The latest Indiana Jones movie starring Harrison Ford has grossed a hefty $25 million from its first day in North American theaters, independent industry analysts reported on Friday.

That tally ranks as the fourth highest-grossing Thursday debut on record .’Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” is expected to help shake the movie business out an early summer slump.

Analysts were however debating whether Paramount picture’s Indiana Jones could better the record of last year’s Disney Studio’s ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ as the biggest opening on a U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal skull directed by Steven Spielberg, is the fourth in a mega series of Indiana Jones and sees the return of the famed adventurer after a hiatus of 19 years. The three previous “Indy” movies have collectively grossed more than $1.2 billion in ticket sales worldwide.

In the latest film, Ford, 65, returns in his title role as the bullwhip-cracking archeologist who hates snakes, and is reunited with actress Karen Allen, his co-star from the first adventure. Set during the 1950s Cold War era, the story pits him against an evil KGB agent played by Cate Blanchett in a race to find a skull endowed with mystic powers.

Trade analysts agree that the movie was likely to reap a handsome return for Paramount over the long run. An expert commented that “Crystal Skull” already has grossed in its first day about half the business each of the last two “Indy” films — “The Last Crusade” and “The Temple of Doom” — did in their first full weekends when adjusting for ticket price inflation.