Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of $300 Million
The $300 million club has a new member.
The final box-office numbers from the weekend show Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull moved into that exclusive, nine-figure territory yesterday.
The movie is the second 2008 release to crack $300 million after Iron Man, which beat Indiana Jones to the neighborhood by about a week.
Iron Man, which currently sits at $309 million, remains the year’s No. 1 movie.
The ever-resourceful Dr. Jones, however, holds the overall advantage.
An even bigger hit internationally, the adventure franchise’s fourth installment has topped $400 million overseas, bringing its worldwide total to $713 million, Paramount said today. Iron Man, by comparison, has done the majority of its big business stateside. Overseas grosses bring its worldwide haul to “only” about $560 million.
Among George Lucas movies, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is its producer’s biggest non-Star Wars hit as a producer, per Box Office Mojo stats. Among Steven Spielberg movies, Crystal Skull is his third-biggest hit, behind E.T. and Jurassic Park, as a director.
Among Indiana Jones movies, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the top grosserso long as you don’t adjust for inflation.
Raiders of the Lost Ark, the series starter bumped down to No. 2 by Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, arguably had the more impressive run of the two installments, grossing a gaudy $209.6 million domestically back in 1981.
Still, a win is a win. And Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the first new Indiana Jones movie in 19 years, overcame minor qualms that the film would suffer from young moviegoers unable to relate to the veteran franchise and its veteran star, Harrison Ford, who, at 65, is seven years older than Sean Connery was when that actor played Indiana’s father in The Last Crusade.
And the movie isn’t done yet. Last weekend, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull made more than double the money of the finally tiring Iron Man. A couple more showings like that, and Indiana Jones may be the $300 million club’s No. 1 member.
Will Smith Is Box Office GOLD
Hancock is set for release on July 2, and is set to make an estimated $150 MILLION over the five-day Fourth of July weekend! This will make his EIGHTH CONSECUTIVE $100 MILLION grossing movie! Something no other actor has been able to accomplish.
Here are some interesting numbers:
MOST $100 MILLION MOVIES IN A CAREER (List includes animated films and excludes cameos)
1. Tom Hanks — 15
2. Tom Cruise — 14
3. Eddie Murphy — 13
4. Will Smith — 12 (including Hancock)
4. Harrison Ford — 12
6. Jim Carrey — 11
6. Robin Williams — 11
8. Mel Gibson — 10
9. Matt Damon — 9
10. Bruce Willis — 8
10. Jack Nicholson — 8
Will’s streak started with Men in Black II, and continued with Bad Boys II, I, Robot, Shark Tale, Hitch, The Pursuit of Happyness, and I Am Legend, and will continue with Hancock, which is estimated to make upwards of $280 million domestically.
Damn! Wish we had Will’s golden touch!
This will put him in front of Hollywood legends Tom Hanks and Tom Cruise for the most consecutive $100 million grossers! His next movie, Seven Pounds (helmed by Pursuit director, Gabriele Muccino), is set for release in December and could make his ninth!
Harrison Ford Digs Up Doctor Role
After dusting off his fedora for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Harrison Ford is ready to trade in his bullwhip for a microscope.
The 65-year-old star will top the marquee for Crowley, a drama inspired by the true story of John and Aileen Crowley, whose two children successfully battled an extremely rare genetic disorder. Ford will play a maverick scientist who comes to the family’s aid.
The actor will also serve as an executive producer for CBS Films. Tom Vaughn (What Happens in Vegas) is in talks to direct.
Crowley marks CBS Films’ first feature in a slate that will see four to six pictures, budgeted at up to $50 million apiece, released each year.
Ford is next set to costar with Sean Penn and Ashley Judd in Crossing Over, an immigration drama with multiple characters and narratives in the vein of Traffic and Crash.
Harrison Ford says yes to CBS movie - UPDATE
I don’t think this is a case of a big star taking a role on TV for the paycheck. Mr. Box Office — I gave him that name based on the Star Wars and Indiana Jones series alone — Harrison Ford has agreed to star in a CBS film called Crowley. The picture is a true story, based on the case of John and Aileen Crowley, whose children are afflicted with a rare genetic condition. They seek the help of researcher — Ford’s character — who may have the cure.
The book on which the Robert Nelson Jacobs (The Water Horse) screenplay was written is called The Cure. The original idea came from a Wall Street Journal article and book by Geeta Anand. The director is still being negotiated, but Tom Vaughan is the prime candidate. Considering his last film was What Happens in Vegas, I hope they keep looking. Ford will be executive producing the film as well as playing the scientist.
Not surprisingly, CBS is hoping to get this film into production fast. Ford’s got another film prepping — Crossing Over with Sean Penn — which will take a lot longer to shoot than a TV movie. Also looming out there is the potential SAG strike. If the union has not settled with the producers by June 30, a strike may occur.
CBS has traditionally been a great place to TV movies, so this would seem a great get. After all, Harrison Ford is currently riding high (pretty high) with the latest Indiana Jones movie. However, CBS recently dumped two big star vehicles – Sybil and Vinegar Hill — on Saturday nights in June. Presumably, a Harrison Ford movie, even if he’s only in a supporting role, will get much more prominence. I’m thinking November sweeps if they can get it shot and edited by then.
UPDATE: This is not a TV movie after all. It’s a theatrical release that’s being done by CBS Studios.