Nicole Kidman's "Golden Compass" Flops Early On

"The Golden Compass" proved a mild fantasy at the box office, pulling in $26.1 million, a modest opening weekend compared to such recent December heavyweights as "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Chronicles of Narnia" flicks.

New Line Cinema's "The Golden Compass," whose cast includes Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, also took in $55 million overseas since it began opening last Wednesday in 25 other countries.

Disney's "Enchanted," the No. 1 movie the previous two weekends, fell to second-place with $10.7 million, raising its total to $83.9 million, according to studio estimates Sunday.

New Line, which had enormous success with its three "Lord of the Rings" films, had hoped for more out of "The Golden Compass," expecting it to reach at least $30 million domestically over its first weekend, said Rolf Mittweg, the studio's marketing chief. The film cost $180 million to make.

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Comments

[lovethesinner]

If I had kids, I'd not only recommend that they see this film, but when they're done with the film and the books, I'd have them see this:

Zeitgeist:
http://www.zeitgeistsociety.org/movie/

One place I would never seek advice for what to do with children is the Catholic League.

And when my imaginary kids are done with that, I'd have them watch, Naomi Wolf's "End of America: Letter of Warning to a Young Patriot":

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RjALf12PAWc

Then, after they read George Orwell's "1984", Aldus Huxley's "Brave New World", and Thomas Boswell's "How Life Imitates the World Series"... (you weren't expecting that, were you?)... I'd paint them BLUE FROM HEAD TO TOE, hand them a bag of pot, a box of condoms, and tell 'em to check in with me at eighteen on their way out the door.

[marijam]

Saw it on Saturday. Every seat wasn't taken but the theater was fairly full. I really enjoyed it and bought the books. I agree with some of the other posters here as I too think there is an agenda against Nicole Kidman and against Tom Cruise.

[SeaBlood]

I don't know much about this film, except that it's a big flop apparently. But, since the Catholic League is boycotting it, I must go see it!!!

[cblcar]

It was just a movie. A fun, fantasy adventure. Loved the little animals that were everyones so-called "demons". The polar bear was awesome. Let's not get so serious about it. I had a good time.

[Maxstar212]

I saw it today and it seemed like a real kids movie that isn't made for adults. I loved Enchanted, which was a kids movie that I think people of all ages would like. Kidman was really good in the golden compass

[TakLoufer]

Why on earth would they release a movie with anti-organized religion overtones in December?? Especially one starring box office poison like Kidman? She is not a bad actress but really... this one should have been released in the fall.

Ironically, this flick is playing on three out of 15 screens in one of our local multiplexes, and it opened at #1. Go figure...

[moodygirl]

This is certainly a misleading headline. I hardly ever read Adrianna's columns and missed the one about atheists. What is it with all the name-calling of people who don't believe in god. We still like good stories that have something to teach us, even if they are written in the bible. Read the trilogy and loved it. Saw the movie and can recommend it even though it rushed through a lot of really interesting content and left out an important ending. Hope they continue to film the story. The young actress is a wonderful heroine.

[MajorKong]

I thought it was good. Watching it hasn't turned me into an atheist either.

[mae692]

Big difference between
"Golden Compass" disappoints at box office (the Reuter's headline) and
Nicole Kidman's "Golden Compass" Flops Early On.

Why dat?

[starrianna]

NICOLE KIDMAN CANNOT PICK A GOOD MOVIE
to
Save
Her
Gay
Life!

Nicole, honey, you're beautiful but flawed.

Things NOT to do with Nicole Kidman:

(1) Go to the Horse Races (she can't pick a winner)
(2) Get married.

[HeevenSteven]

I don't generally watch fantasy movies, but she's a fantasy I'll indulge.

[CoulterIsASuccubus]

I hope someone tells Nicole to read Huffpost so she finds out her career is completely over.

[WRPrintz]

Saw the film....thought it was a 6 out of 10. Good performances, mediocre direction and story.

As for the money made for the opening weekend, important, but not all there is to say.

I agree with Pullman's ideas in large part, but those ideas will not be defeated, or supported, buy the success or failure of one movie.

[GWHayduke]

So the church (any church) hierarchy is upset about being questioned. Heck, read the four gospels - the hero of those is constantly beset for going against the wishes of the church authorities.

Later, those authorities decided to exploit the hero, and added a bunch more chapters extolling the glory of crating a church hierarchy. But we all know what the hero said and which parts were written to benefit the writers.

[sagopalm]

The key as to whether a film is a hit or not is how it performs in the long run. It may do 28 this weekend but it depends on what kind of drop in attendance it takes next weekend. Titanic had a less than stellar opening weekend but it had 'legs' as they say. I for one, have every intention of seeing this movie in the theater. I don't need the box office performance figures to tell what I will and won't pay money to see.