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.
I don’t think he shot that many people. There was a full fledged fire fight in Marion’s bar, though I think most of the people got shot by guns other than his. Then of course there was the fancy sword guy but that was an ad-lib. There was a door lock on a plane. Really Indy has been more about the whip than the gun from day one.
Trust me the expenses you are trying to cite don’t remotely meet the production budget, let alone exceed it. This movie does not have to make $800 Million to be profitable, its already profitable.
Yes I know there are expenses beyond the production budget, but trust me this things already making money. While the things you mention are added to the costs, things like merchandising and licensing add to the revenues.. did you happen to pick up the sales catalogues this past weekend?
Trust me, this suckers already well in the black.
“An upscale hamburger shop (Red Robin) reportedly had trouble getting employees because the county’s teens are well off enough that few would “stoop” to taking such a job waiting tables.
And yes it was mobbed opening week.
Recession? Only insofar as people are finding they can’t have _everything_ and the rate of increase of spending has peaked.”
***********
We tried to get into the ‘Bonefish Grill’ which opened recently around here, and the place was also mobbed.
Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas pose with cast members Shia LaBeouf, Harrison Ford and Karen Allen...
With all the billions between the two of the Mega-Directors and that is how they dress? Jeez, I did not expect a pimp suit, but what stylists did they hire?/Just Asking - seoul62........
To loosely borrow a phrase from PCU, "You're wearing the T-Shirt of the movie you're going to see? Don't be that guy!"
"Indiana Jones is not the worst one made but the one about the Ark and the one about the Grail are better.
I have not yet gotten up enough nerve to sit through "Speed Racer".
My daughter and I both agree -—
Shia Lebeouf can not act.
But otherwise, we liked the movie.
Shia was very good in this movie. In fact, I recommend it.
I like action movies in the theatres, but would have waited.
However, my daughter, with her Fedora hat, had to see it on opening weekend.
And I just hooked her on the franchise in the past two months, making her watch the first three movies.
He pulled his gun, and I thought he fired it, but maybe he didn’t. He also held at least one other weapon, which was shot.
There was plenty of shooting, mostly by people who were really bad shots.
I didn’t recognize any strong liberal bias. But I wasn’t looking for it, I was just there to enjoy the story.
I liked the Will Smith “Legend of Bagger vance”, but I haven’t seen this one yet.
The hand-wringing over Red-baiting ended once they got Indy off campus.
But he did shoot a shoulder-launched missile at the commies. Why settle for a gun?
$185M production.
$100M promotion (not unusual).
~$50M profit-percentage salaries (rough guess, probably higher).
50% of tickets go theater.
= $675M “break-even” point for ticket sales.
...and I haven’t even tried to cover all “expenses” etc.
One of the problems is what constitutes “cost” vs. “profit”. The studio paying an actor $10M is an expense to the studio, but a profit to the actor. The theater taking $0.50 of every $1 in tickets is money the studio won’t see, but the theater does.
I’ll agree, however, this thing will - and is - make some people enormous gobs of money.
Not going to quibble, but ~45% goes to theater, 55% is what goes to the distributor.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.