Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny‘s surprise Oscar nomination breaks a John Williams record. Directed by James Mangold, the latest (and seemingly last) installment in the Indiana Jones franchise sees Harrison Ford suit up as the iconic archaeologist to quest after Archimedes’ antikythera mechanism. In addition to Ford, Williams also returned to compose the film’s soundtrack, a position he has held on the franchise since 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark.
The 2024 Oscar nominations are now in, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny has nabbed a nomination for Best Original score. According to EW, this makes Williams, who is 91, the oldest person ever nominated for an Academy Award, breaking his own record. This also marks Williams’ 54th nomination in total, making him the most-nominated living person. Williams is beaten only by Walt Disney, who accumulated 59.
Dial Of Destiny’s Score Continues An Indiana Jones Tradition
Williams is arguably responsible for the highest number of iconic movie scores, with the composer having created the music for hits like Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Home Alone, and countless others. Raiders of the Lost Ark‘s score and the classic Indy theme are certainly among his best and most iconic works, and he would return to compose the music for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Even though the movies themselves have varied in quality, the score is one aspect of every Indiana Jones film that has remained consistently strong. In addition to the classic Indy theme, each movie also features themes for new supporting characters, and each is not only memorable in its own right, but fits perfectly within the franchise’s broader musical soundscape. Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Helena, for example, gets her own theme in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
The Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny reviews were mixed, with critics not all agreeing regarding just how effectively Mangold wraps up Indy’s story. While the film hasn’t been recognized in any other major categories at the Oscars, Williams’ 54th nomination speaks to the power that his music continues to have. Even at 91, Williams has teased that he may still have a couple movies left in him, meaning his latest Oscars nomination may not be his last.
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is the fifth entry in the Indiana Jones franchise, directed by James Mangold and starring Harrison Ford in his final portrayal of the titular character. The film will see Jones in 1969 on an adventure with his goddaughter, Helena Shaw, as they find themselves in the middle of an uneasy space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, with the former enlisting the help of former Nazis with ulterior motives.
- Release Date
- June 30, 2023
- Director
- James Mangold
- Cast
- Boyd Holbrook , Thomas Kretschmann , Mads Mikkelsen , Harrison Ford , Phoebe Waller-Bridge , Shaunette Renée Wilson
- Runtime
- 2 hours and 2 minutes
- Writers
- Jez Butterworth , John-Henry Butterworth , David Koepp , James Mangold
- Budget
- 295 million
- Studio(s)
- Lucasfilm
- Distributor(s)
- Disney
- prequel(s)
- Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark , Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
- Franchise(s)
- Indiana Jones
