Who directed Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first Indiana Jones film released?

Steven Spielberg directed Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first Indiana Jones film released.

The 1981 adventure film was developed by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman before Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay. Lucas served as the story’s principal creator and executive producer, while Spielberg directed the production. Their collaboration blended the cliff-hanger serials of the 1930s with large-scale action filmmaking.

Harrison Ford played archaeologist Indiana Jones, with Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood and Paul Freeman as René Belloq. The film’s success established the character as one of cinema’s best-known action heroes and began a five-film series.

A common mix-up is confusing the film’s creator, producer, and director. Lucas was central to the concept and production, but Spielberg was the director who shaped the finished movie’s pacing, staging, and visual style.