'Raiders of the Lost Ark' Hit Theaters 45 Years Ago Today
"Snakes? Why'd it have to be snakes?"
On this day 45 years ago, one of the most iconic movies in cinematic history took the world by storm. That's right; it's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Premiering on June 12, 1981, the action-adventure flick was a box-office success, grossing $389.9 million on a $20 million budget. Legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg was at the helm, with a screenplay from Lawrence Kasdan (who also penned The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) and a story by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman.
The cast included Harrison Ford as the intrepid protagonist, Indiana Jones; Karen Allen as Marion; Paul Freeman as Belloq; Ronald Lacey as Toht; John Rhys-Davies as Sallah; and Denholm Elliott as Brody.
Lucas conceived the idea for Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1973, after his second directorial effort, American Graffiti. Initially, it was called The Adventures of Indiana Smith, with the lead character named after his beloved Alaskan Malamute. Lucas eventually put the project on the back burner to focus on Star Wars.
Then, Lucas vacationed in Hawaii during Star Wars' theatrical debut, fearing it would flop at the box office. He invited Spielberg to join him and his wife. Since Lucas' first choice to direct, Kaufman, had his plate full with The Outlaw of Josey Wales, he asked Spielberg to take the directing mantle.
Actors like Bill Murray, Nick Nolte, Jack Nicholson, Chevy Chase, Harry Hamlin, and David Hasselhoff were considered for the role of Indy. Tom Selleckbecame the frontrunner, but when CBS greenlit Magnum P.I., he had to turn down the role. Lucas hoped to cast a relatively unknown actor, but after watching The Empire Strikes Back, Spielberg thought Ford would be perfect. Thankfully, Ford was willing to commit to a three-picture deal.
Raiders of the Lost Ark became the No. 1 movie on its opening weekend. It skyrocketed to the lofty position of the year's highest-grossing film. It also played in theaters for over a year, an impressive feat in itself. On the critical front, the movie was well-received. Raiders of the Lost Ark went on to win five Academy Awards, including Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects. It also sits pretty on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer with a 94% and a 96% on the Popcornmeter.
To say this film has had an indelible impact on pop culture would be an understatement. It even inspired younger generations to pursue archeology. Prominent figures in the entertainment industry, like M. Night Shyamalan, Glen Powell, and Michael Bay, have stated that the movie inspired them to pursue their respective careers.
The United States Library of Congress selected Raiders of the Lost Ark for preservation in 1999, citing its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. It's well-deserving of this achievement. Few movies have remained in the zeitgeist like Raiders of the Lost Ark.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published June 12, 2026 at 6:03 PM.