Golden Compass Tops the Box Office, Studio Still Disappointed

December 10, 2007

The Golden Compass opened this past weekend to the tune of $26 million, easily taking the top spot at the box office, but still disappointing New Line studio heads who'd expected more like $30-40 million. This is especially frustrating given the $180 million it took to make the film.

Enchanted followed behind The Golden Compass in its third week in theaters, bringing in $10.7 million while This Christmas came in at No. 3. Fred Claus inched its way from sixth place to fourth this weekend, as audiences perhaps sought out more holiday-themed fare. Beowulf rounded out the top five with $4.4 million.

This upcoming weekend I predict the top films will be I Am Legend and Alvin and the Chipmunks, though it should also please many folks that Juno finally opens in more cinemas this weekend.

Photo courtesy of New Line

30 Comments

pargie 5 years 23 weeks

I just try to live the best way I know how. I read Narnia as a kid, and LOVED it. In fact I was a bit heart-broken after re-reading it as an adult and coming to some scary conclusions. Same thing with the first Harry Potter book, I was a HUGE fan until my eyes were opened. I don't mind being called close-minded, because I really don't want my mind "open". I did the open-minded thing, most of my young adult life. Today, I'd rather just keep my mind aligned to God's word. Not to say I'm perfect, because I am far from it. Next year I'll probably have stopped watching half of the shows and movies I watch now as I mature spiritually. I respect the beliefs of others, and I love a good discussion Syako and CaterpillarGirl. I really just wanted to let people know why I am not supporting The Golden Compass, and it's not only because the author was an Atheist (In the same way that I don't stop watching a certain show because it was written by an Atheist, although maybe God will reveal something about that to me one day). Peace.

CaterpillarGirl 5 years 23 weeks

BTW i am a christian , non-denom who reads like its air...i love Harry potter, Narnia, heck i will read anything to become more knowledgeable about my world. Close mindedness is foolish.

CaterpillarGirl 5 years 23 weeks

Golden Compass was so good, I ran the gambit of emotions from laughing to crying to cheering to shock. I seriously am mature enough to enjoy literature and not take it so seriously, Pullman wrote a good series, i dont give a rip what his beliefs are. The daemons......i want my own!

syako 5 years 23 weeks

As I said, I read the books. Thanks for not judging me as I am not judging you either, btw. Perhaps I'm ignorant but I still can see a spiritual parallel in the books to how organized religion can be very dangerous if in the wrong hands - which I believe is a major conflict and source of a lot of evil in our world today.

pargie 5 years 23 weeks

I actually have a Pagan background (I'm an ex-Witch, now Christian), so I see the correlation between the book's depiction and real life. Obviously the movie is not going to blatantly depict that, although they kind of did by calling the them "daemons". In real life people have guides, sometimes called spirit guides, avatars, or familiar spirits (demons). This isn't common knowledge by the way, but you can read more about it in your Bible...or ask any Pagan (I recommend the first). The movie also has a device called an alethiometer, which uses divination to find truth. The book that the movie is taken from is actually part of a series in which a young girl struggles with God, who is presented as senile. Another character is an ex-nun, who describes Christianity as a powerful and convincing mistake. In the final book of the series, characters representing Adam and Eve witness the death of God. I could go on and on, but truth is most people will just see it as harmless fiction/movie. I'm not judging you for being a Christian and seeing it/reading it, but I do think it's wise that we be careful what we read/watch.

syako 5 years 23 weeks

just for the record the daemon isn't like a personal devil - it's actually just pullman's way of solving the problem of how to have his characters "talk to themselves" in his books... among other reasons not that it really matters, but I consider myself a Christian and I read all three of his books and saw the movie and at no point felt my beliefs being threatened or spewed upon. I mean, after all, it is fiction. I realize it's your personal choice - I just wanted to share my choice with you.

pargie 5 years 23 weeks

I would not intentionally go see a movie that was based on a book written to undermine or spew hatred towards my beliefs. I think that's a good enough reason to not see the movie, it's a personal thing you know? But to each their own. But I would like to know which cartoons are implanting Christian ideas into kids minds. I haven't seen any Christian cartoons on regular TV? Besides Veggie Tales, but the secularized version doesn't have anything Christian in it anymore. I didn't see Narnia or Harry Potter either.

tralalala 5 years 23 weeks

Sorry to post again in this, but I have to agree with Syako. I don't understand the boycotting by religious people/organizations. I personally have no interest in seeing this movie, but I didn't see Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings either, it's just not my thing. That being said, why shouldn't atheist children have an alternate option when it comes to entertainment? It seems like a lot of children's programing is directly geared towards christian kids. greysgirl14, what if atheist parents don't like that christian programing is implanting certain ideas into their kids minds? It's the same thing, only you don't see them protesting outside the theater, calling for boycotts and saying that no kids should be allowed to see it just because they don't agree with the underlying message.

ilanac13 5 years 23 weeks

i saw the movie and enjoyed it - you have to take it for what's it's worth. it's nothing like the book - but it was ok anyway. There was a girl in the theater who just coudln't grasp that it was part of a series and that was funnier than anything

syako 5 years 23 weeks

I agree with hotstuff - people need to chill - do you really have nothing better to do than just boycott things you don't even know about? Jesus would be proud.

tralalala 5 years 23 weeks

Buzzsugar, I'm really suprised that you didn't mention that Juno had a $420,000 gross despite only opening in 7 Theaters, averaging $60,000. That's absolute insanity, and I'm actually pretty sure that's a record.

hotstuff 5 years 23 weeks

You really can't criticize a film you haven't seen!

flutterpie 5 years 23 weeks

ya i see this doing really well during the christmas weekend

JenBrett 5 years 23 weeks

Compass will do better over Christmas weekend and DVD sales, they're not gonna loose any money

flowergirl 5 years 23 weeks

I really enjoyed this movie, and I really encourage people not to dismiss it straightaway as "anti-Christian" or "anti-Catholic." As for age-appropriateness.. I don't have children, but I think more than anything kids would see this movie as a fantastic adventure rather than a push for them to question Christianity.

pargie 5 years 23 weeks

Not to mention, the kids can go to The Golden Compass website and select their own personal demon (spelled Daemon)...the movie also promotes that and it is truly is anti-Christian. I have to admit, the movie looks cool and adventurous, but I can't support it.

perpetuallysarah 5 years 23 weeks

This is a movie I will not be seeing.

greysgirl14 5 years 23 weeks

im not a supporter of the Golden Compass. i dont like what i have read about. Its sad because the guy who made it hated Narnia because it had a christan view and i also heard that in the end of the movie that kids kill god. Even if it is just fantasy we shouldnt be puting ideas into little kids minds.

tlsgirl 5 years 23 weeks

I've read so many bad reviews of Golden Compass, but I went to see it this weekend and I really liked it!

brittanybe 5 years 23 weeks

Compass probably didn't do well because of all the emails going around about Pulliman (Pullman?) supporting atheism. Not a good way to make the parents happy.