X Never, Ever Marks the SpotRankings, theories, behind-the-scenes stories, and fun facts about the adventures of Indiana Jones, the archaeologist who can find anything—except the inner-strength to conquer his own fear of snakes.
Vote up the clearest proof that Indy and 007 are twinning.
James Bond and Indiana Jones are two of cinema’s greatest action heroes. One is a suave British secret agent and the other an all-American, tough-as-nails archaeologist. At first glance, they seem to be worlds apart. But the truth is that Indiana Jones and James Bond are the same character for all intents and purposes. Sure, they have slightly different jobs and live in completely different times (and Bond is apparently immortal), but if you take a closer look, you'll see all the Indiana Jones James Bond similarities.
This is no mere coincidence. Steven Spielberg had always wanted to direct his own James Bond movie. With the spy franchise becoming ever more fantastical and silly during the tenure of Roger Moore, he and George Lucas saw a gap in the market for their very own creation that would be heavily inspired by the secret agent. From there, they created the Indy that audiences know and love – a character that is basically just a carbon copy of the infamous spy set during the rise of the Nazis.
Whether you're all about Indiana's tomb raiding or you prefer your action flicks shaken, not stirred, there's no denying that these two figures cast a long shadow over Hollywood.
When it came to casting Henry Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Steven Spielberg and his producers only had one person in mind. Considering how big an influence the James Bond film franchise had been on this series, they wanted the original Bond to be Indiana’s dad to bring the entire journey full circle.
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They're Not Afraid To Dress Up For The Right Occasions
Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer / Paramount Pictures
If a black suit or rugged adventurer costume is not fancy enough for the occasion, both Bond and Jones are prepared to don appropriate clothing. In some cases, the pair will even match up their own evening wear. As shown in the two scenes pictured above, the two even have the same fashion sense when it comes to dressing up all fancy.
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They're Both No-Nonsense Action Heroes
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Both Indiana Jones and James Bond are exactly the type of people you would want on your side in a fight. The secret agent is good at everything he does and is a consummate professional when it comes to fighting bad guys. In much the same way, the archaeologist is able to get the job done no matter what the circumstances, proving himself against all kinds of enemies.
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128 VOTES
They Spend Their Time Going On Absurd Adventures Fighting Evil Villains
Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Indiana Jones and James Bond basically have the same job. They travel around the world going on frankly bizarre adventures to stop the machinations of over-the-top villains. While Bond fights against the likes of SPECTRE and their criminal plans, Indy is battling the Nazis to prevent them from acquiring hugely powerful artifacts.
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They Have Signature Weapons
Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Although they'll use anything on hand, each of these heroes has a weapon that is unique to them. In the case of James Bond, his signature weapon is the Walther PPK, while Indiana Jones doesn't leave the office without his trusty bullwhip.
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They Constantly Switch Up Companions
Photo: Paramount Pictures
Perhaps the most significant feature of the James Bond franchise is how the cast of characters that accompany the spy on his adventures constantly changes. His love interests come and go, as do periphery characters like Felix Leiter. The same is true of Indy. In Raiders of the Lost Ark he is accompanied by Marion, then Willie Scott and Short Round in Temple of Doom, and then to Elsa Schneider and his father in The Last Crusade.
