Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is galloping into theaters on June 30 after years of anticipation, promotional hype, and questionable reactions from critics. The finale to the Lucasfilm franchise stars Harrison Ford in his last performance as Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones Jr., with Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, and others along for the wild ride. According to Deadline, analysts expect the fifth film in the Indiana Jones saga to whip up $60M-$65M in domestic dollars, with a $140M global total for the film’s anticipated opening.
Despite the franchise’s legacy, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has struggled to gain positive word of mouth from reviewers and early screenings. While Rotten Tomatoes isn’t the end-all-be-all of predicting a film’s success, it’s worth noting Dial of Destiny sits at the bottom of Indy’s cinematic adventures. Dial of Destiny has a 65% fresh rating, versus Raiders of the Lost Ark’s 93%, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (77%), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (77%), and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (84%).
The estimated box office totals represent the film’s three-day opening, not the five days, accounting for the Independence Day holiday. While some holidays bring extra dollars to the box office, Independence Day typically sees fewer audience members due to bar-b-ques, fireworks displays, and other forms of revelry in the United States.
A $60M+ U.S./Canada opening is expected, with older males making up most of the audience. If Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is going to exceed expectations, it will need younger crowds to purchase tickets to the show. Unfortunately, the social media app TikTok is where younger generations spend most of their screen time, and Indy’s presence on the platform is minimal. Instead, the movie relies on legacy, word of mouth (which is not ultra-positive), and traditional methods of PR, including billboards, trailers, and non-stop coverage by major news outlets.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny may triumph at the box office thanks partly to curiosity. A section of moviegoers could feel compelled to witness Ford’s last turn as Indy on the big screen, adding more dollars to the film’s box office total. Indiana Jones has a long history of performing well in the home market. What the film doesn’t earn at the box office will be recouped when it hits Digital and physical formats.
Do you plan on seeing Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny this weekend? If you’re interested in reading about what we thought of the film, you can check out Chris Bumbray’s full review. Enjoy your holiday weekend!