Critical popcorn

Excellent news that Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny secured the No.1 spot in the UK & Ireland box office in its opening weekend!

I was a big fan of Harrison Ford’s swansong as the iconic Indy, and this release marks the 5^th biggest opening weekend for a film in 2023, including previews, with a market share of 43%, after the film opened in UK cinemas on June 28. The truly globe-trotting film also opened number one across, France, Germany, Spain and Italy; taking the title of the biggest opening of 2023 in Finland, Denmark and Greece.

The film currently sits on 88% audience score (and quite right to) on Rotten Tomatoes, with critical review highlights below:

• “a terrific thrill ride” 4 stars – Total Film

• “a real joy in seeing him back” 4 stars – Empire

• “Harrison Ford’s final adventure will bring fans to tears” 4 stars – The I

• “one final great outing” 4 stars – Radio Times

• And me, over on Twitter:

Ah man that was wonderful old school adventure- switch off & enjoy every epic punch (& there's a lot & I loved it) with #IndianaJones & The #DialOfDestiny – Laughed, hit in the feels, big set pieces, we love ya Harrison Ford + Phoebe Waller-Bridge is class @mang0ld @IndianaJones pic.twitter.com/0cB6Yli6CP

— Dan B (@danbullock) June 28, 2023

In Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Harrison Ford returns to the role of the legendary hero archaeologist for this highly anticipated final installment of the iconic franchise– a big, globe-trotting, rip-roaring cinematic adventure. Starring along with Ford are Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”), Antonio Banderas (“Pain and Glory”), John Rhys-Davies (Raiders of the Lost Ark), Shaunette Renée Wilson (“Black Panther”), Thomas Kretschmann (“Das Boot”), Toby Jones (“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), Boyd Holbrook (“Logan”), Olivier Richters (“Black Widow”), Ethann Isidore (“Mortel”) and Mads Mikkelsen (“Another Round”).

Directed by James Mangold (“Le Mans ‘66,” “Logan”) and written by Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth and David Koepp and James Mangold, based on characters created by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman, the film is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Simon Emanuel, with Steven Spielberg and George Lucas serving as executive producers. John Williams, who has scored each Indy adventure since the original Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, has once again composed the score.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is in UK and Irish cinemas now!