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Perhaps the most high-profile blow was the debut of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at the Cannes Film Festival. With an estimated production budget around $300 million—potentially even more after marketing and other expenses—the film needed to gross nearly $800 million to a billion dollars globally just to break even. This puts enormous pressure on the film’s commercial performance.
The decision to premiere at Cannes was a calculated move. Disney executives aimed to dazzle critics, industry insiders, and the media with Indiana Jones’ latest adventure, believing they had a hit on their hands. As a testament to their confidence, they lifted the review embargo over a month prior to release—an unusual step indicating they anticipated positive reactions.