Star Wars is one of the most influential and titular sci-fi titles ever created. The Indiana Jones franchise, on the other hand, is a more fantastical take on action-academia—and long-lost artifacts. Both series have stood the test of time over the last decades.
Not only do they both involve Harrison Ford as the main character, but both also involve the endlessly creative mind of George Lucas. Fans tend to prefer one project over the other—they either gravitate toward intergalactic conflict and futuristic weapons, or a more action-oriented look at anthropology and tomb-raiding.
But which film left a greater impact on the industry? While it’s no question that the first Star Wars project (Star Wars, 1977) set a new groundbreaking precedent in special effects and set design, Indiana Jones (starting with Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981) has provided fans with a more nuanced hero to adore. His character invented a new cultural icon.
Viewed in this way, can they be compared and a clear winner named? Or are they simply two different takes on the hero’s journey? Let’s dive in below.
Indy Births a New Action Hero
As mentioned above, Indiana Jones introduced audiences to a brand-new type of hero—one who was academic, rugged, wildly off-the-cuff, and always ready for his next adventure. This iconic character lives today in a variety of forms—especially in pop culture.
For example, online slots are the most popular type of casino game. Players can access their favorite titles from around the world… and one theme they regularly look for is that Indy-style hero. Top slots providers list games like Rich Wild and the Book of Dead along with Amazon Rayne and the Wheel of Wealth. Both draw directly from Indiana Jones in terms of style and theme.
And that’s just one smaller example. Other heroes in film and gaming have also borrowed from Indy. That includes similar projects like The Mummy (1999) and Jumanji (1995), along with characters like Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series and Nathan Drake from Uncharted.
Star Wars Steers Sci-Fi
Indiana Jones single-handedly influenced what audiences expect from action heroes—a bit of intelligence, plenty of sass, and a penchant for thinking on the fly. But Star Wars had a greater hold on the genre of sci-fi. In many ways, it laid out expectations for sci-fi themes, like Indy did for action heroes. These include interactions with alien species, futuristic technology (and weaponry), and plenty of space travel.
These types of ‘space adventures’ had been popularized in the 1920s and 30s, but had since fallen out of favour with the public. The Star Wars franchise rebooted this interest, then introduced a cast of characters that audiences felt they could personally relate to and champion.
In other words, Star Wars helped the public connect to this once-fringe genre. It did this in a cinematic sense, as well, by showcasing some of the world’s most cutting-edge graphic and set designs. In other words, Star Wars didn’t just steer interest in sci-fi, but also laid out how Hollywood could leverage technology to transform storytelling for audiences.
Both Are Timeless Classics—But Ford Prefers Indy
So far, we’ve laid out how Indiana Jones created a new cultural hero and Star Wars helped mainstream a niche genre. In terms of gravitas and total influence, Star Wars is the likely winner. However, it’s interesting to note that Harrison Ford prefers Indiana Jones.
In an interview, the actor said that he felt more connected to Indiana Jones. The character is much more nuanced than Han Solo, who reads like a stock character… and maybe not one who would hold up with audiences today. In fact, that’s one reason that audiences are so excited about the next Indy reboot: it will provide one last crucial point for Indiana Jones’s character to grow. And with Indy ageing out of the role, audiences are waiting at the edge of their seat to see how the franchise will conclude.