucas dreamed up a swashbuckling archaeologist named Indiana Jones, a bookish professor who becomes a rough-and-tumble adventurer when some ancient treasure caught his attention. The fact that his exploits often brought him into conflict with forces of evil, such as Nazis, was almost coincidental; he never set out to be a hero. But his world-weary determination, rascally charm, uncanny knack for survival, and wry sense of humor always kept us coming back for more.

His first outing, Raiders of the Lost Ark, was a near-perfect movie in every way. Spielberg’s kinetic direction brings Lucas’ vision to life with spontaneity and excitement, while Lucas’ plot centers on one of the most sought-after relics of alltime. Their concoction was the role Harrison Ford was born to play, despite not being Lucas or Spielberg’s first choice. Indy was surrounded with colorful, mustache-twirling villains and a beautiful, strong-willed woman (Karen Allen, who was anything but a damsel). With his fedora, leather jacket, and bullwhip in hand, a new kind of movie hero was born, and he’s one that’s lasted through multiple generations.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom begins with a thrilling action sequence set in a Shanghai nightclub, followed by a daring escape from a crashing airplane. When Indy, his sidekick Short Round (Jonathan Ke Quan), and hilariously exasperated new love interest Willie Scott (Kate Capshaw), arrive at Pankot Palace, they discover the terrifying temple of the Thuggee cult, who make ritual human sacrifices