10 Overly-Optimistic Attempts To Launch A Movie Franchise

6. The Golden Compass

Power Rangers
New Line Cinema

Subjected to criticism from religious groups during production that saw some of the more 'controversial' aspects of the source material dropped, The Golden Compass still looked like a surefire franchise-launcher on paper, given that it had a prime December release date at a time when big-budget fantasy was still a genuine draw.

By removing any themes with the potential to offend, writer/director Chris Weitz also neutered the script and fails to make the story particularly interesting. For a movie that wastes Sam Elliot as a cowboy and fails to make proper use of Ians McKellen and McShane voicing armored f**king polar bears, that is nigh-on unforgivable.

While The Golden Compass did manage to earn $372.2 million at the box office, the $180 million budget made it unlikely that the movie even managed to turn a profit. Not only did it kill a potential franchise in one fell swoop, but many have speculated that the failure of the movie was a major factor in Time Warner's decision to merge New Line Cinema with Warner Bros. the following year.

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