In alsmost every film series, there tends to be at least one installment, if not more, that ruins the overall experience for fans. In the case of the Indiana Jones franchise, that installment is Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Although it may be an overstatement to say it completely ruined the franchise, the truth is that it is widely acknowledged as the weakest entry in the Indy series so far. While some viewers may have found it to be an enjoyable reminder of Indiana’s adventures, for many others, it proved to be an absolute disappointment. As the fifth film in the franchise approaches, numerous fans hope that this 40-year-old series will not repeat the same mistake made by its fourth installment.

Perhaps the reason for the failure of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull could be attributed to the high expectations that had built up during the long wait for this sequel or maybe the involvement of esteemed talents like Frank Marshall, Harrison Ford, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg raised the anticipation for a masterpiece. While these elements undoubtedly heightened people’s excitement, the pressing question remains: what went wrong with the beloved Indiana Jones franchise after many years of consistently delivering exceptional adventure series to its devoted fans?
With a script considered weak, a departure from the religious themes of previous films, and heavy reliance on special effects, this installment has faced extensive criticism from fans, which persists even after 14 years. While it may not be an entirely terrible film, when compared to its predecessors, it appears to be a huge let-down.

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5 Over-Use of CGI

Paramount Pictures.

Computer Generated Imagery is simply the application of computer graphics to improve images in various forms of arts and media, and, of course, Lucas and Spielberg probably believed it would be an excellent tool to spice up the adventurous and fantastical elements Indiana Jones is known for. However, their approach went awry as they added an excessive amount of spice, leaving some viewers utterly disappointed. Not for everyone of course, as the franchise has garnered praise for its inclusion of practical effects in the past. So, why was the use of CGI in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull so heavily criticized?
Yes, CGI is often used to enhance a movie, create special effects, artificial backdrops, or more believable action sequences, however, the utilization of CGI in this particular film left many viewers feeling disappointed, as it appeared cheap and artificial. Sometimes, Indiana Jones films appear to be campy or chaotic, but the 2008 installment manage to over-do it with scenes that felt excessively cartoonish. The nuclear blast sequence and Indy’s son swinging through the jungle with monkeys were notable examples of poor CGI usage within the film. From the trucks to the ants, prairie dogs, and aliens, it seemed as though CGI dominated every aspect. With its poor use of CGI, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull certainly makes it to the list of movies that overused CGI.

4 The Awful Fridge Scene

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The term “Nuke the Fridge” was coined to describe a franchise’s descent into producing films of the lowest quality, and it owes its origin to the 2008 Indiana Jones installment. The nuclear explosion scene serves as a prime example of this franchise’s decline. For those who don’t remember this infamous scene, here’s a recap: the scene comes at the beginning of the film and follows this beloved hero as he mistakenly walks into a nuclear testing ground. To escape the explosion, he hides in a fridge and is subsequently blown away into the slopes of the desert. Miraculously, he emerges from the fridge, unscathed.
There have been some theories explaining how this daring adventurer must have acquired superhuman abilities in order to survive the incident. However, none of them have been convincing enough to alleviate fans’ absolute shock upon seeing this scene. According to some fans, other scenes and mistakes could have been overlooked, but this very one was the height of ridiculousness. Certainly, defenders of the film may point out that the first three installments often featured the hero escaping near-death experiences, much like James Bond and another reason being that it is a fantasy which makes almost anything possible. But then there should be a balance between farce and reality and unfortunately, this fourth installment fails to strike that balance.
Related: 10 Best Stunts in the Indiana Jones Movies, Ranked

3 The Inclusion of Aliens

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From the gruesome heart-ripping scenes in Temple of Doom to the quest for sacred artifacts like the Holy Grail in The Last Crusade, melting of faces in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Indiana Jones franchise has always revolved around supernatural elements. However, introducing aliens in its fourth installment turned it into an amalgamation of sci-fi action and supernatural fantasy, a combination that did not resonate well with many fans.
While Lucas may have intended to pay homage to 1950s sci-fi B-movies through the inclusion of aliens, fans did not share his creative vision. Instead of blowing minds, it ended up annoying many viewers. In defence of the alien element, some argue that the crystal-skulled creatures are not actual aliens, but rather interdimensional beings. Regardless of their origin, numerous fans rejected this addition and consider it a dishonor to the legacy of sci-fi B-movies.

2 Shia LaBeouf and the Weird Family Reunion

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Aside from the fridge scene, one of the most glaring mistakes in this franchise was the inclusion of Indy’s son, who lacked the charisma and swagger to fit into the adventurous world of Indiana Jones. Unlike the compelling father-son relationship portrayed by Henry Walton and Indiana in the third film, the introduction of the family dynamic brought little but hatred for the franchise.
While some viewers found Indy’s son to be whiny and lacking the carriage to be the great Indiana Jones’ son, others appreciated the chemistry between the characters. Nevertheless, for reasons best known to the filmmakers, it seems Shia LaBeouf won’t be reprising his role as Mutt Williams in the upcoming Indiana Jones film.
Related: Best (And Worst) Indiana Jones Moments, Ranked

1 Old and Untouchable Indiana Jones

Paramount Pictures

After a gap of 19 years since the release of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the whip-wielding, self-assured adventurer, Indiana Jones returned to our screens. Except this time around, he was a 64-year-old man stepping into the shoes of a young, vibrant adventurer. Seeing an old man take beating wouldn’t be so much fun, so instead of letting the grumpy new Indiana suffer any physical punishment he became rather untouchable, straying away from the Indiana fans have grown accustomed to cheering for. Also, Indy did no fighting with his whips and there were no shootouts with the bad guys which typically added to the magical feel of Indy’s films.