MythBusters is an American popular science television show (2003 - present) that attempts to prove different myths and urban legends as plausible or debunked by re-creating their circumstances. Several episodes of Mythbusters have attempted to recreate different movie scenes from the Indiana Jones films in order to show whether they are actually possible. The primary team of Mythbusters are two special effects experts, Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman. They are assisted by a secondary team, including Grant Imahara, Tory Belleci, and Kari Byron.
MythBusters episodes relating to Indiana Jones
- Episode 37 (Season 3) "Escape Slide Parachute" - The MythBusters team tested the plausibility of surviving a fall from an airplane in a life raft, as depicted in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. After 3 drops with their test dummy in a raft, they determined that it was not possible to survive as shown in the film, and called the myth "busted".
- Special #9 (Season 4) "Mega Movie Myths 2" - The MythBusters team tested the plausibility of surviving a fall through several awnings on the side of a building, as depicted in the escape from Club Obi Wan in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. The test dummy was shown to survive, albeit the strain gauges indicate that serious injury was likely to occur. The myth was rated as "plausible". Team member Tory then recreated the stunt as it was set up for the movie, using pre-cut awnings and safety wires.
- Episode 111 (Season 6) "Motorcycle Flip" - Team members Adam and Jamie tested the plausibility of getting a motorcycle to flip after inserting a wooden flagpole into the spokes of the front wheel, as depicted in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. They demonstrated that it was possible to humanly possible to throw the pole and have it pass through the spokes of a motorcycle wheel, but that a motorcycle would simply skid and stop. The myth was debunked as "busted". The team then showed how explosives placed under a stationary motorcycle could cause the bike to flip end over end in a recreation of the film scene.
