Archeology In Movies: Hollywood Digs Deep

Hollywood makes archeology look like one of the most exciting and frightening professions one can ever have. Before 'As Above, So Below' adds to the frightening part, let's look back at Hollywood's most memorable archeological digs.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Archeology's all fun and games until someone sets off booby traps and gets chased by giant boulders.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

In this 'Raiders' prequel, Indy must battle Thugee cults bent on infecting the world with evil and ripping out people's hearts. So, clearly, it's a comedy.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

As the poster for this summer '89 blockbuster said: "The Man in the Hat Is Back, and This Time He's Bringing His Dad." Sadly, he didn't also bring along Short Round.

Stargate (1994)

An ancient alien race threatens to use their fancy time-space water portal to conquer our world, and it's up to Kurt Russell and archeologist James Spader to stop 'em.

The Mummy (1999)

Brendan Fraser does his best Indiana Jones impersonation and falls short in this CG-heavy guilty pleasure.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)

Angelina Jolie plays the popular, gun-toting video game heroine, who adds robotic sparring partners and guns to her unique brand of field research.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life (2003)

It's a crime that few people saw this follow-up to the 2001 hit. It opens with Croft punching a shark - what's not to love?!

Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist (2004)

Warner Bros. rejected writer-director Paul Schrader's 2004 take on the hazards of digging for demons in favor of director Renny Harlin's reshot dud from 2005. Both scared many an archeology major into liberal arts.

Sahara (2005)

Before "The McCona-siance", there was - cringe - this. It's not the worst movie Matthew McConaughey ever made, but it's definitely its cousin.

National Treasure (2007)

Torches and lots of cobwebby history are all Nic Cage needs to go all "Da Vinci Code" on the Declaration of Independence. Best sentence ever?