How Harrison Ford Quietly Changed Hollywood’s Biggest Release
A behind-the-scenes call from Harrison Ford led to a major shift in blockbuster release dates, sparing three huge films from box office disaster. Discover how one star’s influence shaped cinema history.
Harrison Ford has always been a straight shooter in the film industry. Unlike many of his high-profile peers, he’s never been fussed about directing, writing, or getting too involved behind the camera. Apart from a couple of executive producer credits, Ford’s focus has always been on the acting itself. He’s the sort of bloke who turns up, does the work, and heads home, not one for the glitz or endless self-promotion. That no-nonsense approach has made him a mainstay in Hollywood for decades, but it’s also given him a quiet sort of clout that most stars can only dream of.
Back in 1997, Ford was gearing up for the release of the action-packed Air Force One, directed by Wolfgang Petersen. The film was set for a late July debut, but there was a snag: two other major titles, Titanic from Paramount and Conspiracy Theory from Warner Bros, were also eyeing the same weekend. With three big releases lined up, it was looking like a recipe for disaster at the box office, with each film at risk of eating into the others’ takings.
Ford Steps In
Having been a reliable draw for studios thanks to hits like Indiana Jones and Witness, Ford wasn’t keen to see his latest project get lost in the shuffle. He picked up the phone and rang Jonathan Dolgen, the top dog at Paramount’s parent company. Ford didn’t mince words, but he kept things friendly. As his manager Patricia McQueeney put it to the Los Angeles Times,
“Harrison was definitely irritated. He didn’t make any threats. He was not huffing and puffing. It was a friendly phone call. But Harrison did say, ‘Jonathan, what the hell are you guys doing?’ We’re very concerned about the whole situation.”
Ford and his team also reached out to Warner Bros, pointing out that launching two or three blockbusters on the same day was just bad business.
The Domino Effect
Not long after Ford’s intervention, the release schedule shifted. Titanic, which was already the most expensive film ever made and set to become a box office juggernaut, quietly moved its premiere to December. Conspiracy Theory slid to early August. Air Force One, meanwhile, kept its original date and enjoyed a clear run at the top of the charts for a couple of weeks. When Conspiracy Theory finally landed, it bumped Ford’s film from the number one spot, but by then, all three films had managed to avoid direct competition and each had their moment in the sun.
It’s hard to say if James Cameron would ever admit that Ford’s call played a part in Titanic’s date change, but the timing is hard to ignore. The end result? Each film opened at number one, and all three raked in heaps at the box office. Titanic, of course, went on to smash records and scoop up a truckload of awards, but Ford’s quiet move behind the scenes helped make sure no one was left out in the cold.