The Jewel of the Nile

Joan Wilder falls back into a web of danger, fast chases and uneasy alliances, with romance simmering in the background. A glib Arab dignitary drags her to the Middle East under the veil of writing a life story, but his gracious facade hides a sharper, more dangerous goal. Joan learns she is a pawn in a bigger game built around a priceless jewel and a scheme that could topple a few powerful players. Enter Jack Colton and his sardonic sidekick Ralph, who crash the scene with grit and muscle, offering help even as they bicker. Together they dodge traps, outsmart the conspirators, and push toward a high-stakes rescue that stays light and energizing, and the result stays entertaining throughout too.

Released in 1985 and directed by Lewis Teague, The Jewel of the Nile is a follow-up to Romancing the Stone, built around a screenplay by Mark Rosenthal, Lawrence Konner and Diane Thomas, and expanding the same adventurous tone and humor.

With a budget of 25 million dollars, it grossed about 96.8 million worldwide, delivering a solid return on its action adventure formula and preserving its place as a reliable summer crowd-pleaser across cinemas around the globe for years to come.

Critics welcomed the film for maintaining the brisk balance of danger, humor and romance that defined its predecessor. The story emphasizes teamwork and improvisation as Joan asserts her independence, Jack provides steady support, and the trio navigates peril with light satire and charm.

While not a landmark, the sequel solidified the 80s adventure comedy as a dependable crowd-pleaser with broad appeal. Douglas and Turner sustain a playful rapport that helped define late era screen pairings, and DeVito's Ralph provides a sharp foil that fans still remember decades later on streaming and home video.