The Golden Compass is available on Netflix France
The rich October program continues on Netflix! After the arrival of two Halloween classics, a fantasy epic has just arrived on the platform, and already in the catalog The 10 most watched films : At the crossroads of worlds: The Golden Compass.
Directed by Chris Weitz, this feature film aimed to become the cornerstone of a major film franchise Harry Potter, The Chronicles of NarniaOR The Lord of the Rings. Published in 2007, it is the adaptation of the first volume of Philip Pullman’s literary trilogy, His Dark Materials. This colossal projectwith an impressive budget of 180 million dollars, it had everything needed to succeed: a prestigious cast that included actors such as Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Eva Green and Dakota Blue Richards in the lead role of Lyra Belacqua. Added to this are breathtaking visuals and a rich universe drawn from the novels that have captivated millions of readers.
The plot takes place in a parallel world where human souls exist in the form of animal companions, called demons. Lyra, a courageous orphan, embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue the kidnapped children, aided by a magical compass called alethiometerthat allows you to discover the truth. His journey leads him to encounter an armored bear, witches, and mysterious forces, all while uncovering a much larger plot orchestrated by the authoritarian organization known as The Magisterium.
Box office failure: sequels cancelled
Despite all expectations, The golden compass did not achieve the desired success. Despite grossing $372 million worldwide, the film was judged insufficient at the American box officewhere it generated just $70 million. International revenues helped limit the damage, but not enough to justify putting the two initially planned sequels into production.
Although the film was visually convincing, it suffered from criticism regarding the plot and pacing, which were considered too confusing or rushed, far from the soul of Pullman’s novels.
Finally, the market was already saturated with other successful fantasy franchises such as Harry Potter OR The Lord of the RingsAND The golden compass has failed to establish itself as a serious competitor in this context.
The success of the His Dark Materials series
Despite this failure in cinema, Philip Pullman’s universe gained new life thanks to the series His Dark Materialsbroadcast since 2019 on BBC and HBO. This television series, which takes up the three volumes of the saga, has been praised for its fidelity to the original works and for the richness of its narrative development.
Unlike the film, the series took the time to explore the complex themes and characters that make the novels strong. With a stellar cast, including Dafne Keen, Ruth Wilson and James McAvoy, His Dark Materials succeeded where the film failed, captivating audiences while respecting the essence of Pullman’s work.
The three seasons aired from 2019 to 2022.
Source: Cine Serie
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