The Golden Compass

Name: The Golden Compass
Genre: Adventure, Fantasy
Released: 2007-12-04
Cast: Dakota Blue Richards, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Ben Walker, Freddie Highmore

2007 | 113 min | Adventure, Fantasy

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It won an Oscar and it's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had middling reviews (42% on Rotten Tomatoes) and a lukewarm 6.1 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it: Made for fantasy fans and adventure fans. If you loved The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, start here.
The mood: Exciting.
The pace: Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 53 min.
What might put you off: Nothing much: an easy pick for most people.

In a parallel universe, after overhearing a shocking secret, precocious orphan Lyra Belacqua trades her carefree existence roaming the halls of Jordan College for an otherworldly adventure in the far North, unaware that it's part of her destiny.

How it earned its rating

CriticsBelow par
42% on Rotten Tomatoes
AudiencesBelow par
6.1 out of 10
AwardsStrong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Visual Effects. Won 1 BAFTA: BAFTA Awards: Best Special Visual Effects. Also nominated for 1 more Oscar and 2 Critics' Choice Awards. Plus 2 other awards.
Box office & staying powerSolid
$372 million worldwide on a $180 million budget
Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 359K people sought it out in the past year