Why have almost all the Indiana Jones movies vanished from Disney+?
Fans of Indiana Jones have to search to find the first four films as they’re gone from Disney+! Find out more here!
Few movie franchises are as beloved as Indiana Jones. For over 40 years, fans have thrilled to watch the adventures of Harrison Ford as the famed archelogist searching the globe for rare artifacts amid fantastic adventures. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas combined forces for some of the most loved adventure films ever and created one of the longest-lasting heroes around.
The relationship between Disney and the Indiana Jones movies goes back a long way. Thanks to how George Lucas and Disney had a good relationship, Disney was able to use the movies from the Great Movie Ride to the still-running Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at the Hollywood Studios. There’s also the popular Disneyland ride and other attractions at Disney, and the adventuring archaeologist just linked together.
That became bigger when Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012 and thus could use the Indy license. They finally did with 2023’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, which, while disappointing at the box office, did let Harrison Ford’s iconic archaeologist go out in style.
All five films were available on Disney+ with various extras. So fans may be surprised that when they go on Disney+ and type in “Indiana Jones,” only Dial of Destiny pops up. Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, The Last Crusade, and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull are all absent.
The reason is the old culprit in the world of streaming: Licensing rights. All four of those films were produced by Paramount, which still has a hold on the rights issues even after Disney purchased Lucasfilm. The movies had previously been available on Netflix before moving to Disney+ in 2023, just before Dial of Destiny’s opening. The licensing agreement has now passed, and thus, on October 1st, those four movies are now available on Paramount+ and might be licensed to Netflix later.
It’s another annoyance for fans and a reminder of why physical media is still better for folks who don’t want to see their favorite movies vanish from a certain streamer with little warning. There’s always a chance Disney negotiates a new deal to get the movies back but for now, only Dial of Destiny is on Disney+ for anyone who wants to enjoy this iconic hero in the swing of things.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny streaming on Disney+.