Disney’s 2023 Franchise-Killing Legacy Sequel Was a Worse Box Office Bomb Than Anyone Thought

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2023 wasn’t a successful year for Disney at the movie theaters. Most of the Marvel films didn’t do well – with The Marvels becoming the biggest flop in Marvel Studios history – and films like The Little Mermaid, Haunted Mansion, and Wish all failed to meet expectations. Even Harrison Ford’s return as Indiana Jones, after a 10-year break, didn’t resonate with audiences. was promoted as Ford’s final performance as the famous archaeologist, and while the movie wasn’t terrible, it didn’t earn enough at the box office to be considered a success. Recent information suggests the film’s performance was actually worse than initially reported.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny initially had a reported budget of about $300 million. Although the film earned $384 million globally, it was quickly labeled a box office disappointment when marketing expenses were factored in. Recent disclosures from Disney now show the movie’s financial struggles were even more severe; the actual budget climbed to over $419 million – more than $20 million higher than its total worldwide box office earnings.

How did Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny end up costing as much as 20 independent films combined? The initial plan was for a budget of around $280 million, but the film’s production was significantly delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. This extended filming and added costs, as many productions did when shooting was paused. When you factor in substantial reshoots and the resulting expenses, the total budget continued to increase. This means Disney likely lost far more money on the film than expected, potentially making Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny one of their biggest financial failures in recent years.

Can the Indiana Jones Franchise Be Reborn Without Harrison Ford?


Paramount Pictures

Screenwriter David Koepp is one person who thinks the Indiana Jones series could go on with a new lead. Having contributed to several of Indy’s films, Koepp has some thoughts on how the franchise could continue as a streaming show…but also feels it might be best to “let it go for now.” While doing publicity for Jurassic World: Rebirth earlier this year, Koepp shared his views on the Indiana Jones franchise:

Honestly, it doesn’t seem like this is going anywhere. Everyone involved has pretty much said so. Harrison himself was clear – he’s finished with it. So, if anything were to happen, it would have to be a completely fresh approach, a brand new idea about how to tackle it.

I think this story would work really well as a streaming series. The format is ideal for a continuing adventure like Indiana Jones. They could build towards a larger goal over an entire season, unlike The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, where each episode needed a self-contained ending. However, it seems like they’re choosing to hold off on making any further installments for now. It’s a good approach, I think.

Maybe the final thought from Koepp is the most important one. It’s clear that something about Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny didn’t quite resonate with audiences, despite receiving some positive reviews. There’s a limit to everything, and while Indy might return for another adventure with a different actor at some point, let’s hope it doesn’t happen anytime soon.

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2025-10-04 19:43