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Indiana Jones

Wikisimpsons - The Simpsons Wiki
This article is about the list of references to the Indiana Jones franchise. For the character, see Indiana Jones (character).

Indiana Jones is a film franchise, directed by Steven Spielberg and co-scripted by George Lucas. It consists of five movies: "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), "Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade" (1989), "Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008) and "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" (2023).

References to Indiana Jones in The Simpsons[edit]

Episodes[edit]

Picture Season Episode number Episode name Reference
Indiana Jones Homer.png 3 58 "Bart's Friend Falls in Love" Almost the entire opening sequence where Bart tries to steal Homer's money jar is a parody of the opening sequence of Raiders Of The Lost Ark, with Bart as Indiana Jones and Homer as an angry native chasing him.
  • Bart wants to grab Homer's money jar in a darkened bedroom with light shining through the curtains, much like Indiana Jones wants to fetch an Inca icon in a dark cave. Even their gestures to their chin before grabbing the desired object are similar. Just like in the film, Bart manages to get the object, but is discovered and has to run.
  • When Homer rolls from the stairs, it mimicks the iconic scene where Indy has to stay ahead from a huge rolling boulder.
  • Maggie firing arrows at Bart from a toy gun echoes the natives firing arrows at Indy.
  • Bart trying to make it just in time before the garage door closes down is similar to a giant wall slowly coming down. Just like Indy, Bart, too, shoves underneath it, notices he forgot his hat and quickly grabs it back before the door/wall permanently closes.
  • Bart eventually catches his school bus just in time, much like Indiana Jones manages to jump on the water plane already getting into motion.
  • The background music to this entire sequence is a pastiche of John Williams' soundtrack.
Melting Snowmen.png 4 68 "Mr. Plow" When the snowmen melt one of them is wearing glasses and a hat. This scene is a homage to the moment in Raiders Of The Lost Ark, where Nazi Toht (who also wears glasses and a hat) melts away due to the Ark's powers.
Stonecutter Underwear Ghosts.png 6 115 "Homer the Great" When Homer has to gives his ceremonial costume back it is burned inside an Ark that looks a lot like the Ark of the Covenant from Raiders Of The Lost Ark. When the clothes are burning ghosts fly from it, just like in the film.
Flying Hellfish treasure location.png 7 150 "Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish"" The scene in which the Hellfish treasure location is revealed spoofs the scene in "Raiders", in which the location of the Well of Souls is revealed.
Students digging by the sunset.png 9 186 "Lisa the Skeptic" The students digging by the sunset and their silhouettes are shown is similar to the scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" when Indiana Jones and Sallah free the Egyptian excavators from the Nazis, and they in turn help Indy. The scene against the sun is when Sallah tells Indy that the workers have found the Well of Souls.
Homer Makes Movie Suggestions.png 11 227 "Beyond Blunderdome" Homer makes several suggestions to Mel Gibson about the next movie they should make, none of which Gibson likes. When Homer asks, "What about Indiana Jones?" and asks if anyone owns the rights to it, Gibson kicks him out of the limousine.
Giant ball of people.png 13 277 "Sweets and Sour Marge" When Agnes Skinner and Hans Moleman run away from the giant ball of people, it strongly resembles the scene where Indiana Jones runs away from the giant rock
Young Snake Jailbird.png 17 369 "The Seemingly Never-Ending Story" Snake Jailbird is dressed in the same archaeologist's outfit as Indiana Jones.
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bangalore.png 373 "Kiss Kiss Bang Bangalore" Burns mentions being served dinner in a "scooped-out monkey's head", a reference to "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". Another reference to that same movie is made when Homer is arrogant enough to think of himself as a god, his outfit resembles that of Mola Ram.
Norbert Van Houten.png 19 406 "Little Orphan Millie" Norbert Van Houten is an entire parody of Indian Jones, down to his appearance.
22 471 "How Munched Is That Birdie in the Window?" When Marge told Lisa that everyone has an animal they can't stand she mentioned that Indiana Jones feared snakes...
24 510 "Treehouse of Horror XXIII" When Barty Ziff is whipping the flower in Nelson's mouth, Artie Ziff says that he's just like Indiana Jones. Ziff then says that Richard Dreyfuss played him in their universe.
The Last Barfighter Indiana Jones.png 32 706 "The Last Barfighter" Homer steals the skull from Bart by replacing it with Maggie, a parody of the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Murder, She Boat Ghostbusters Indiana Jones.png 35 759 "Murder, She Boat" Wendell Borton dresses as Indiana Jones.

Books[edit]

Picture Book Reference
CBGGQ-Indiana Jones.png Comic Book Guy's Book of Pop Culture Comic Book Guy cites Short Round's "No time for love, Dr. Jones!" line from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom as one of the greatest quotes of all time.

Comics[edit]

Picture Comic issue Story name Reference
ImYourDoggonePartner.png Simpsons Comics #6 Be-bop-a-Lisa An accidental mixing of Lisa's jazz sax solo and one of Otto's "speed metal" songs results in a new musical style, dubbed "spazz", which becomes a hit when it's played on the radio. Unaware of the mixture, Otto plays his song in concert and is soundly booed by the audience. Lisa comes to the rescue by running onto the stage and playing her sax solo, which saves the performance and delights the audience. Otto, grateful, says to Lisa, "Boy, you're somethin'." Lisa replies, "You're going to get more than you bargained for. I'm your doggone partner!"

The dialogue between Lisa and Otto echoes the scene near the beginning of Raiders of the Lost Ark where Marion's bar burns down and she says to Indy, "You're gonna get more than you bargained for. I'm your goddamn partner!"

If Homer Invented Golf Indiana Jones.png Simpsons Comics #63 ...If Homer Simpson Invented Golf! The "more trappy" golf course sand pits that Homer fantasizes about and Lenny's outfit are inspired by Indiana Jones.
Bart Fink Indiana Jones.png Bart Simpson #12 Bart Fink and the Mighty Mississip Bart rewrites the script for Lisa's play based on the works of Mark Twain. The performance includes a scene where Bart steals an artifact in the same way as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The Death of Comic Book Guy! Part Two.png Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book 2 The Death of Comic Book Guy! (Part Two) In his video will, Comic Book Guy says, "If you are viewing this, then I must be as dead as the Indiana Jones franchise after the Crystal Skull debacle!"
Geeks Versus Nerds.jpg When the geeks and nerds of Springfield take up sides against each other following the shutdown of the Internet, one of the geeks is dressed up as Indiana Jones.
Bart Trick-or-Treating as Indy.png The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Fun-Filled Frightfest Ned Flanders's Halloweenie House! Bart dresses up as Indiana Jones when he trick-or-treats the Flanders home.

Video games[edit]

Picture Game Reference
Bart's Nightmare Indiana Jones.png The Simpsons: Bart's Nightmare The stage through the orange door is heavily based on Indiana Jones.
No image.png The Simpsons Game In the second level, Bartman Begins, a skeletal hand can be seen trying to grab a fedora hat (Indiana Jones's trademark headgear).

Twitter[edit]

Account Date Tweet
ComicBookGuy July 23, 2011 Look at the losers lining up for some has-been's autograph. At this rate I'll never meet Grown-up Short Round! http://twitpic.com/5ur0ua
ComicBookGuy July 14, 2012 Happy bday, Harrison Ford! May you live long enough to make an Indiana Jones movie where Indy goes to the first ComicCon! #SDCC #FOXSDCC

Merchandise[edit]

Picture Item Reference
The Simpsons Raiders of the Lost Fridge.jpg The Simpsons: Raiders of the Lost Fridge The title of the compilation video (food-themed episodes) is a reference to Raiders of the Lost Ark. In addition, the cover illustration is a sight gag on the movie's opening scene.

Common cast and crew[edit]

Cast[edit]

Picture Name Role in the Indiana Jones franchise Role on The Simpsons
Cate Blanchett.jpg Cate Blanchett Played Irina Spalko in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Voiced Elaine Wolff in the season 31 episode "The Way of the Dog".