Box Office: Big Numbers for Indiana Jones 4

Posted by John Cairns (jcairns@filmschoolrejects.com) on May 25, 2008

Well, the numbers are in for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and we can say with certainty now that this movie is the top grosser of the year so far, but it is not going to be as big a blockbuster as some other movies that have been rolled out over five days. This movie has made $126 million so far and is is on a pace for more than $150 million once the Monday numbers come in. However — that’s a little lower than what a lot of people were predicting, and no records were set. Indiana Jones 4 is just another hit movie.

Here are the overall weekend numbers (Friday to Sunday):

And here is the breakdown from Thursday:

As far as the record book is concerned Indiana Jones did NOTHING. It’s Thursday open was only the 28th-ranked open of all time and the fourth Thursday open of all time (Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith still holds top spot at $50 million, followed by The Matrix Reloaded and Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones). For Friday to Sunday total alone, Indiana Jones 4 barely beat out Iron Man for the best weekend performance this year! It made 101 million, while Iron Man’s final total for opening weekend was $98 million! That fact alone says a lot.

Overall, Indy 4 ranks as the tenth-best weekend open of all time, with Spider-Man 3 first at $151 million.

We can’t call this movie a flop, but while this movie IS a hit, we can’t say this is an amazing record-setting performance either. Prince Caspian didn’t set a bunch of records last week, either. In fact, so far it’s kind of been a down box office story at the theaters. We had Indiana Jones 4 set no records, we had Prince Caspian do well but not as well as the first Chronicles of Narnia movie, and we had an absolute total flop in Speed Racer. Only Iron Man seemed to exceed the expectations, but are any other movies this summer going to do the kind of business Iron Man did? The Dark Knight, maybe? If I were in the movie business I’d be a little worried about the rest of the summer.

Why didn’t Indiana Jones set any records this time out? Drum roll please… (1) It’s another bleeping, frakking sequel and people are still sick of those, and (2) the recession is still on!! The price of gas is still through the roof, and people can’t afford to go to the theaters! In fact, I read on Nikki Finke’s website that a lot of theaters that were showing Indiana Jones had hiked prices to make up for the rising price of popcorn. Makes sense to me. (I actually cover plenty of agricultural news as a reporter, so I know about this kind of stuff.)

That may have padded Indiana Jones’ totals, but high prices could have also driven people away if this is indeed what’s happening out there. But obviously not too many people were dissuaded because, let’s face it, this is still a great performance for Paramount. Nikki Finke is also saying Indiana Jones 4 is cleaning up overseas with a take of $143 through the weekend, which I take it is a record for the studio. That’s about it for records, though.

I have to say, I have a feeling I’m not going to be talking about any box-office records falling this summer at all at the theaters. The best shot of setting records was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It didn’t do it, and no other flick this summer is going to do it either. Certainly not The Dark Knight, Wall-E, Hancock or these others.

Maybe Sex and the City: The Movie will set the record for chick flicks this coming weekend! I’m grasping at straws here.

I will be back soon to give you the final five-day numbers once Monday’s box office numbers are posted. So stay tuned for that.

Read more articles by John Cairns