Australian newspaper Herald Sun reports The Golden Compass has had a formidable boxing day opening, bringing in approximately US$1.4 million. The Golden Compass topped the charts on Australia’s busiest movie day of the year, beating its nearest competitors Alien vs Predator: Requiem and Disney’s Enchanted by a long shot.
The Golden Compass takes $1.6 million in Aussie opening
AUSTRALIANS have voted on The Golden Compass with their wallets, giving the film a big $1.6 million Boxing Day opening despite its mixed fortunes in the US.
The Golden Compass, based on Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, flopped in the US, but has proved popular in Britain and Australia, where the book series is better known.
It made almost $500,000 more than its nearest rival, Alien vs Predator: Requiem, which made $1,113,225 on Boxing Day.
Roadshow Films manager director Joel Pearlman said he was particularly delighted with the film's performance, given its competition.
"In true Boxing Day form, there is tremendous competition at the box office and we are delighted that The Golden Compass has claimed the Boxing Day crown," he said.
Third in the Boxing Day derby was Disney flick Enchanted with $852,576. It was followed by romantic drama Atonement, $525,962; chick flick PS I Love You, $358,008; Coen brothers drama No Country for Old Men, $173,930; romantic comedy 2 Days in Paris, $42,113; Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, $40,585; and Czech arthouse hit I Served the King of England, $40,409.
The takings are up 1 per cent on last Boxing Day, when seven films opened with total takings of $4,875,273.
31 comments - Add yours
#1
That’s good to hear - maybe New Line isn’t mistaken after all. Now that the film has been out in the US and publicity for the series as a genre-spanning story, maybe with the second and third films (which may still yet be left), the opening box office will improve.
# December 27, 2007 16:50 by ArcT
#2
Now if only we could see results like that in the States, the movie wouldn’t be cast under such a shadow. I’m glad to see that Aussies appreciate it!
# December 27, 2007 17:56 by rainbowdarling
#3
this is why i love Australia
# December 27, 2007 20:24 by gloriousmuse
#4 GOOD
this is good the way the movie ends we can’t not have the subtle knife. i would like to mention i have now seen the movie twice. the first time on the 8th virtually noone was there and again last night in which the theater was 2/3 of the way full this might be a good sign that there could be a late push in the states lets hope. because i really would like to see the other two books made.
# December 27, 2007 21:10 by warbeak13
#5 good 2 hear
glad the Golden Compass is doing well overseas. hopefully New Line will see that, and give Subtle Knife the Green Light.
# December 27, 2007 22:58 by shilshadu
#6
i’ve been trying to do my part in helping the movie—i’ve seen it 4 times already.. sadly none of the showings i went to were very full. the majority were half full or less. i’m glad that the film is doing better overseas though. if only i am legend and national treasure hadn’t come out, golden compass would have done way better. anyway, i hope new line realizes that at least more people have found out about the books and so subtle knife would probably get a better reception than golden compass did. here’s to hoping golden compass does a bit better in the next few weeks.
# December 28, 2007 03:33 by ROKYPA
#7 That's not that much.
I thought Australia was a bigger market. $1.6 million isn’t very much dough.
# December 28, 2007 05:08 by consciousparticles
#8
For an opening day, I would say it’s a fair amount, particularly since they seem to be touting this as quite impressive. It’s the day after a holiday and that’s only the opening day gross.
# December 28, 2007 05:31 by rainbowdarling
#9
@conspicuospartices:
Australia is NOT a very big market - why do you think it didn’t come out until boxing day whereas virtually every other country got it on the 7th?
It’s because nobody cares about Austraia. Geographically, it’s massive, but it’s popuation isn’t hady the world’s largest - compare it’s size to that of england’s, well australia’s population is about a third of england’s.
Austraia gets not just this movie, but alot of other ones later than america and sometimes places ike england etc too.
# December 28, 2007 05:55 by Mel63
#10
To Mel63:
That’s not really what I was getting at, it’s just that this seems to big news here on this site for a number that’s sorta tiny. But maybe I don’t get it. Furthermore, it seems that a lot of people were holding out hope that somehow the Australian and Latin American markets were going to save this film after the abysmal numbers in North America.
Don’t even know what Boxing Day is. Is it like running with the bulls?
# December 28, 2007 06:12 by consciousparticles
#11
This is great news whether it will help out this film for the sequels who knows but I still hoping for the best
# December 28, 2007 08:43 by TowerDragon
#12
Boxing Day. It’s a holiday celebrated worldwide.
Nobody thinks that any one country can “save” the box office takings, but that it’s another non-United States country with decent takings is a hopeful thing. It’s doing well essentially everywhere but the States.
# December 28, 2007 13:57 by rainbowdarling
#13
Argh, well, that was supposed to be a link. Check it out on wikipedia. It’s informative.
# December 28, 2007 13:57 by rainbowdarling
#14
YES! I knew I could count on us Aussies! Well done everyone!
Rofl, I always knew we has good taste :p
# December 28, 2007 22:07 by anna11
#15
And yeah, while Australia doesn’t have a big population, everything still counts.
And I really don’t see why North America is everything. I mean, it’s done really well everywhere else in the world.
# December 28, 2007 22:09 by anna11
#16
I agree, anna11, and I even live in the States. ;)
# December 28, 2007 22:53 by rainbowdarling
#17
Because it was primarily financed by a U.S. film company. That’s why it’s a big deal rainbowdarling and anna11.
[mod edit: nickname spelling]
# December 29, 2007 07:05 by consciousparticles
#18
It was actually primarily financed by foreign licensing deals and British banks, but that’s beside the point.
I genuinely hope that the misspelling of anna11’s nickname was a honest mistake.
# December 29, 2007 12:45 by L!NK
#19
Why? What did he write? lol i’m curious.
But does it really matter where it made the money? Money is money, and if the gross from europe, asia and australia is enough to finance sequels, I don’t see why the bad US gross should matter as much as its made out to.
# December 29, 2007 14:40 by anna11
#20
I don’t like how US-centric the movie companies can be. There’s a whole world out there which can appreciate movies better than people in the States can sometimes - The Golden Compass proves that! If they really had their best interest at heart, they would do a better job at promoting over seas for these films and leave the US advertising at a lower level, since obviously the people in this country really don’t appreciate it as well as those in the rest of the world.
# December 29, 2007 19:36 by rainbowdarling
#21
To Mel63: Think what you want but every bit helps in securing the future of the triology. The reason it only came out on Boxing Day in Australia is becuase, despite what you may think, New Line is aware, unlike you, that releasing a film on Boxing Day greatly increases the film’s popularity and it’s earnings. Boxing Day is the largest release date in Australia and has increased the boxoffice earnings of many films over the years.
Add to this: i still haven’t even seen the film *dies of shame*
I am impressed by the opening day results. It will be interesting to see how much more the film makes.
# December 30, 2007 02:13 by Bek
#22
>Add to this: i still haven’t even seen the film *dies of shame*
Shame! ;) What are you waiting for?
# December 30, 2007 03:15 by namster
#23
I am waiting to see it with a friend who is flying from out west to see it with me. We promised we would and so we shall!
# December 30, 2007 04:47 by Bek
#24
> I am waiting to see it with a friend who is flying from out west to see it with me. We promised we would and so we shall!
That’s sweet. “Just let them try an’ stop us!”
# December 31, 2007 04:53 by namster
#25 New Line has rights to HDM. They say go.
It’s an American company that initializes the project. New Line owns the sequel rights. I don’t quite understand how much of the substantial foreign profits will go into New Lines coffers. They’ve gotta make their money first.
And yes Link. That was an honest mistake. Posted comment before I realized it. No offense intended.
# December 31, 2007 10:01 by consciousparticles
#26 facts
mel63, just a few corrections for you here… Australia’s population isn’t 2/3rds of englands, it’s actually only one third. 25 million give or take, compared with over 60 million…
especially when you look at the facts that england is only 130,000 km squared, and australia is 7,500,000 km squared (a kilometre is 1000 metres)...
saw the movie the other day, loved it. absoloughtly LOVED it, and i haven’t even read the books. Thought it was incredible. I’m certainly going to look into the books for purchase now…
1.6 is pretty descent, but not among the highest totals i’ve seen. The Golden Compass is going to have a VERY prolonged run here in Australia, because people seem to be saying good things about it, it’s been devoid of the controversy it’s faced overseas, and all the kiddies have christmas holidays for another 2 or 3 weeks. A total of over 10,000,000 is guaranteed. Could even make 15, and if a small market like Aus can push those numbers, surely the much larger markets (all 50 of them) in europe and asia will help considerably.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE TOLD: STOP SEEING NATIONAL TREASURE AND SEE SOMETHING GOOD. CAGE ISN’T WORTH YOUR MONEY!
# January 2, 2008 05:15 by jai
#27 asdf
so far it has made over $187 million overseas and will definitely go substantially higher
# January 2, 2008 05:17 by jai
#28 $240 million and counting!!!
Make that $240 million, asdf!
# January 3, 2008 10:04 by consciousparticles
#29
Wow, and I was one of those viewers!
XD To think that it was one of the most viewed movies this year, beating harry potter! Congratulations Golden compass producers,actors, etc.
# January 4, 2008 09:51 by Streakster
#30 Woot!
I went on Boxing Day!!! =]
1.6 is real good for the FIRST DAY!!!
I think the SK is in the bag! Besides surely they would pay just as much attention to how much Aus and UK like it...not just US. 0.o
Glad we all opted for a Brilliant movie rather then a stupid Alien vs. Predator >.<
Blah.
# January 8, 2008 04:18 by Lutheus_Girl
#31 Also...
When I went [Boxing Day] the cinema was full. And the two session before that were sold-out. =]
# January 8, 2008 04:19 by Lutheus_Girl