Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is primarily set in 1935.
The film opens in Shanghai before Indiana escapes with Willie Scott and Short Round. Their journey leads them to northern India, where they encounter a village suffering after the removal of sacred stones and become involved with the Thuggee cult.
Its 1935 setting places the story one year before Raiders of the Lost Ark, which is set in 1936. This unusual chronology means the second released film is a prequel to the first in the fictional timeline.
The film’s historical setting is part of its period-adventure design, but its depiction of India and Hindu-related material has been criticized for stereotypes and inaccuracies. The year is shown in the movie’s opening title card, making it a precise fact rather than an inferred date.