'Compass' off course at $26 mil

December 12, 2007 New Line's family adventure "The Golden Compass" opened considerably south of expectations this weekend with $26.1 million in domestic boxoffice. The limp bow by the pricey, effects-laden film puts added pressure on international execs, as the mini-major seeks to salvage profitability -- as well as its quest for a new film franchise -- with outsized foreign grosses. Family musical "Enchanted" extended its cumulative boxoffice to $83.9 million, while the cume on the urban-skewing seasonal drama "Christmas" reached $42.8 million.

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