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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Compass Leads at Top Spot, Yet Falls Short

Small films fare well as New Line admits dismay over megapic

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(Newser) – The Golden Compass took top spot at the weekend box office but fell short of its expected $30-40 million tally, Variety reports. The flick grossed $26.1 million, chump change for a film costing $180 million—and New Line execs didn't hide their disappointment as they touted its sales abroad. Moviegoing slumped 19% overall compared to this weekend last year.

Modest films fared better: Searchlight’s Juno earned $420,113 on just seven screens and Atonement made good on 32 theaters, banking $816,883. Enchanted continued to charm, raking in another $10 million and topping the $80 million mark. This Christmas, Fred Claus, and Beowulf rounded out the top five.

Keira Knightley, left, and James McAvoy star in a scene from
Keira Knightley, left, and James McAvoy star in a scene from "Atonement." (AP Photo/Focus Features, Alex Bailey)   (Associated Press)
Australian actress Nicole Kidman and New Zealand-born musician husband Keith Urban arrive for the world premiere of the film The Golden Compass at a cinema in London, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Nathan Strange)
Australian actress Nicole Kidman and New Zealand-born musician husband Keith Urban arrive for the world premiere of the film The Golden Compass at a cinema in London, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Nathan...   (Associated Press)
A view of the marquee for the premiere of
A view of the marquee for the premiere of "The Golden Compass" at the Ziegfeld Theatre, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)   (Associated Press)
In this file photo provided by New Line Cinema, Dakota Blue Richards stars in New Line Cinemas release of Chris Weitzs
In this file photo provided by New Line Cinema, Dakota Blue Richards stars in New Line Cinemas release of Chris Weitzs "The Golden Compass." (AP Photo/New Line Cinema, FILE)   (Associated Press)
British writer Philip Pullman arrives for the world premiere of the film
British writer Philip Pullman arrives for the world premiere of the film "The Golden Compass" at a cinema in London, in this Nov. 27, 2007 file photo. The Roman Catholic school board in Calgary, Alberta...   (Associated Press)
Australian actress Nicole Kidman arrives for the world premiere of the film The Golden Compass at a cinema in London, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Australian actress Nicole Kidman arrives for the world premiere of the film The Golden Compass at a cinema in London, Wednesday Nov. 27, 2007. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)   (Associated Press)
Jennifer Garner, left, Jason Bateman, center, and Ellen Page star in a scene from
Jennifer Garner, left, Jason Bateman, center, and Ellen Page star in a scene from "Juno." (AP Photo/Fox Searchlight)   (Associated Press)
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