---
title: "Raiders of the Lost Ark"
year: 1981
canonical_url: "https://www.archytele.com/show/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-1981"
media_type: "movie"
tmdb_id: 85
imdb_id: "tt0082971"
status: "Released"
runtime_minutes: 115
community_rating: 7.9
vote_count: 13759
content_rating: "PG"
---

# Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) — Television & Cinema Intelligence Dossier

> **Archytele Living Vault Canonical Record**: https://www.archytele.com/show/raiders-of-the-lost-ark-1981

## Executive Summary & Cultural Positioning

Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action‑adventure film. Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Lawrence Kasdan, the screenplay is based on a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman. The picture follows Dr. Indiana Jones, a tweed‑suited professor who is also a celebrated archaeologist, as he is hired by the United States government to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant. Set in 1936, Jones’s mission places him in direct conflict with the Nazi regime, which seeks the same ancient artifact for its own purposes. The film stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, with supporting performances by Karen Allen, Paul Freeman and Ronald Lacey. At a runtime of 1 hour 55 minutes, the movie combines elements of adventure and action while presenting a globe‑spanning quest that pits scholarly expertise against militaristic ambition. Its release in the United States on 6 December 1981 introduced a new iconic

## The Hook & The Verdict

**The Hook**: "An archaeologist races against the Nazi regime to recover the legendary Ark of the Covenant."

### Why Watch
- engaging premise
- high-stakes conflict

### Caveats & Content Note
- intense action sequences
- Tone & Suitability: The film contains intense action sequences and conflict with historical military forces.

**Micro-Themes & Vibe Matrix**: adventurous, fast-paced, historical, thrilling

## Streaming Availability Matrix

| Region | Stream (Subscription) | Free / Ads | Rent / Buy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **United States (US)** | Disney Plus, fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Freeform, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel | FXNow | JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store |
| **United Kingdom (GB)** | Channel 4 Plus | None | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Rakuten TV |
| **Canada (CA)** | Crave, Crave Amazon Channel | None | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, CosmoGo |
| **Australia (AU)** | Paramount Plus, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Foxtel Now, Stan, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Basic with Ads | None | JustWatch TV, Apple TV Store, Amazon Video |

## Creative Credits

- **Directed by**: Steven Spielberg
- **Networks / Studios**: Paramount Pictures, Lucasfilm Ltd.

## Key Cast Continuity

- **Harrison Ford** as *Indiana Jones*
- **Karen Allen** as *Marion Ravenwood*
- **Paul Freeman** as *Dr. René Belloq*
- **John Rhys-Davies** as *Sallah*
- **Ronald Lacey** as *Major Arnold Toht*
- **Wolf Kahler** as *Colonel Dietrich*
- **Anthony Higgins** as *Gobler*
- **Denholm Elliott** as *Dr. Marcus Brody*
- **Alfred Molina** as *Satipo*
- **Vic Tablian** as *Barranca / Monkey Man*

## Canonical Frequently Asked Questions

### Q: Who is the protagonist?
The protagonist is Dr. Indiana Jones, a professor and archaeologist.

### Q: What is the main objective?
The main objective is to locate the legendary Ark of the Covenant.

### Q: Who is the antagonist?
The protagonist faces opposition from the Nazi regime.

### Q: Who hires the protagonist?
The government hires Indiana Jones for the mission.

### Q: What is the protagonist's profession?
He is a professor and a celebrated archaeologist.

## Grounded Source Citations

- [Raiders of the Lost Ark — The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/85)
- [Raiders of the Lost Ark - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark)
- [Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Cast & Crew - The Movie Database (TMDB)](https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/85-raiders-of-the-lost-ark/cast)
- [Raiders of the Lost Ark - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark)
- [Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082971/)
- [Raiders of the Lost Ark - Wikiwand](https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Raiders_of_the_Lost_Ark)

---
*Generated by Archytele Open Intelligence Systems. Data verified against TMDB and JustWatch APIs.*