Disney’s latest installment in the Indiana Jones franchise, titled ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,’ is facing uncertainty as it hits the box office. Despite garnering critical attention, it remains to be seen whether the film will meet expectations in terms of ticket sales. This fifth entry in the beloved adventure series is the first not to be directed by Steven Spielberg or have a story by George Lucas. Initial estimates predict a relatively modest opening weekend of around $60 million, following a $24 million debut on its first day, including $7.2 million from Thursday previews. More pessimistic projections even place the film’s opening weekend at around $55 million, which is similar to the recent debut of ‘The Flash’ a few weeks ago.
Touted as star Harrison Ford’s final adventure as the legendary character he began portraying in the early 1980s, ‘Dial of Destiny’ carries an astronomical budget of $295 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made. When comparing it to previous films in the franchise, spanning several decades, direct comparisons are challenging. However, the fourth installment, ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ from 2008, grossed $1 million more than ‘Dial of Destiny’ on its opening day, also a Thursday. It went on to earn $100 million during its four-day opening weekend and concluded its domestic run with an impressive total of $317 million. Under the direction of James Mangold, ‘Dial of Destiny’ aims to achieve an $85 million total during the extended five-day weekend.
Although ‘Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ divided opinions among audiences, it undeniably succeeded at the box office. Just a few weeks ago, initial reviews following the film’s premiere at the Cannes Film Festival cast doubts on the future of ‘Dial of Destiny.’ However, domestic audiences have been slightly more forgiving, reflected in the film’s current “fresh” score of 68% among critics on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. In her review, Therese Lacson of FilmSweep described it as an “uneven, bonkers, but thrilling final ride,” while opening day viewers assigned it a respectable B+ CinemaScore.
Image via Sony
RELATED:
Reasons for Mutt’s Absence in ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’
Holdovers Dominate the Top Five
Continuing its rebound after a lackluster opening weekend, Pixar’s ‘Elemental’ finds itself in a tight race for the second spot alongside Sony’s successful ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’ The latter added $3.4 million on its fifth Friday, bringing its domestic earnings to $331 million. ‘Elemental’ is expected to settle for third place this weekend after also grossing $3.4 million on Friday. Initially written off due to one of Pixar’s lowest opening weekend performances, the animated film managed to find its audience, only dropping by 39% in its second weekend. While not a resounding success, it will approach the $100 million milestone by Sunday.
Claiming the fourth spot is Sony’s R-rated comedy ‘No Hard Feelings,’ which earned an additional $2.2 million on its second Friday, reaching a total of just under $25 million domestically. Paramount’s ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ closes out the top five with $1.9 million on Friday, bringing its underwhelming domestic total to $131 million. The film faces similar struggles globally, as it barely surpasses the $350 million mark. Both ‘No Hard Feelings’ and ‘Rise of the Beasts’ were outperformed by newcomer ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.’ The DreamWorks film earned $2.3 million on its opening day but is projected to finish outside the top five in its debut weekend.
To watch our interview with the stars of ‘Dial of Destiny,’ Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, click here. Stay tuned to FilmSweep for more box office updates throughout the weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about box office performance
What is the title of the film mentioned in the text?
The title of the film mentioned in the text is “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.”
Who directed “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”?
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is directed by James Mangold, making it the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise not to be directed by Steven Spielberg.
How did “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” perform at the box office?
The film had a relatively modest opening weekend, grossing around $60 million. However, there were projections suggesting a lower opening weekend around $55 million. The film’s performance at the box office is still uncertain.
How does “Dial of Destiny” compare to previous Indiana Jones films?
Compared to the fourth installment, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Dial of Destiny” grossed $1 million less on its opening day. However, it is difficult to make direct comparisons across the franchise due to the films being released over several decades.
What is the critical reception of “Dial of Destiny”?
The film received slightly more favorable reviews from domestic audiences compared to initial reviews from its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. It currently holds a “fresh” score of 68% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with some describing it as an uneven but thrilling final ride.
Which films dominated the top five at the box office?
The top five films mentioned in the text are “Elemental” from Pixar, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” from Sony, “No Hard Feelings” from Sony, “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” from Paramount, and newcomer “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” from DreamWorks.
What is the budget of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”?
The film has an astronomical budget of $295 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made.
More about box office performance
- Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – Official Trailer
- Rotten Tomatoes: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
- Box Office Mojo: Dial of Destiny Opening Weekend Projections
- FilmSweep: Interview with Harrison Ford and Phoebe Waller-Bridge
- Cannes Film Festival: Dial of Destiny Premiere
