Young Lyra (Dykota Blue Richards) is on a courageous mission in 'Ther Golden Compass'. - Contributed

LOS ANGELES (Reuters):

The Golden Compass, a costly fantasy starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, got off to a slow start at the North American box office and will likely fall short of opening-weekend expectations.

New Line Cinema's US$180 million film sold an estimated US$8.8 million worth of tickets during its first day in theatres on Friday, according to data issued on Saturday by tracking firm Box Office Mojo (http://www.boxofficemojo.com).

After Saturday and Sunday sales are factored in, the film will come in at No. 1 with about US$28 million when the studios issue their weekend estimates on Sunday, said Paul Dergarabedian at Media By Numbers, another tracking firm.

New Line, a struggling Time Warner Inc. unit hoping to launch another franchise along the lines of its blockbuster Lord of the Rings series, said last week it was hoping the film would open to between US$30 million and US$40 million.

"It's below expectations, but it's not an out-and-out debacle," said Dergarabedian. Conspiring against the movie, he said, were such factors as a soft marketplace and unrealistic expectations for an epic fantasy filling the holiday void left by the Narnia and Lord of the Rings smashes.

Film setting

A New Line executive did not return a call seeking comments. Based on the first book in British author Philip Pullman's acclaimed children's series His Dark Materials, writer/director Chris Weitz's film is set in a world ruled by an oppressive religious authority. It features talking animals and a heroine played by youngster Dakota Blue Richards.

Even though the film downplays the religious aspect, it has been savaged by such groups as the Catholic League and the U.S. Conference of Bishops. Opponents have cited Pullman's unflattering portrayal of the Church and specifically the Catholic faith.

Critics were also generally negative on the film, according to the website Rotten Tomatoes (http://www.rottentomatoes.com), which collates reviews.

The film represents another disappointment for Kidman, who had yet to headline a live-action US$100 million movie. Her most recent successes were 2005's The Interpreter (US$72 million) and 2003's Cold Mountain ($96 million).

New Line has also struggled. Its biggest movie of 2007, Rush Hour 3 (US$140 million), earned less than half its predecessor. Other films, such as Jim Carrey's The Number 23 and the wartime drama Rendition quickly came and went.