Indiana Jones 5: Disappointing Rotten Tomatoes Debut

The highly anticipated release of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has been met with disappointing results on Rotten Tomatoes. This latest adventure marks the fifth theatrical outing for Harrison Ford's iconic archaeologist, who first graced the silver screen in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark. Set against the backdrop of the Space Race, Dial of Destiny follows Jones as he embarks on a new globetrotting journey with his goddaughter Helena Shaw (played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge).

Reviews for the film were aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its official release date, thanks to its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival a month and a half prior. In an unprecedented turn of events, the film's score has received a disappointing Rotten rating of 52 percent. This marks the first time in the franchise's history (including the short-lived television series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles) that a film has received a Rotten rating, placing it even lower than the widely criticized 2008 outing Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which boasts a Certified Fresh rating of 77 percent.

How This Indiana Jones 5 RT Score Could Be A Good Thing

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There are a couple of noteworthy aspects about the film's score currently. Firstly, it's important to acknowledge that the Rotten Tomatoes score for Indiana Jones 5 is based on a limited number of reviews from only 29 critics. Although this is significant, it's still a much smaller sample size than the 100 or more reviews that previous entries in the franchise have received, with Crystal Skull having as many as 308 reviews. However, it's worth noting that there will be a surge of new reviews coming in mid-June that could have a significant impact on the film's score.

The second point is even more crucial. Despite having the lowest score in the franchise, a 52 percent rating implies that at least half of the critics who have reviewed the film actually enjoyed it. In a franchise that has been around for as long as Indiana Jones, being divisive is just as important as being universally adored. This early insight into the critical reaction to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny could be an indication that the film is taking a bold and unexpected approach to the franchise.

While some die-hard fans of the original Indiana Jones trilogy may not be pleased, the upcoming film may prove to be more than just a copy of the franchise's formula. The 2008 film, Crystal Skull, scored surprisingly well despite its reputation souring over time due to its familiarity. However, with director James Mangold taking over for Steven Spielberg, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny may have some surprises that will allow it to withstand repeated viewings even after the initial shock of its departure from the norm wears off.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes