EXCLUSIVE: Disney/Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is off to a strong start, grossing an estimated $6 million-$7.5 million on Thursday night. This puts it in line with previous older-skewing action films like No Time to Die and Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
No Time to Die, released in October 2021, earned $6.3 million on its Thursday night previews before going on to make $55.2 million in its opening weekend. Similarly, Mission: Impossible – Fallout made $6 million on its Thursday night previews before earning $61.2 million in its opening weekend. Dial of Destiny, which started previews at 3 p.m. on Thursday, is expected to gross between $60 million-$65 million at 4,500 theaters.
This would make it the second-highest stateside opening for the Indiana Jones franchise, behind 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which had a five-day opening of $151.9 million. Crystal Skull didn’t have previews but opened fully on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend with $25 million.
However, weekend projections for Dial of Destiny are not as high as the previous chapter. This is partly due to the film receiving the worst reviews ever for an Indiana Jones film, with a 66% rating coming out of its Cannes Film Festival world premiere. Additionally, the film’s audience is aging, similar to the 007 franchise.
Social media buzz for Dial of Destiny is mixed-leaning-positive, with fans expressing excitement for the film’s action and nostalgia. There is also admiration for Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Indy and John Williams’ contribution to the franchise. However, there are some critics who have taken issue with certain aspects of the film.
On social media, Dial of Destiny has garnered 296.4 million views across platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. This is higher than Fallout’s social media universe of 234 million, but lower than No Time to Die (692.5 million), Top Gun: Maverick (401 million), and Hobbs and Shaw (961.4 million).
Dial of Destiny will be shown in 400 IMAX auditoriums, 900 PLF screens, 280 D-Box theaters, and 85 Screen X hubs.
Directed by James Mangold, Dial of Destiny sees Indy teaming up with his goddaughter, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, on a search for a device that can turn back time. The film takes place in 1969 and features Indy battling Nazis, including one played by Mads Mikkelsen.
Overall, while Dial of Destiny may not reach the same heights as its predecessors, it is still expected to have a strong opening weekend at the box office.
How do the Thursday night previews for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny compare to the previews of No Time to Die and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, and what impact might this have on its projected opening weekend gross
Million in its opening weekend.
Disney/Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has made an impressive start at the box office, bringing in an estimated $6 million-$7.5 million on Thursday night. This puts it in the same league as other successful action films aimed at an older audience, such as No Time to Die and Mission: Impossible – Fallout.
In October 2021, No Time to Die raked in $6.3 million during its Thursday night previews, ultimately earning $55.2 million in its opening weekend. Similarly, Mission: Impossible – Fallout brought in $6 million during its Thursday night previews and went on to make $61.2 million in its opening weekend. With its previews starting at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dial of Destiny is projected to gross between $60 million-$65 million in its opening weekend.
I can’t wait to see the epic adventure unfold! Indiana Jones never disappoints and I expect ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ to be another blockbuster hit. $60M-$65M opening weekend sounds absolutely fitting for such a highly anticipated film.