“This picture is not called The Temple of Roses; it is called The Temple of Doom. The warning is clearly marked on the box.” — Steven Spielberg The Digital Bits is pleased to present this retrospective commemorating the 30th anniversary of the release of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, the follow-up to the incredibly popular Raiders of the Lost Ark. The Bits celebrates the occasion with this retrospective column. It features some quotes from movie critics, some trivia on the film, an interview segment (featuring film historians Scott Higgins and Eric Lichtenfeld), a list of the movie’s premium-format (70mm) presentations, and a compilation of box-office data that places the movie’s performance in context. [Read on here…]

INDIANA JONES NUMBER$ AT A GLANCE

1 = Number of weeks nation’s top-grossing movie

2 = Rank among top-grossing movies of 1984 (calendar year)

3 = Rank among top-grossing movies of 1984 (legacy)

7 = Rank on all-time list of top-grossing movies at close of original run

86 = Rank on current list of all-time top-grossing movies (domestic, adjusted for inflation)

25 = Number of days movie took to gross $100 million

28 = Number of months between theatrical release and home-video release

35.3 = Percentage of second-week drop-off in box-office gross

180 = Rank on current list of all-time top-grossing movies (domestic)

243 = Number of 70mm prints shown in North America*

266 = Rank on current list of all-time top-grossing movies (worldwide)

1,687 = Number of theaters showing the movie during opening-weekend

$4.7 million = Opening-day box-office gross

$9.3 million = Highest single-day gross (May 27)*

$25.3 million = Opening weekend box-office gross (3-day, May 25-27)*

$28.2 million = Production cost

$33.9 million = Opening weekend box-office gross (4-day holiday, May 25-28)*

$42.3 million = Opening week box-office gross (6-day, May 23-28)*

$45.7 million = Opening week box-office gross (7-day, May 23-29)*

$64.3 million = Production cost (adjusted for inflation)

$102.0 million = International box-office rental (% of gross exhibitors paid to distributor)

$109.0 million = Domestic box-office rental

$153.2 million = International box-office gross

$179.9 million = Domestic box-office gross

$211.0 million = Worldwide box-office rental

$333.1 million = Worldwide box-office gross

$426.1 million = Domestic box-office gross (adjusted for inflation)

$760.1 million = Worldwide box-office gross (adjusted for inflation)

*Established new industry record

A SAMPLING OF MOVIE REVIEWER QUOTES

“The monster hit factory of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg has finally produced a monster: an unpleasant, slapdash, chaotic and finally yawn-inducing follow-up to Raiders of the Lost Ark…and for the first time Lucas/Spielberg cross over the line between fantasy violence and real pain. They’ve also come up with a heroine who’s such a charmless bimbo that you have mixed feelings every time she’s in jeopardy.” — John Hartl, The Seattle Times

“This movie is one of the most relentlessly nonstop action pictures ever made, with a virtuoso series of climactic sequences that must last an hour and never stop for a second. It’s a roller-coaster ride, a visual extravaganza, a technical triumph, and a whole lot of fun.” — Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

“Yech! I don’t care if this film makes $100 million. Since when does big box office equate with intelligence, quality, culture or even a smidgen of social conscience?” — Gary Franklin, KCBS-TV, Los Angeles

“If at all possible, see Doom in a movie house showing it in 70mm and Dolby Stereo. Why settle for half the effect?” — Rick Lyman, Philadelphia Inquirer

“This time the 1930s archaeologist/adventurer has a weaker story and wimpier heroine.” — Leonard Maltin, Entertainment Tonight

“Though it looks as if it had cost a fortune, Indiana Jones doesn’t go anywhere, possibly because it is composed entirely of a succession of climaxes. It could end at any point with nothing essential being lost. Watching it is like spending a day at an amusement park, which is probably what Mr. Spielberg and his associates intended. It moves tirelessly from one ride or attraction to the next, only occasionally taking a minute out for a hot dog, and then going right on to the next unspeakable experience.” — Vincent Canby, The New York Times

“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom has to be the greatest action movie ever filmed. No other movie ever has offered such a generous feast of breathtaking thrills, rough-and-tumble spills, colorful-and-funny frills and heart-grabbing chills. Yes, Spielberg and Lucas have done it again.” — Jack Garner, (Rochester) Democrat and Chronicle

“One of the greatest assets Spielberg and Lucas have had was their ability to go straight to the movie myths of their childhoods and, in reworking them, enrich a new generation of moviegoers. This time it feels as though they could never erase these movies from their memories, and now no one else will be able to either.” — Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times

“Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom has a lot of laughs, thrills, noise, detail, darkness and sheer entertainment packed into it. It’s a tribute to hokiness through and through. For being exactly what you’d expect, I give it four little men leaping out of their chairs (though two of them aren’t clapping, they’re gagging on monkey brains). — Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

“There’s so much movie in this movie—that’s the basic reason that Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is so appealing. Its main show, a five-minute chase sequence in mining cars between Indiana and Short Round and Willie in one car and the henchmen of the evil child-abuser Mola Ram in another. This beautifully directed and edited chase is even more exhilarating than one’s childhood memory of the roller-coaster sequence in This Is Cinerama (1952). And it’s almost as exciting as a real trip on Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain. Credit Spielberg and producer Lucas’ special effects team at Industrial Light & Magic for this entry on anyone’s list of filmdom’s greatest chases.” — Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune

TRIVIA + PRODUCTION & EXHIBITION INFORMATION

On May 16, 1984, in conjunction with the release of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas placed their hand and foot prints in the cement courtyard of Mann’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles.

During an era where six months was the average amount of time between theatrical release and home-video release, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom had a theatrical-to-video “window” of 28 months by arriving on home-video formats in September 1986.

The first network television broadcast was on ABC on October 1, 1989. Its first letterboxed release (on LaserDisc) was in 1992. Its first DVD release was in 2003. Its first Blu-ray release was in 2012.

The THX Sound System “Broadway” snipe was introduced with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is set one year prior to the events in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was screened on the eve of its release as part of the Seattle Film Festival.

The names of the film’s three principal characters were inspired by the names of the filmmakers’ pet dogs: Indiana (George Lucas), Willie (Steven Spielberg), Short Round (Willard Huyck & Gloria Katz).

The movie’s original titles were Indy II and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Death.

The miniature stop-motion-animation footage for the mine-car chase sequence was filmed using a consumer Nikon SLR 35mm camera.

The name of the bar in the opening Shanghai sequence was Club Obi-Wan, an inside joke and reference to one of the popular characters from Star Wars.

The opening of Indiana Jones in the United Kingdom was preceded by a Royal European premiere. The charity event was held on June 11, 1984, and attended by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. Attending on behalf of the movie were Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kate Capshaw and Ke Huy Quan.

As with Raiders, where he played the German Flying Wing pilot, producer Frank Marshall had a small role in the movie, this time appearing as a sailor riding a rickshaw during the Shanghai chase scene.

Members of the production crew, including Spielberg and Lucas, played missionaries during the airport scene. Also look for Dan Aykroyd in same scene.

Reaction to the violence and overall intensity featured in the movie (and in the Spielberg-produced Gremlins released two weeks later) prompted the formation of the PG-13 rating.

The movie’s 70-millimeter print order (243) was the largest ever for a North American release. It was reported that the 70mm presentations, which represented 13% of the movie’s bookings, accounted for 30% of the box-office gross during the movie’s first week of release.

Awards won included Visual Effects (Academy Awards) and Special Visual Effects (BAFTA).

THE 70MM ENGAGEMENTS

The following is a list of the 70mm Six-Track Dolby Stereo premium-format presentations of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom during the initial weeks of its first-run theatrical release in the United States and Canada. These were, arguably, the best theaters in which to experience the movie. Any move-over, sub-run and international bookings have not been included. As well, the second wave of THX certifications were made in conjunction with this release and are noted in parenthesis where applicable.

** shown on two screens

*** shown on three screens

ALABAMA

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Alabama.

ALASKA

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Alaska.

ALBERTA

Calgary – Famous Players PALACE

Edmonton – Famous Players PARAMOUNT

Edmonton – Famous Players WESTMALL 5

ARIZONA

Phoenix – Mann CHRIS-TOWN 5 (THX)

Phoenix – Plitt CINE CAPRI

Tucson – American Multi-Cinema CAMPBELL PLAZA 3

Tucson – Mann BUENA VISTA TWIN

ARKANSAS

Little Rock – United Artists CINEMA 150

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Burnaby – Famous Players LOUGHEED MALL 3

Vancouver – Famous Players STANLEY

Victoria – Famous Players CORONET

CALIFORNIA

Berkeley – Cinerama BERKELEY

Clovis – Festival Enterprises REGENCY CINEMAS

CINEMAS Corte Madera – Marin CINEMA

Costa Mesa – Edwards SOUTH COAST PLAZA TRIPLEX

Fremont – Syufy CINEDOME 7 EAST**

Fresno – Festival Enterprises FESTIVAL CINEMAS

Hayward – Festival Enterprises FESTIVAL CINEMAS

La Mesa – Pacific CINEMA GROSSMONT

La Mirada – Pacific LA MIRADA 6

Laguna Hills – Edwards/Sanborn LAGUNA HILLS MALL TRIPLEX

Lakewood – Pacific LAKEWOOD CENTER

Long Beach – United Artists MOVIES 6

Los Angeles (Hollywood) – Mann CHINESE TRIPLEX*** (THX)

Los Angeles (Northridge) – Pacific NORTHRIDGE 6

Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks) – Mann LA REINA

Los Angeles (Westwood Village) – Mann NATIONAL (THX)

Los Angeles (Woodland Hills) – Pacific TOPANGA 1 & 2

Modesto – Festival Enterprises FESTIVAL CINEMAS**

Monrovia – Mann HUNTINGTON OAKS 6**

Montclair – Sterling Recreation Organization MONTCLAIR TRIPLEX

Newport Beach – Edwards NEWPORT 1 & 2

Orange – Syufy CINEDOME 6**

Palm Desert – Metropolitan TOWN CENTER 7

Palm Springs – Metropolitan CAMELOT TRIPLEX

Pleasant Hill – Syufy CENTURY 5

Riverside – Sanborn CANYON CREST 9**

Sacramento – Syufy CENTURY 6***

San Diego – Mann LOMA

San Diego – Pacific LA JOLLA VILLAGE 4

San Francisco – Blumenfeld REGENCY I

San Francisco – Blumenfeld REGENCY II

San Jose – Syufy CENTURY 22 A-B-C***

Santa Barbara – Metropolitan ARLINGTON

Stockton – Festival Enterprises REGENCY CINEMAS**

Temple City – Edwards TEMPLE 4

Thousand Oaks – United Artists MOVIES 5

COLORADO

Colorado Springs – Commonwealth CINEMA 70 TRIPLEX

Colorado Springs – Commonwealth MALL OF THE BLUFFS TWIN

Denver – Mann CENTURY 21 (THX)

Littleton – American Multi-Cinema SOUTHBRIDGE PLAZA 8

CONNECTICUT

East Hartford – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

Orange – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

Stamford – Trans-Lux RIDGEWAY

DELAWARE

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Delaware.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Washington – Kogod-Burka CINEMA

FLORIDA

North Miami Beach – Loews 167TH STREET TWIN

Orlando – Plitt PLAZA 1-2

GEORGIA

Atlanta – Georgia Theatre Company LENOX SQUARE 6

Atlanta – COLUMBIA

Augusta – Georgia Theatre Company NATIONAL HILLS

North Atlanta – Storey 12 OAKS TWIN

Savannah – Litchfield TARA

Tucker – American Multi-Cinema NORTHLAKE FESTIVAL 8**

HAWAII

Honolulu – Consolidated CINERAMA

IDAHO

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Idaho.

ILLINOIS

Belleville – Bloomer Amusement Company CINEMA

Calumet City – Plitt RIVER OAKS 1-2-3-4-5-6

Chicago – Plitt ESQUIRE

Chicago – Plitt NORTOWN 1-2-3

Chicago – Plitt STATE-LAKE

Evergreen Park – Marks & Rosenfield EVERGREEN 4

Hillside – Marks & Rosenfield HILLSIDE SQUARE 4

Lombard – General Cinema Corporation YORKTOWN CINEMA I-II-III (THX)

Mount Prospect – General Cinema Corporation RANDHURST CINEMA I & II

Norridge – Marks & Rosenfield NORRIDGE 4

Orland Park – Plitt ORLAND SQUARE 1-2-3-4

Peoria – Kerasotes BEVERLY

Schaumburg – Plitt WOODFIELD 1-2-3-4

Skokie – Marks & Rosenfield OLD ORCHARD 4

Springfield – Kerasotes TOWN & COUNTRY

INDIANA

Fort Wayne – Mallers-Spirou HOLIDAY I & II

IOWA

Cedar Rapids – Dubinsky PLAZA

Des Moines – Dubinsky RIVER HILLS

Dubuque – Dubuque CINEMA CENTER

KANSAS

Overland Park – Dickinson GLENWOOD I & II

Wichita – Commonwealth TWIN LAKES

Wichita – Dickinson MALL

KENTUCKY

Erlanger – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

Lexington – Mid States SOUTHPARK 6

Louisville – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

LOUISIANA

Baton Rouge – General Cinema Corporation CORTANA MALL CINEMA I-II-III

Marrero – Gulf States BELLE PROMENADE 6

New Orleans – Mann ROBERT E. LEE

MAINE

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Maine.

MANITOBA

Winnipeg – Famous Players METROPOLITAN

MARYLAND

Baltimore – Durkee SENATOR

Woodlawn – General Cinema Corporation SECURITY MALL CINEMA I-II-III-IV

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston – Sack CINEMA 57 TWIN

Brookline – Redstone CIRCLE CINEMAS

Dedham – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

Revere – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

Seekonk – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS **

Worcester – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

MICHIGAN

Ann Arbor – United Artists FOX VILLAGE 4

Bloomfield Hills – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

Dearborn – United Artists THE MOVIES AT FAIRLANE

Flint – Butterfield FLINT

Harper Woods – Suburban Detroit EASTLAND TWIN

Lansing – United Artists SPARTAN TRIPLEX

Southfield – Suburban Detroit NORTHLAND TWIN

Sterling Heights – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

MINNESOTA

Bloomington – General Cinema Corporation SOUTHTOWN CINEMA I & II

Minneapolis – Plitt SKYWAY 5

Minnetonka – Plitt RIDGE SQUARE 1-2-3

Roseville – General Cinema Corporation HAR-MAR CINEMA XI (THX)

West St. Paul – Engler SIGNAL HILLS 4

MISSISSIPPI

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Mississippi.

MISSOURI

Chesterfield – Wehrenberg CLARKSON 6

Creve Coeur – Wehrenberg CREVE COEUR

Independence – Mid-America BLUE RIDGE EAST 5

Kansas City – Commonwealth BANNISTER SQUARE MALL 5

Springfield – Dickinson CENTURY 21

MONTANA

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Montana.

NEBRASKA

Omaha – American Multi-Cinema WESTROADS 6

Omaha – Douglas CINEMA CENTER

Omaha – Douglas Q CINEMA 6

NEVADA

Las Vegas – Syufy CINEDOME 6

Reno – Syufy CENTURY 6

NEW BRUNSWICK

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in New Brunswick.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in New Hampshire.

NEW JERSEY

Edison – General Cinema Corporation MENLO PARK CINEMA I & II

Paramus – RKO Century ROUTE 4 TENPLEX

Pennsauken – SamEric ERIC 5 PENNSAUKEN

Sayreville – Redstone AMBOY MULTIPLEX CINEMAS

Secaucus – Loews MEADOW SIX

Wayne – Loews WAYNE SIX

West Orange – General Cinema Corporation ESSEX GREEN CINEMA I-II-III (THX)

NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque – Commonwealth CINEMA EAST TWIN

Albuquerque – General Cinema Corporation LOUISIANA BLVD. CINEMA I-II-III

NEW YORK

Cheektowaga – American Multi-Cinema HOLIDAY 6

Commack – Redstone COMMACK MULTIPLEX CINEMAS

Garden City – RKO Century ROOSEVELT FIELD TRIPLEX

Greece – Jo-Mor STONERIDGE PLAZA TWIN

Levittown – Loews NASSAU SIX

New York (Bronx) – Redstone WHITESTONE MULTIPLEX CINEMAS

New York (Manhattan) – Loews 34TH STREET SHOWPLACE

New York (Manhattan) – Loews ASTOR PLAZA

New York (Manhattan) – Loews ORPHEUM

Pittsford – Loews PITTSFORD TRIPLEX

Schenectady – CinemaNational MOHAWK MALL 3

Valley Stream – Redstone SUNRISE MULTIPLEX CINEMAS

West Webster – Loews WEBSTER 8

NEWFOUNDLAND

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Newfoundland.

NORTH CAROLINA

Charlotte – Plitt PARK TERRACE 1-2-3

Raleigh – Plitt CARDINAL 1-2

NORTH DAKOTA

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in North Dakota.

NOVA SCOTIA

Halifax – Famous Players SCOTIA SQUARE

OHIO

Beavercreek – Mid States BEAVER VALLEY 6

Columbus – Mid States CONTINENT 7

Dayton – Chakeres DAYTON MALL 8

Springdale – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS

Summerside – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS EASTGATE

Trotwood – Mid States SALEM MALL 4

Whitehall – Chakeres CINEMA EAST

OKLAHOMA

Tulsa – United Artists BOMAN TWIN

ONTARIO

Hamilton – Famous Players TIVOLI

London – Famous Players PARK

Newmarket – Famous Players GLENWAY 5

Ottawa – Famous Players ELGIN

Richmond Hill – Famous Players TOWN & COUNTRYE

Toronto – Famous Players CEDARBRAE 6

Toronto – Famous Players CUMBERLAND 4 “LA RESERVE”

Toronto – Famous Players RUNNYMEDE 1 & 2

Toronto – Famous Players UNIVERSITY

OREGON

Beaverton – Luxury Theatres WESTGATE TRIPLEX

Eugene – Moyer WEST 11TH TRIPLEX

Portland – Moyer ROSE MOYER 6

PENNSYLVANIA

Monroeville – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS EAST

Philadelphia – SamEric SAMERIC 3***

Robinson – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS WEST

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Prince Edward Island.

QUEBEC

Laval – United LAVAL 4

Montreal – United IMPERIAL

Quebec City – United CANADIEN

RHODE ISLAND

Warwick – Redstone SHOWCASE CINEMAS**

SASKATCHEWAN

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Saskatchewan.

SOUTH CAROLINA

Greenville – Martin ASTRO TWIN

SOUTH DAKOTA

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in South Dakota.

TENNESSEE

Antioch – Martin BELLE FORGE 6

Goodletsville – Martin RIVERGATE 6

Knoxville – Simpson CAPRI 4

Nashville – Martin BELLE MEADE

TEXAS

Addison – United Artists PRESTONWOOD CREEK 5** (THX)

Amarillo – United Artists CINEMA 6 (THX)

Arlington – Loews LINCOLN SQUARE 6

Austin – Mann FOX TRIPLEX

Beaumont – United Artists PHELAN 6 (THX)

Carrollton – General Cinema Corporation FURNEAUX CREEK CINEMA VII

Dallas – General Cinema Corporation CARUTH PLAZA CINEMA I & II

Dallas – United Artists SKILLMAN 6 (THX)

Dallas – United Artists SOUTH 8 (THX)

Dallas – United Artists WALNUT HILL 6 (THX)

Fort Worth – United Artists HULEN 6 (THX)

Highland Park – Beirsdorf & Brooks VILLAGE 3

Houston – American Multi-Cinema WESTCHASE 5

Houston – Loews SOUTHPOINT 5

Houston – Plitt CINEMA 5

Houston – Plitt WEST OAKS 7

Hurst – United Artists CINEMA 6 (THX)

Mesquite – United Artists TOWN EAST 6 (THX)

San Antonio – Santikos GALAXY 10

San Antonio – Santikos NORTHWEST 10

White Settlement – United Artists LAS VEGAS TRAIL 8 (THX)

UTAH

Salt Lake City – Mann VILLA

Salt Lake City – Plitt CENTRE

South Ogden – Plitt WILSHIRE 1-2-3

VERMONT

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Vermont.

VIRGINIA

Baileys Crossroads – Kogod-Burka CINEMA 7

Fairfax – United Artists THE MOVIES AT FAIR OAKS

McLean – Neighborhood TYSONS CORNER 4

Richmond – Litchfield MIDLOTHIAN 6

Richmond – Neighborhood RIDGE 4

Springfield – General Cinema Corporation SPRINGFIELD MALL CINEMA VI (THX)

WASHINGTON

Bellevue – Sterling Recreation Organization JOHN DANZ

Seattle – Sterling Recreation Organization NORTHGATE

Seattle – Sterling Recreation Organization UPTOWN

Spokane – Sterling Recreation Organization STATE

Spokane Valley – Luxury Theatres EAST SPRAGUE 6

Tacoma – Sterling Recreation Organization TACOMA MALL TWIN

Tukwila – Sterling Recreation Organization SOUTHCENTER

Union Gap – Yakima MERCY 6

WEST VIRGINIA

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in West Virginia.

WISCONSIN

Brookfield – Marcus BROOKFIELD SQUARE 2

Fox Point – Capitol BROWN PORT

Greenfield – Capitol SPRING MALL 3

Madison – Marcus EASTGATE 4

Milwaukee – Capitol LOOMIS ROAD 4

Milwaukee – Marcus NORTHTOWN 4

WYOMING

There were no 70mm first-run engagements in Wyoming.

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