The flop Harrison Ford was happy to make: “Shit happens”

Posted On March 4, 2025March 4, 2025

Harrison Ford will forever be known as one of the ultimate action heroes in Hollywood, with a career unlike anyone else in the business after playing beloved figures like Indiana Jones and Han Solo. Throughout his many decades in the industry, he worked with infamous auteurs such as Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Ridley Scott, building a vast and varied career that has tested every ounce of talent.

Whether playing stoic and silent characters such as Deckard in Blade Runner or witty troublemakers with a knack for mischief, Ford has always been a scene stealer, no matter the role. However, there was one project of his that didn’t do too well, with the actor bearing the brunt of the criticism for the film and maintaining a positive outlook despite being met with box office failure.

The Indiana Jones franchise is one of the hailing triumphs of both Steven Spielberg and Ford’s careers, tracking the trials and tribulations of the legendary archaeologist as he hunts for rare artefacts, often stumbling across countless obstacles on the way. The first film was released in 1981, following Indy as he is hired by the government to source the Ark of the Covenant, finding himself competing against the entire Nazi regime.  

While the franchise was a huge hit, sparking several more films that follow the rugged hero on many different adventures, searching for relics of all kinds in various caves, secret tunnels and labyrinths. However, despite reaching global audiences, there was one addition to the series that didn’t do too well: Indian Jones and the Dial of Destiny. 

Directed in 2023 by James Mangold, who recently reached mediocre new heights with A Complete Unknown, the film follows the archaeologist as he approaches retirement, struggling to fit into a new world. But with the return of an old rival, Indy returns to work one last time to make sure a powerful artefact doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Mad Mikkelsen, many fans expected greatness and were left feeling slightly disappointed to the strange final addition to the franchise.

But while many actors would find this extremely demoralising and disheartening, Ford shared his thoughts on the lukewarm reaction to the last film, saying, “Shit happens. I was really the one who felt there was another story to tell. When [Indy] had suffered the consequences of the life that he had to live, I wanted one more chance to pick him up and shake the dust off his ass and stick him out there, bereft of some of his vigour, to see what happened. I’m still happy I made that movie.” 

Some audiences blamed the commercial failure of the film on the streaming landscape and studio interference from Amazon, but Ford’s response to the project shows that regardless of the reception, he was motivated by his love for the story and any number of negative comments will not change how he feels about his work. More artists would do well to adopt this mindset, focusing on their love for the craft instead of how it is received.

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