Summary
Indiana Jonestends to travel to exotic and dangerous locations in search of lost treasure, but even the archeologist knows it’s best to bring someone along with him just in case things go sideways. Sometimes it’s a self-interested person who plans on betraying him, but usually, he relies on one of his many dependable sidekicks to help him save the day.
From Raiders of the Lost Ark to Dial of Destiny, we’ve seen Indiana Jones partner with multiple people to search for treasure and defeat bad guys. Not all of these sidekicks are as useful as the rest, but they all bring something to the table that’s mostly better than the feast from the Temple of Doom.
10Willie Scott
The Nail-Breaker
Most of the women Indiana Jones partners with can take care of themselves, but Willie Scott is more of a burden than anything. She spends the majority of her time in the Temple of Doom complaining about broken nails and screaming at everything that crosses her path.
Willie was dragged into the adventure after Indiana Jones takes her hostage at Club Obi Wan, but it would have been nice if she was a bit more capable of anything besides shrieking. If it wasn’t for Short Round, Indiana and Willie would never have survived the Temple of Doom.
9Wu Han
We Hardly Knew You
Wu Han also appears in the Temple of Doom, and while you only get to see him on screen for about three minutes before he’s killed at Club Obi Wan, he is still a much better sidekick to Indiana Jones than Willie. The fact that he puts his life on the line toprotect the archeologistshould say enough about his bravery and loyalty.
Unfortunately, because of how little screen time he gets, Wu Han might be the most forgettable partner Indiana Jones has ever had. Still, you can tell that the two had a long history together and that Indiana Jones is distraught when Wu Han says his last goodbye.
8Elsa Schnieder
The Double, Double Agent
Elsa joins Indiana Jones in the Last Crusade, but as soon as the hero starts to fall for her, shereveals that she was a double agentfor the Nazis and only worked with him for information. However, towards the end of the film, she intentionally chooses the wrong grail for the antagonist to drink out of, proving that she was never really with them at all.
It turns out that Elsa Schnieder never cared for which side she was on, as long as it was the one that won in the end. She was incredibly courageous and intelligent and could have gone on even more adventures with Indy if greed hadn’t interfered.
7Basil Shaw
Don’t Give Him A Gun
We don’t spend much time with Basil Shaw. He only plays a part during the Dial of Destiny’s opening scene, but you don’t need to see more than that to understand that the two have a strong bond. They are so close that Basil decides to make Indiana Jones his daughter’s godfather.
During the opening train sequence, it’s clear how much Basil looks up to Indy, which makes his fate even more unfortunate. After discovering the Dial of Destiny, Basil spends the rest of his life obsessing over it, damaging his friendship with Indiana and becoming a victim of the treasure he once sought.
6Marcus Brody
Belongs In A Museum
Marcus Brody first appears in Raiders of the Lost Ark but doesn’t go on any adventures with Indiana Jones until the Last Crusade. The two are separated fairly early, and Marcus ends up bumbling his way around with Sallah before accidentally ending up in the back of a Nazi vehicle.
Not all of Indiana Jones' sidekicks have the heart for these types of expeditions, but Marcus continues to push ahead even when his back is against the wall. He might be more of a comedic relief character than anything else, but it is fun watching the curator step outside the museum for once.
5Wombat
The Goddaughter
Helena Shaw - also known as Wombat - is more than just a sidekick to her godfather. She’s a reminder of his past and encompasses many of the same traits and skills a younger Indiana Jones used to escape dangerous situations.
Wombat is so much like Indiana that she even has a partner of her own, Teddy, who helps her in the same ways Short Round or Sallah would assist Indy. It’s also refreshing to see our hero partner up with a woman who isn’t a love interest for once.
4Sallah
Friends Until The End
Sallah is arguably Indiana Jones' most reliable ally. Unlike most sidekicks, Sallah is a recurring character in the movies and appears in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Last Crusade, and the Dial of Destiny to help his friend hunt down treasure and protect it from bad guys.
Sallah is everything you would want from a sidekick - strong, funny, and willing to do whatever it takes to save the day. He saves Indy from eating a poisoned date in the first film and by the fourth installment, Indiana has helped bring him and his family to the United States, although Sallah admits that he misses the thrills and adventures they used to have.
3Marion Ravenwood
More Than Just A Love Interest
Like Sallah, Marion Ravenwood is one of the most familiar faces in the Indiana Jones series. Appearing in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the Last Crusade, and toward the end of the Dial of Destiny, Marion is more than just Indy’s sidekick - she’s the mother of his child and the love of his life.
Beyond her chemistry with Indiana Jones, Marion often proves herself to be just as courageous and strong as him. She’s smart, capable, and doesn’t take guff from anyone, friend or foe. She is perfect for Indy, though she ultimately spends more time away from his adventures than other sidekicks.
2Short Round
Indy’s Best Friend
The Temple of Doom is pretty divisive among the other Indiana Jones movies. Still, one of the best aspects of the film is the introduction of Short Round, a reliable sidekick with a massive heart. Despite his age and size, Short Round is just as capable as any of Indy’s partners, and their relationship almost feels more like a father-son dynamic than just being friends.
They accuse each other of cheating at cards and occasionally bicker, but the lengths they will both go to in order to save each other are incredible. When Short Round proclaims “Indy, I love you” before burning him with a torch to break the spell he is under, it’ssurprisingly one of the most emotional momentsin the entire series.
1Henry Jones Sr.
The Man With The Umbrella
While the father-son dynamic with Short Round was sweet, Indiana must contend with the real deal in the Last Crusade when he ends up on an adventure with his father, Henry Jones Sr. The two spent most of their lives never seeing eye to eye, but when they are forced to work together to stop the Nazis, the duo become the most compelling aspect of The Last Crusade.
Though Henry Jones Sr. only appears in one movie, there are so many memorable scenes between him and his son, like when they are flying the plane together or trying to escape a burning room. He might not be as strong as Sallah or as brave as Short Round, but watching Indiana Jones repair his relationship with his father is one of the archeologist’s best expeditions.
