Synopsis
When Dr. Indiana Jones – the tweed-suited professor who just happens to be a celebrated archaeologist – is hired by the government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant, he finds himself up against the entire Nazi regime.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) is a 1h 55min action feature film by Steven Spielberg.
Key facts
Cast
Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Ronald Lacey, Wolf Kahler, Anthony Higgins, Denholm Elliott
Original language
English
First release
June 12, 1981 (Canada)
Production companies
Lucasfilm
Home video distributors
Paramount Home Video (United States)
Awards
Academy Award for Best Film Editing, Academy Award for Best Production Design, Academy Award for Best Sound, Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, National Board of Review: Top Ten Films, Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation
Setting
Egypt, South America, United States, Nepal, Peru
Filming locations
San Francisco, California, Hawaii, Hertfordshire, Royal Masonic School for Girls, San Anselmo
Crew
Screenplay
Lawrence Kasdan
Producer
Frank Marshall
Cinematography
Douglas Slocombe
Editing
Michael Kahn
Music
John Williams
Special makeup effects
Chris Walas
Trailer
Stills
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to write one.
Festival History
- Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival 2026 - Fantastic Retro
- The Rio Grind Film Festival 2026
- Octopus Film Festival 2024 - Ośmiorniczki
Titles
| Original title | Raiders of the Lost Ark | |
| Québec French title | Les Aventuriers de l'arche perdue |
VHS & home video releases
| VHS | Paramount Home Video (cat. no. 1376) | 1989, United States, slipcase |
Soundtracks
| Vinyl LP | Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - John Williams, Ken Wannberg (1981) | 31 releases, 1981-2026: CBS, CBS/Sony, Columbia, Concord Records (+4 more) |
| 10" vinyl | Raiders Of The Lost Ark - John Williams (1981) | 1 release, 2021: Walt Disney Records |
| 7" vinyl | Raiders Of The Lost Ark - John Williams (1981) | 2 releases, 1981: CBS, CBS/Sony |
| CD | Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - John Williams, Ken Wannberg (1981) | 17 releases, 1984-2024: Cimmerian Records, Concord Records, DCC Compact Classics, Indiana Industries Inc. (+3 more) |
| Cassette | Raiders Of The Lost Ark (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - John Williams, Ken Wannberg (1981) | 12 releases, 1981: CBS, CBS/Sony, Columbia, Polydor |
Releases & classifications
| Theatrical | Canada | June 12, 1981 |
| Theatrical | United States | June 12, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Soviet Union | June 15, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Mexico | July 23, 1981 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | July 30, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Ireland | August 7, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Sweden | August 7, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | August 13, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Australia | August 14, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Brazil | August 21, 1981 |
| Theatrical | France | September 16, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Spain | October 4, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Switzerland | October 9, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Portugal | October 9, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Switzerland | October 10, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Norway | October 10, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Italy | October 22, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Germany | October 29, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Singapore | November 12, 1981 |
| Theatrical | South Africa | November 27, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Japan | December 5, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Pakistan | December 10, 1981 |
| Theatrical | China | December 11, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Malaysia | December 12, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Belgium | December 17, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Finland | December 18, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Greece | December 18, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Israel | December 18, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Argentina | December 25, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Colombia | December 25, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Egypt | December 25, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Peru | December 25, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Uruguay | December 25, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Lebanon | December 28, 1981 |
| Theatrical | Denmark | January 15, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Hong Kong | January 21, 1982 |
| Theatrical | South Korea | February 27, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Thailand | June 25, 1982 |
| Theatrical | United States | July 16, 1982 |
| Theatrical | India | September 7, 1982 |
| Theatrical | Turkey | January 24, 1983 |
| Theatrical | Poland | January 1, 1984 |
| Theatrical | Czech Republic | August 1, 1985 |
| Theatrical | Hungary | October 24, 1985 |
| Theatrical | Germany | November 15, 1987 |
| Television | Netherlands | December 5, 2002 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | September 23, 2004 |
| Theatrical | Poland | October 7, 2008 |
| Theatrical | Vietnam | December 15, 2009 |
| Theatrical | Netherlands | October 24, 2011 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | August 29, 2012 |
| Theatrical | United States | September 7, 2012 |
| Theatrical | Chile | October 10, 2015 |
| Theatrical | United Kingdom | May 7, 2021 |
| Theatrical | Singapore | July 15, 2021 |
| Television | France | February 17, 2026 |
| Streaming | Philippines | October 1, 2026 |
| Classification | Germany | 16 |
| Classification | United States | PG |
Versions & editions
| Home video | United Kingdom | February 23, 1987 |
| Home video VHS | United States | 1989 1376 |
| Home video | Russia | February 1, 1999 |
| Home video | United States | October 21, 2003 |
| Home video | Russia | November 20, 2003 |
| Home video | Canada | May 13, 2008 |
| Home video | France | May 13, 2008 |
| Home video | Hungary | October 16, 2008 |
| Home video | Netherlands | November 23, 2011 |
| Home video | Netherlands | September 12, 2012 |
| Home video | France | December 16, 2013 |
| Home video | United States | December 17, 2013 |
| Home video | France | June 15, 2022 |
Full credits
| Director | Steven Spielberg |
| Cast | Harrison Ford, Karen Allen (Marion Ravenwood), Paul Freeman (Dr. René Belloq), John Rhys-Davies (Sallah), Ronald Lacey (Major Arnold Toht), Wolf Kahler (Colonel Dietrich), Anthony Higgins (Gobler), Denholm Elliott (Dr. Marcus Brody), Alfred Molina (Satipo), Vic Tablian (Barranca / Monkey Man), Don Fellows (Col. Musgrove), William Hootkins (Major Eaton), George Harris (Katanga), Fred Sorenson (Jock), Anthony Chinn (Mohan), Eddie Tagoe (Messenger Pirate), Bill Reimbold (Bureaucrat), Patrick Durkin (Australian Climber), Matthew Scurfield (2nd. Nazi), Malcolm Weaver (Ratty Nepalese), Sonny Caldinez (Mean Mongolian), Pat Roach (Giant Sherpa / 1st Mechanic), Christopher Frederick (Otto), Tutte Lemkow (Imam), Ishaq Bux (Omar), Kiran Shah (Abu), Souad Messaoudi (Fayah), Terry Richards (Arab Swordsman), Steve Hanson (German Agent), Frank Marshall (Pilot), Martin Kreidt (Young Soldier), John Rees (Sergeant), Tony Vogel (Tall Captain), Ted Grossman (Peruvian Porter), Vic Armstrong (German Soldier (uncredited)), Peter Diamond (German Soldier (uncredited)), Nick Gillard (German Soldier (uncredited)), Romo Gorrara (German Soldier (uncredited)), Rick Lester (German Soldier (uncredited)), Rocky Taylor (German Soldier (uncredited)), Reg Harding (German Lieutenant (uncredited)), Harry Fielder (German (uncredited)), Billy Horrigan (Gobler's Gunner (uncredited)), Terry Leonard (Driver of German Truck (uncredited)), Sergio Mioni (Driver of German Truck (uncredited)), Dennis Muren (Nazi Spy on the Airplane (uncredited)), Glenn Randall Jr. (Flying Wing Mechanic (uncredited)), Michael Sheard (U-Boat Captain (uncredited)), Frank Welker (Special Vocal Effects (voice) (uncredited)), Dharmadasa Kuruppu (Chieftain of Mayapore) |
| Screenplay | Lawrence Kasdan |
| Story | George Lucas, Philip Kaufman |
| Producer | Frank Marshall |
| Executive producer | George Lucas, Howard G. Kazanjian |
| Cinematography | Douglas Slocombe |
| Editing | Michael Kahn |
| Music | John Williams |
| Production design | Norman Reynolds |
| Special makeup effects | Chris Walas |
| Visual effects | Bill Warrington, Bruce Nicholson, Chris Condon, Richard Edlund, Roy Coombes, Terry Glass, Thomas G. Smith, Yves De Bono |
| Sound | Ben Burtt |
| Costumes | Deborah Nadoolman Landis |
Additional data: TMDB.
Source: Wikidata (CC0-1.0)
Source: Cinémathèque québécoise, linked catalogue data (CC BY 4.0)
