Harrison Ford, Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Walt Disney Studios’ Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (Disney photo)
July 7, 2023
Despite an underwhelming box office start, Disney/Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny appears to be a lock to win its second straight theatrical weekend with more than $28 million in projected ticket sales, according to estimates from Box Office Pro.
The fifth installment in the action franchise that debuted in 1981, with Harrison Ford reprising his role as Indiana Jones reportedly for the final appearance, looks to approach $126 million in total North American ticket sales ($190 million globally) through July 9.
The movie faces three new smaller releases, led by Sony Pictures/Screen Gems/Stage 6 Films/Blumhouse’s Insidious: The Red Door, which made $5 million for Thursday night early shows across 2,806 screens.
The horror franchise’s original cast returns for the final chapter of the Lambert family’s saga. To put their demons to rest once and for all, Josh (Patrick Wilson) and a college-aged Dalton (Ty Simpkins) must go deeper into The Further than ever before, facing their family’s dark past and a host of new and more horrifying terrors that lurk behind the red door.
Lionsgate’s Joy Ride, which enters the weekend with strong critical appeal (91% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes), grossed $1.1 million in preview screenings. Co-starring Ashley Park (“Emily in Paris,” “The Beef”), Sherry Cola, Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything, Everywhere All at Once), and Sabrina Wu, the explicit story of identity and self-discovery centers on four unlikely friends who embark on a once-in-a-lifetime international adventure.
The movie is tracking to generate upwards of $9 million, according to industry estimates, a start that should allow the modestly budgeted film to enjoy weeks of summer play to come.
Angel Studios’ Sound of Freedom aims to capitalize on the commercial appeal of faith-based films that have seen an occasional resurgence in recent years, including His Only Son, The Chosen and Jesus Revolution, among others. Ticket sales for the Jim Caviezel (Passion of the Christ)-led thriller about a crusader against child trafficking have impressed thanks to the strong grassroots campaign mounted by the studio. The film debuted July 4 and earned more than $18 million its first two days in theaters.
Meanwhile, box office returnees include Sony/Columbia Pictures’ animated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse with $8 million in ticket sales; Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation’s Elemental ($7.4 million); Sony/Columbia Pictures’ Jennifer Lawrence comedy No Hard Feelings ($4.5 million); Paramount Pictures’ Transformers: Rise of the Beasts ($4.5 million); Walt Disney Pictures’ The Little Mermaid ($3.6 million), and Universal/DreamWorks Animation’s Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken with $2.6 million in projected ticket sales.
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