One Big Franchise Movie Lost Disney $130 Million

Disney's budget took a significant hit with the failure of the latest Indiana Jones installment, failing to recoup its costs and achieve box office success. It is reported that the company is now grappling with a loss exceeding $130 million.

Last year saw the release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the fifth installment of the beloved franchise. Anticipation had been high for years leading up to its release, with expectations for it to be a major success. However, the film fell short of the pre-established standards, resulting in a substantial financial loss for Disney.

According to Forbes, Disney's recent financial statements reveal a $134.2 million hit to their budget due to the film. The production and development of the movie reportedly cost $387.2 million. Despite its release in June 2023, the film unexpectedly fell short of expectations, earning only around $192 million.

Disney's financial setback extended beyond box office figures due to additional production costs. Disney filmed parts of a new Indiana Jones movie in the UK, reportedly receiving $58.3 million from the country, but spending $308.2 million by April 2022, when filming ended. As Harrison Ford, aged 78 during filming, required digital de-ageing, Disney's VFX division spent an additional $79 million. Financial statements released in April 2023, three months before the movie's release, showed Disney's subsidiary receiving $2.7 million, reducing net spending to $326.2 million. Subtracting this from Disney's $192 million box office share indicates a loss of $134.2 million.

However, Disney faces further challenges as streaming on Disney Plus reduces traditional DVD or Blu-Ray sales revenue, which would have been a benefit for them. The statements do not detail marketing costs, and the studio earns additional revenue from merchandise sales. The film's staggering budget, compared to its prequel, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which cost only 49% of this one, amplifies the