The iconic action-adventure film, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, which has been described as “one of the greatest films ever made”, is now available on the streaming platform Netflix, 45 years after its original release in 1981. The film, starring Hollywood legend Harrison Ford, marks the beginning of the Indiana Jones franchise.

Ford, now 83, first played the globetrotting archaeologist, who is hired by the US government to find the Ark of the Covenant, a biblical artifact believed to contain the Ten Commandments. The plot thickens when he discovers that Hitler's agents are also after the ancient power, forcing Jones to compete against the Nazis.

The film, directed by Steven Spielberg, had a budget of $20 million and was filmed at Elstree Studios in England, as well as on location in France, Tunisia, and Hawaii. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” grossed nearly $390 million at the box office and spawned one of the most popular franchises, with television series, video games, comics, theme park rides, and toys.

The film, which has a near-perfect score of 96% among audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, has received praise for its cinematography, captivating story, and solid performances from the cast. Among the more than 250,000 reviews, the one by @BobRobb stands out, who calls it “one of the best movies ever made”. @Funkycat, who gives it five stars, comments: “I have watched this over 80 times in my life and it still amazes me. Never gets old and has remained pure gold over the years”.

Other critics have praised the film, giving it a 94% on the review aggregator. Wesley Lovell, from Cinema Sight, highlights Ford's “effortless charm”, which is both “brave and vulnerable”. Harry Solomons, from Loud and Clear reviews, argues that the film “solidifies Steven Spielberg's place as the greatest blockbuster director of all time”. Spielberg himself has stated that “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the most perfect Indiana Jones installment, and that he has never wanted to change anything about it.

The cast of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” includes Karen Allen, who plays Marion Ravenwood, Indiana Jones' love interest, as well as Alfred Molina, Frank Marshall, Ronald Lacey, and John Rhys-Davies. The film is a classic of adventure and fun. “It's one of those movies that I have to rewatch occasionally because very few other adventure films match the quality and excitement of the original Indy trilogy”, wrote @FozzieMcFly.

The film, which continues to inspire other films, is a classic of adventure and fun, and is considered one of the “greatest films ever made”. In 2023, Harrison Ford, at 83, made his last appearance as the legendary explorer in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”, released by Disney in June of that year. Ford told Variety that he “always wanted to do it” and that he “wanted to do the rest of the story to see the end of his career”.

Ford also stated to The Hollywood Reporter that he wasn't going to miss anything. “I appreciate all of the opportunities that the character has given me. I have been very grateful, and I have enjoyed myself for the 42 years that we have been making these films”. “The success of these movies has really given me not only the opportunity to satisfy a broad audience, but they have given me freedom. Because of their success, they have given me freedom in my chosen profession. And I am grateful for that, I am grateful for everything that has happened to me. I'm a lucky guy”, added Ford.

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” remains available on Netflix for the enjoyment of film fans.