Same routine for every Spielberg movie. They'll eventually do something small either just before it opens or just after.

Junkets are for pussies.

Jeffrey, did you see yourself on the Daily Show last night during the Debate coverage??

One would think if Paramount is putting a lot of money into this movie they would want a press junket.

Considering how many big movies there will be this summer Paramount would do anything.

Than again maybe Paramount has no control over it either

"One would think if Paramount is putting a lot of money into this movie they would want a press junket."

Firstly, I doubt any studio can make Spielberg do something he doesn't want to do.

IIRC, he hardly did any press for Munich until after the backlash. He foolishly thought the movie could "speak for itself." Indy should be able to do just that.

Secondly, I doubt his failure to do a junket (while doing interviews with Time, Vanity Fair or whoever else he wants) will make a difference of a single dollar in the film's BO.

"Dude - did you see Indy 4 yet?"
"No, fuck that. I went to see Dark Knight again. Did you even see Chris Nolan's Entertainment Tonight sound bite? Best five seconds of TV I've ever seen. I might not see another movie this summer at all!"

(That said - I think a Wells/Spielberg Q&A would be amusing to listen to. "So, Steven...a lot of people think Schindler's List and Jaws are good movies but we both know that neither is what it once was...people got a bit over-excited about what are basically mediocre, milky-white movies...am I right? Do you feel me, brother?")

DavidF very funny.

Here is the thing look how many movies are coming out about the same time as Indy?

They will do a junket for Dark Knight, they will do a junket Iron Man, etc. It only can help a movie to promote.

The last time we saw an Indy movie 1989. Any press will only help it.

I'm not saying it's going to be a bomb but don't count on it being as huge as it was in the 80's

Indiana Jones and the Longest Title Ever will probably do north of $250M. Which is better than any of the movies from the 1980s- however, they 80s movies will have had more admissions.
Inflation is a real kicker.

The movie will be lucky to make 100 -120 million.

That's hilarious. This movie is GUARANTEED $200 million. At a minimum.

These people who also predict the box office also predicted Charlie Wilson's War would make over 100 Million just based off of the cast of the movie

How wrong were they?

I hope Indy is a box office hit. I'm a huge fan however the market has changed for Indiana Jones and it has solid competition opening near it.

Carpet Bombing is the key to launching a summer movie. If the movie sells itself than they might as well just rely on the movie poster and the name on the marquee. No advertising in papers or TV. Don't even create a trailer.

perhaps they don't want a junket so you won't hear Harrison Ford's Depends squish when he sits down at the table. And no need to ask the kid if he still shops at Walgreens.

LADODGERS23 must be reading "DZ's Big Book of Box Office Predictions."

No way this movie makes less than $100 mil on opening weekend.
Yeah, I know: Ford is so old he's like Uncle Festus!
It's been 20 years, no one cares!
This flick needs all the PR it can get!

If only we had something to compare it to. Another trilogy that went without a sequel for 15 years...another May opening...another movie that had a pre-release Vanity Fair cover story with an Annie Liebovitz cover shot...Another movie with strong but sceptical intenet buzz...

$105,661,237
That's the opening 5-day gross for The Phantom Menace in 1999 dollars.

And if Indy is really GOOD....it'll do just fine.
(And for those expecting Dark Knight - to which I am greatly looking forward- to slaughter at the box office: Domestic Total Gross for Batman Begins? $205,343,774)

DavidF-Ok putting in the same sentence with D.Z.that hurts. Im not so far off likek DZ always is.

I'm willing to bet it won't make 200 million.

The ad campaign sure is bad. No teaser before chirstmas, no superbowl spot, nothing to try to hype the movie. A very strange decision, but all that matters is whether the film is good or not. I heard rumours that they were planning to not even have a trailer, but the idea was apparently axed. A weird way to sell a tentpole movie

MAGGA, Spielberg and Lucas are only trying to show off the size of their tentpoles. Sooner or later their tentpoles will shrivel like a stack of dimes, and they will gives us a trailer to their tentpole movie.

I drink the tentpole milkshake

David: "He foolishly thought the movie could "speak for itself." Indy should be able to do just that."

I just hope it won't speak in confused fits and sputters.

"$105,661,237
That's the opening 5-day gross for The Phantom Menace in 1999 dollars."

Phantom Menace was a prequel with top-of-the-line CG and a huge geek and non-geek fanbase. Indy 4 is a sequel with potentially decent(albeit limited) CG, and a sizable, but not huge, fanbase. Even Batman Begins didn't open at that much money, and the lead in that one was younger than Ford.

"I just hope it won't speak in confused fits and sputters."

Like yourself?

Finally, DZ is here! My brutha!

Haven't you realized we can anticipate your responses and don't really need you here?

Lemme be clear...you're saying Star Wars 1 is different from Indy IV because:
a) SW was a prequel, Indy is a SEquel
b) SW had CGI, Indy has more practcal effects

Ergo, Indy will make less money.
Mmm hmm. Yup. That sounds like you.

Is it the narrative position or number of CG shots that you think is the bigger factor in a movie's box office take??

I was, like you, pointing out that Batman Begins (which I like!) did not do huge box office. But Indy is not Batman. Is much closer to Star Wars (eg the director is as much as star as the stars).

Why don't you predict it will make $45 mil opening weekend, top out around $175 and lead to the end of Spielberg's career? Then we can consider the thread closed and wait for reality to take hold.