Steven Spielberg Takes The Blame For ‘Indiana Jones’ Refrigerator Scene

Steven Spielberg is more than willing to take the blame for the infamous refrigerator scene in his 2008 flick Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

If you haven’t seen the fourth installment of the popular cinematic series, then you’re honestly not missing a lot. The scene in question finds Indiana Jones escaping from a nuclear explosion by hiding inside a refrigerator. The fridge is then throw clear of the blast, allowing our hero to emerge from the appliance unharmed.

Science nerds and people with good common sense weren’t exactly thrilled with Steven Spielberg or the sequence he cooked up. Although the movie has more than its fair share of problems, this scene seems to stand out from the pack. The fridge scene was even parodied in the video game Fall Out: New Vegas.

According to First Showing, Steven Spielberg addressed the backlash Kingdom of the Crystal Skull received during a recent screening of the adventure flick Raiders of the Lost Ark. The acclaimed filmmaker takes full responsibility for the scene in question.

“I know in ‘Indy 4,’ you didn’t buy the refrigerator and the atomic bomb. I know! I know! But we tried! We tried! I was pushing the envelope! By the way, I take full responsibility for that — that was completely my idea! Even Harrison said to me: ‘Nobody is going to buy this!'” the director said.

Although Steven Spielberg is taking the blame for the refrigerator scene, George Lucas admitted that he was the guy responsible for coming up with the bit. During a chat with The New York Times last year, the filmmaker explained that Spielberg was just trying to protect him from the fans who hate the scene with a passion.

The publication explained:

“In response to [Steven Spielberg’s] fears, Lucas put together a whole nuking-the-fridge dossier. It was about six inches thick, he indicated with his hands. Lucas said that if the refrigerator were lead-lined, and if Indy didn’t break his neck when the fridge crashed to earth, and if he were able to get the door open, he could, in fact, survive. “

If you’re curious to see the refrigerator scene but you don’t want to sit through the entire movie, then have a look at the video embedded below. And, yes, it’s as impossibly goofy as it sounds on virtual paper. Try not to hold it against Harrison Ford.

Are you a fan of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Do you think Steven Spielberg is to blame for the infamous “nuke the fridge” sequence?

[Image via Paramount Pictures]