Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade currently beats E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 61–39

The grail hunt edges the backyard miracle.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade poster

61% 39%

Based on 18 head-to-head votes across 1 bracket

Who do you think should win?

The Verdict Director's Cut

This matchup has 18 votes. The picture may shift as more people weigh in.

Seven years and one temperament apart. E.T. is the film critics call Spielberg's most personal; Last Crusade is the one he made partly to apologize for how dark Temple of Doom got. The adventure's lead is momentum you can feel in the theater — it moves, it jokes, it gets father and son onto the same motorcycle. The alien only asks you to cry, which is a bigger ask, and closer to a coin flip than reputation suggests.

The Numbers

	Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade	E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Head-to-Head	61%	39%
Overall Win Rate	65%	39%
Championships	5	11
Budget	$48M	$11M
Box Office	$474M	$797M

Where This Matchup Sits

Out of 26 1980s films on the platform, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade near the top at #3 and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial languishing near the bottom.

Within Steven Spielberg's filmography on the platform, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at #3 and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial at #10 out of 11.

Against other opponents on BingeBracket, the picture shifts. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade beats Jaws, but E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial loses to it — the same opponent produces opposite results.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial has 11 tournament wins to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade's 5, but that championship pedigree isn't translating to the head-to-head. Something about this specific pairing overrides the broader record.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial outgrossed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ($797M to $474M), but Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade wins the head-to-head. What sells tickets and what wins a bracket are two different questions.