1. The Golden Compass (New Line Cinema)
New Line Cinema had a lot riding on The Golden Compass, which they no doubt expected to become the next great series of prosperous literary adaptations, but fate had other plans. Much like Rise of the Guardians, the film grossed a reasonable sum by any normal standard - $372m against $180 million - but its poor showing at the U.S. box office (making only $70 million) essentially caused New Line Cinema to be dissolved as we knew it. One of the company's most expensive projects - and one that seemed like a slam-dunk for success - was in fact the one that finished them off. Following this poor showing, New Line Cinema was absorbed into Warner Bros., a far cry from the massive success they enjoyed just years earlier with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. If we've learned anything, it's that the film industry is a fickle maiden. Which movie was the biggest waste of money in your eyes? Let us know in the comments below.