Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was the fifth installment of the Indiana Jones franchise, and it hit the theaters in June 2023. The James Mangold-directed film followed Indy, played by Harrison Ford, as he embarked on an adventure to find a powerful artifact while confronting his age and legacy.
Despite the excitement surrounding the return of the iconic archaeologist, the movie’s performance at the box office was disappointing. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny only grossed about $380 million globally, far below expectations and less than 30 percent profit on its $295 million production budget.
Harrison Ford took the blame for ‘Indiana Jones 5’ box office failure – ‘sh*t happens’
During a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Ford addressed the film’s lackluster performance, admitting to feeling a sense of responsibility for its failure. He was the driving force behind the comeback of Indiana Jones back to the big screen, noting that he was eager for the character to have one more story.
Despite the underperformance of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Ford maintains that he has no regrets. The 82-year-old actor acknowledged that movie-going habits have changed over the years, but it is not an excuse for the movie’s failure, regardless.
Why did ‘Indiana Jones 5’ underperform upon its release?
Several factors contributed to the disappointing box office performance of Indiana Jones 5. One of these includes a drop in audience interest, largely due to the evolving film landscape. Since Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008, the movie industry has undergone significant changes, especially with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic led to smaller theatrical windows, and audiences are now more inclined to wait for movies to stream rather than watch them in theaters. Additionally, Dial of Destiny faced the challenge of appealing to younger audiences, who may not have the same attachment to the franchise as older viewers.