The crack of his whip, the fedora, the ever-bleeding lip bruise there are few images more recognizable than the most beloved archeologist in cinema history, Indiana Jones. One of Harrison Ford's most iconic characters is getting another movie, tentatively titled Indiana Jones 5, proving that the love for Indy and his quests have only increased over the years. The fifth film of the franchise has officially finished filming, so the wait to revisit this character in a movie theater is getting shorter.

Indiana Jones was created by two iconic filmmakers: Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Jumping from a massive zeppelin and sliding down a snowy mountain, fighting the Nazis (a few times), chasing the holy grail, and even escaping aliens in Area 51 are only a few things Indiana Jones has done across four movies. Indiana Jones is a character who people love so much, that the movies even influenced a lot of fans to study history and archeology.

A different kind of hero, one who respects knowledge, has real fears, and makes mistakes, Indy charms everyone into falling in love the moment they meet him. Whether it's in a dense tropical forest in the middle of nowhere, or a stuffy classroom brimming with obsessed teenage girls, Indiana Jones is utterly beloved. He was even voted the greatest movie character of all time.

Indiana Jones lids
Paramount Pictures

It feels impossible not to want to join Indy in his crazy adventures. With buzz already spreading about the new Indiana Jones 5 movie, here are a few reasons that make Indy arguably the most iconic character in adventure movies, and one of the most memorable in cinema history.

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Unapologetically Himself

The most important element that makes Indiana Jones one of the most likable characters in movie history: he doesn't try to be the hero he simply is. The character makes a lot of mistakes while making decisions. He is relatable because he is not perfect. In the first scene, we see the actions of Indiana Jones as both a success (he avoids every trap in the cave) and a failure (his bag of sand is too heavy). This is a hero who wisely runs away (at least from giant boulders).

It is refreshing to see a character enjoying what he is doing, even when things don't go according to plan. Most characters go on a quest because they lost someone or want to ease internal pain. Indiana Jones, however, does not. He travels across the world for lost treasures because he likes to do so.

At the same time, he is not afraid to admit his ultimate fear: snakes. The archeologist acknowledges his fear and tries to surpass it - even if he needs a couple of minutes to recompose himself after walking in a room full of snakes. Indiana Jones has as much fun going into his adventures as the audience has to watch him. He doesn't take everything too seriously, allowing the audience to do the same thing while still having clear convictions of right and wrong.

Harrison Ford's Charisma

Indiana Jones 5 Doesn't Have a Script Yet
Paramount Pictures

Yes, various timeless attributes of Indiana Jones are due to the writing and action sequences. However, Harrison Ford has a childlike wonder he brings to Indy's every move that positively influences his likability. Ford is one of those actors capable of charming everyone as soon as he is on-screen. He has done so in various movies throughout his career, like the famous smuggler in a galaxy far, far away, Han Solo, dating back to the original Star Wars. Even Rick Deckard, a possible replicant in the dystopian world of Blade Runner, is endlessly likable.

The archeologist's movies could have done well without Harrison Ford as the lead, but they most certainly wouldn't have millions of fans excitedly waiting for Indiana Jones 5 to come out, especially over 40 years since the first film was released. Ford is simply synonymous with the character.

He Symbolizes Adventure

Indiana Jones symbolizes a kind of easy-going adventure where, when the stakes get too high, there is always a funny line or action to take the edge off. The audience has fun from the beginning of the movie to even when it is over, and they are on the way home reminiscing about the best bits of the story.

Spielberg has said that Indiana Jones is based on his favorite 1930s matinee serials. It is easy to see what he is referring to as the western hero with his whip and hat. However, Jones' character also incorporates another archetype, the savvy Yankee. For these characters, knowledge was the ultimate power. That is why Indy feels like a complete character; he is not based only on one type of hero, but a few, filtered through Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg's vision.

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An Unlikely Hero

Indiana Jones 5 Brings in This Is Us Creator for Script Overhaul?
Paramount Pictures

Indiana Jones is an archeologist who teaches at a university, a profession you wouldn't guess for an adventure hero. He knows about a vast number of subjects and is very intelligent with both book-smarts (from his academic work) to street-smarts (with so many adventures). However, he is not arrogant about it. He uses what he knows to assist his adventures while also explaining what he knows to whoever wants to help him. Jones showed that everyone could be a hero (even the boy he meets in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) while showing how someone should use what they know without diminishing others.

Another important factor is that he wants to learn. The character is also always willing to learn new things, never rejecting an opportunity to become a better archeologist or person. He may not get it right, be he sure has respect for knowledge, and he even knows when to turn it down, like in the fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. There was an 'easy way' to get knowledge no human should have, which Jones firmly declines.

Spielberg took inspiration not only from real-life archeologists like Hiram Bingham and Roy Chapman Andrews, but also real-life artifacts, like the world's oldest map. He also got inspired by old texts and legends like the Ark of Covenant, which is the treasure Indiana Jones is looking for in the first movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Indy has stolen the hearts of generations because he seems real. The character feels like he could be sitting in the audience enjoying his madcap quests around the world for objects he is not even sure are real. Following clues with him and his friends, being a part of his stories, and getting to tag along with such a fun and authentic character is an experience that the audience can't forget. There is arguably no better adventure hero than Indiana Jones.