Early estimates of the US weekend box office results predict The Golden Compass topping the charts, beating movies like Enchanted and Beowulf with a US$26.1 million gross in its opening weekend.
This is considerably less than the $30-40 million New Line Cinema executives are hoping for, and it raises doubts if The Golden Compass will be able to just break even before other large holiday movies are released in theatres.
Fans will be following the box office results closely as a sign of whether The Golden Compass will be succeeded by The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. We'll update you as soon as new and definite results are published!
Update
Rolf Mittweg, president and chief operating officer of New Line's worldwide distribution and marketing operations, admits in The Guardian that the early figures are "a little disappointing" however the article also reports that "New Line have sold off the foreign rights, with proceeds covering about 60 percent of the film's budget. Taking into account outside investors and tax breaks, (Mittweg) said New Line was covered for about 70 to 80 percent of the budget, and the film would be profitable for the studio."
The Guardian also reports that the film earned $55 million from 25 international territories, including No. 1 starts in Britain ($18 million), Spain ($10 million) and France ($5 million), all after five days of release.
7 comments - Add yours
#1
While soft, this isn’t a disastrous opening, and doesn’t preclude the possibility of sequels.
In any case, the film will not face much direct competition over the holiday season in the family fantasy genre. Traditionally, such titles perform very well for months, and have held the holiday B.O. crown for most of this decade. TGC was hurt by the backlash, and wasn’t as well-known as LOTR or Narnia; but it will have very good word of mouth, and this means staying power. Provided theatres don’t drop it too soon (which is where New Line’s muscle kicks in).
I’m pretty sure it will do over a hundred million in the US, and more than recoup its costs internationally, where the reception doesn’t suffer from the same hangups.
# December 10, 2007 00:53 by Seretur
#2
I’ll be on the edge of my seat for the next few days/weeks until we hear a definitive answer from the studio as to whether or not they intend to make the sequels.
Please be green lit! *crosses fingers*
# December 10, 2007 00:54 by whohash83
#3
Actually, if you take a look at the Guardian article here, http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7139567, it looks pretty optimistic for New Line and the sequels since they have already recouped 80% of their budget by selling rights and using tax breaks.
Also, didn’t Deborah Forte already say during the Cannes press conference that they were going to make the sequels?
(http://www.bridgetothestars.net/news/press-conference-report-images/)
# December 10, 2007 04:07 by jiahui
#4
I was concerned when on opening night in the best theater in town at 7 pm the theater was only half full.
# December 10, 2007 13:47 by Pantaliamon
#5 See this film again!!! It's better the second time around!!!
The U.S. media makes too big a deal out of open weekend figures. That’s a pretty solid opening for part I of a series that’s not as well known as Harry Potter or LOTR. This film is doing just fine! And for all those fans of the books (like me) that were thrown a bit by the chances made by Weitz et al, I urge you you see it a second time. It’s way better the second time around!!!
# December 10, 2007 18:25 by consciousparticles
#6
The profitability update is quite encouraging. Again, time will work for both TGC and the sequels—most movies these days are front-loaded, and this one was anything but. It will still make a pretty penny for New Line theatrically, and live on in the home video markets.
Can’t wait for the Director’s Cut on Blu-ray. That way I can see the film in perfect conditions without a zealot in sight. :)
# December 10, 2007 19:58 by Seretur
#7
I really hope that the sequelsget the greenlighted and production continues on TSK and TAS im on pins and needles watching the box office results lets hope word of mouth works in favor of Newline.
# December 13, 2007 09:47 by TowerDragon