Posted on 05/27/2008 6:53:46 AM PDT by Dr. Scarpetta
The most recent Indiana Jones film more than recouped its big budget with an estimated $311 million in global box office sales through the long weekend, according to studio estimates Monday.
Families went in droves to catch "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," a PG-13 adventure starring Harrison Ford as the whip-cracking archaeologist who took 19 years to return to the big screen.
Paramount Pictures estimated the action sequel made $151.1 million in the U.S. and Canada from Thursday to the holiday Monday and $160 million overseas.
It marked the second biggest Memorial Day weekend opening ever, behind only "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," which made $153 million domestically from Thursday to Monday last year.
Nearly a third of the domestic audience was made up of parents with their children, said Rob Moore, president of Paramount Worldwide Distribution.
"Adults really drove this opening. This is one of their favorite franchises and they couldn't wait to take their kids with them," Moore said.
The film cost a reported $185 million to make, even with the principal talent — Ford, director Steven Spielberg and writer George Lucas — deferring their usual fees for a greater share of the profits.
The first three Indy movies raked in $1.2 billion worldwide.
Marketing costs were undisclosed, although the latest "Indiana Jones" received a major push from Paramount. DVDs of the first three movies were re-released, they aired on TV days before the opening and huge billboards sprung up.
The final trailer for the movie rolled before the opening of Marvel Studios' "Iron Man," which was also distributed by Paramount, three weeks earlier.
"It's been a pretty good month," Moore said. "We started the month with 'Iron Man' and finished with 'Indiana Jones.'"
Other movies' receipts over the long weekend paled by comparison.
Disney's "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" slashed its way to $28.6 million, for a total $96.7 million over two weeks. "Iron Man" locked up third with $25.7 million in its third week for a total of $257.8 million.
The Wachowski brothers flick "Speed Racer," distributed by Warner Bros., crawled closer to the finish line with $5.2 million for fifth, bringing its domestic total to $37.4 million. It brought in $30 million overseas, and had yet to be released in major markets France, Russia, Japan and Australia.
The studio said it was not ready to wave the checkered flag on the film, which cost $120 million to make.
"If I had my druthers I'd have it in theaters for weeks and months to come," said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros.' executive vice president of distribution.
For the year so far, domestic movie revenues are down more than 4 percent at $3.4 billion, with attendance off nearly 7 percent.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Tuesday.
1. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," $126 million (plus $25.1 million on Thursday).
2. "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," $28.6 million.
3. "Iron Man," $25.7 million.
4. "What Happens in Vegas," $11.2 million.
5. "Speed Racer," $5.2 million.
6. "Made of Honor," $4.2 million.
7. "Baby Mama," $4.2 million.
8. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," $2.2 million.
9. "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay," $1.2 million.
10. "The Visitor," $917,000.
Harrison Ford was born on July 13, 1942 so he’s not 70 yet!
Saw Iron Man yesterday. Well worth the price of admission. I figure I’ll wait on Indian Jones for a bit.
Sorry I didn’t mean to sound nasty. I am glad that you enjoyed it. To be honest, I just don’t like those type of movies and was being snide in the comments.
Nope. Two tickets for Narnia. (My son talked me into it.) Very enjoyable movie.
Indy should be around for a while. I hope Speed Racer lasts another week so i can see that one, too.
'Sex and the City' will be coming out so the crowds probably will be smaller...
“Have you noticed how crowded the restaurants are too?”
Nope...because we don’t eat out much anymore...
yours truly is a master in the kitchen. LOL
and if you had been in any restaurant kitchens lately;
you wouldn’t eat there either...I wouldn’t let them wash my car much less prepare my food!
The movie that it will push off the list?
Raiders of the Lost Ark
(which, by the way, is the only Indy film in the Top 50)
I haven't seen 'Narnia' yet, but I plan to. I think both films will be around for months.
We took my mother, and it was fun for all of us:
No sex scenes or F-Words...
My son was visiting for the weekend so husband son and I went to see Indy Jones. We all thought it was ok and a bit boring.....if you are not a huge Indy fan it is a good idea to wait for the DVD
Is that kinda like that goofy Ernest Vincent Wright novel?
Took the family to see Narnia this weekend. Very emjoyable. I liked it better than the first one.
Btw, adjusted for inflation, Gone With the Wind is still #1 box office champ all time.
Am I correct in stating that Indy did not touch his revolver EVEN ONE TIME in this movie? It wasn’t even SEEN one time. And also, IIRC, the hero (Ryan?) in the drug movie (C and P Danger?) also did not lay his hands on a firearm even one time. Spielberg showing his stripes.
“The oddly political aspect was that it mocked the anti-communist fears of the 50s, while thoroughly demonizing the Soviets.”
You are correct. The film ridiculed those crazy rightwingers for fearing the commies, yet portrayed dozens of homicidal commies running around IN THE US, murdering US servicemen by the bushel in a bid to take over the entire world.
Cast members Harrison Ford and Karen Allen...
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