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Shallow Nation

May 27th, 2008 at 7:48 am

“Indiana Jones” Box Office Is a $311 Million Worldwide Triumph

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

With all the months of speculation about and anticipation of the return of Indiana Jones after 19 years behind us, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is now a major box office hit.

“Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” chased down $311.1 million from moviegoers around the world, as nostalgic fans brought along their children to watch Harrison Ford’s latest escapades, distributor Paramount Pictures said on Monday.

The tally included $151.1 million from the United States and Canada — the second-highest U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend opening in history — and $160 million from No. 1 launches in 61 other countries, the studio said.

Foreign highlights included $24 million in Britain and $14 million in France. Sales in France were boosted by the hype surrounding its glitzy world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera last Sunday.

Overall business was “driven by people in their 30s and 40s, and that audience was excited to see the movie and excited to bring their kids with them,” said Rob Moore, Paramount’s president of worldwide marketing, distribution and operations.

Source: “Indiana Jones” hits $311 million worldwide

Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

The domestic box office total fell short of records and failed to meet the sky-high expectations of some analysts, expectations set in large part by an aggressive advertising push from Paramount Pictures that brought a half-dozen “Indiana Jones” billboards to some intersections. Paramount is spending $150 million to market the $185 million picture, according to a Goldman Sachs media analyst.

Last year’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End” had a better Memorial Day weekend and “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” released in 2005, holds the record for the biggest five-day opening tally in history with $172.8 million in tickets sold.

Paramount said it was thrilled with the results, particularly that the film gained box office momentum as the weekend progressed. “It was a spectacular weekend, and we are particularly excited to see the family business,” said Rob Moore, president for marketing. “Fans of the original films are sharing their love for this character with their kids.”

Indiana Jones 4 - Indiana Jones and the Kiingdom of the Crystal Skull

The fourth Indiana Jones movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, with George Lucas as executive producer, drops in on the intrepid Dr. Jones, the whip-wielding archaeologist, in the 1950s. This time he squares off against Soviet agents in the jungle as he attempts to uncover the mystery of a crystal skull believed to hold extraterrestrial powers.

Adjusted for inflation in ticket prices, the first Indiana Jones movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) sold a total of $606.4 million at North American theaters, according to Box Office Mojo. “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984) sold $368.3 million; “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) sold $340 million.

Source: Indy Jones Finds Gold at Global Box Office

Indiana Jones 4 cast

“‘Indiana Jones’ did incredibly well for a film that comes 19 years after the previous installment,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of tracking firm Media By Numbers LLC.

The adventure flick received a lackluster reception from critics at the Cannes Film Festival, but audiences thought otherwise.

Box office estimates grew from $25 million on its opening Thursday through $37 million on Saturday, suggesting strong word of mouth, Dergarabedian said.

“This is the definition of a summer movie from two of the architects of the summer movie season — George Lucas and Steven Spielberg,” he said. “These guys have it down to a science and audiences want to go along for that ride.”

The first three Indy movies took in $1.2 billion worldwide.

Source: ‘Indiana Jones’ unearths $126M in box office gold

Indiana Jones at Cannes Film Festival