‘Indiana Jones’ Just Broke a 24-Year-Old Record

Despite a lackluster box office debut, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny cracked a Walt Disney Co. record.

Few artisan film branches maintain a successful run over four decades, and even fewer Hollywood actors remain in the spotlight into their Golden Years. Since Harrison Ford‘s debut as Indy in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark alongside Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood, Alfred Molina as Satipo, Paul Freeman as Dr. Belloq, and Jonathan Rhys-Davies as Sallah, he solidified the titular character as an American icon.

Sweeping the Academy Awards and spurring sequels Temple of Doom (1984), The Last Crusade (1989), Crystal Skull (2008), and Dial of Destiny (2023), the Indiana Jones franchise has been driven by Ford’s charisma, talent, and tenacity. While Dial of Destiny struggles to profit at the box office with its $295 million budget, Harrison Ford just earned one of Disney’s most esteemed accolades.

A Golden Age

When Crystal Skull debuted in 2008, fans criticized it for featuring a retiree-aged Indy. Reprising his role as the fedora-donning hero, Ford was 65 when he starred in the film, joking about cracking the Indy whip into his 80s. With this final bow for the franchise in Dial of Destiny, Ford got to take that 80-year-old quip for a test drive.

While it’s easy to get lost in the numbers, especially with Dial of Destiny’s distinction as the most expensive movie ever made, Ford deserves recognition for breaking a 24-year-old record as the oldest actor to ever lead a Disney movie. Swapping his fedora for a crown formerly worn by  Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story, Indy officially holds the Disney title Farnsworth earned as a 79-year-old actor.

Disney’s Box Office Woes

Although reaching just under $90 million domestically on Fourth of July weekend might be a success for a smaller-scale film, Dial of Destiny’s nearly $300 million budget qualifies it as a miss. Helmed by director James Mangold with executive producers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, the last Indy installment was slated to be a significant success.

However, Disney has been in hot water at the box office lately, debuting flops like Lightyear (2022). The family entertainment giant has also floundered to turn a significant profit on The Little Mermaid and Elemental, although both have received rave reviews from fans. Next up will be Disney’s Haunted Mansion on July 28, which will be Disney’s shot at box office redemption.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny joins recent box office blunders in falling short financially. Still, no one can deny the impact of Harrison Ford, captivating multiple generations of fans for over four decades.