Set in , the film stars Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones , a globetrotting archaeologist vying with Nazi German forces to recover the long-lost Ark of the Covenant which is said to make an army invincible. Lucas conceived Raiders of the Lost Ark in the early s. Seeking to modernize the serial films of the early 20th century, he developed the idea further with Kaufman, who suggested the Ark as the film's goal.
Lucas eventually focused on developing his film Star Wars. Development on Raiders of the Lost Ark resumed that year when he shared the idea with Spielberg, who joined the project several months later. While the pair had ideas for set pieces and stunts for the film, they hired Kasdan to fill in the narrative gaps between them. Pre-release polling showed little audience interest in the film leading up to its June 12, release date, especially compared to Superman II.
It was also a critical success, receiving praise for its set pieces, humor, and action. Raiders of the Lost Ark is considered one of the greatest films ever made and has had a lasting influence on popular culture , spawning a host of imitators across several media and inspiring other filmmakers. Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first entry in what became the Indiana Jones franchise , which includes four more filmsβ Temple of Doom , Last Crusade , Kingdom of the Crystal Skull , and Dial of Destiny βa television series , video games , comic books , novels , theme park attractions, and toys.
After returning to the United States , Jones is briefed by two Army Intelligence agents that Nazi German forces are excavating at Tanis , Egypt , and one of their telegrams mentions Jones' former mentor Abner Ravenwood. Jones deduces that the Nazis are seeking the Ark of the Covenant , which Adolf Hitler believes will make their army invincible. The agents recruit Jones to recover the Ark first. At a bar in Nepal , Jones reunites with Abner's daughter Marion , with whom Jones once had an illicit relationship, and learns that Abner is dead.
The bar is set ablaze during a scuffle with Gestapo agent Arnold Toht , who arrives to take a medallion from Marion. Toht attempts to recover the medallion from the flames, but only burns its image into his hand. Jones and Marion safely take the medallion and escape. Traveling to Cairo , the pair meet Jones's friend Sallah. Sallah reveals Belloq is assisting the Nazis, who have fashioned an incomplete replica medallion from the burns on Toht's hand. Nazi soldiers and mercenaries attack Jones, and Marion is seemingly killed, leaving Jones despondent.
