Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- wondrous
- adventurous
- tense
- family movie night
- fantasy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film visually impressive and well cast but weakened by rushed storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and a failure to preserve the source material's thematic bite.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Jordan College, airships, armored bears, magical dust, and alternate universes establish a hybrid speculative setting.
Lyra becomes entangled in the Magisterium's efforts to suppress or destroy dust and endanger children connected to demons.
Lyra travels from Oxford toward the Arctic with the alethiometer while gradually entering a more-than-mortal struggle.
Lyra's relationship with Pantalaimon and the film's emphasis on demons make bonded animal spirits central to its mythology.
Films like The Golden Compass, and why
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
shares young protagonists, fantasy questing, parallel worlds, and visually elaborate world-building
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
shares a child-led fantasy adventure, magical artifacts, perilous journeys, and coming-of-age themes
Mortal Engines
shares steampunk-inflected fantasy, alternate-world travel, child endangerment, and resistance against authoritarian institutions
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
shares polar exploration, talking animal companions, high-stakes fantasy adventure, and ornate production design
Movie Details
- Director
- Chris Weitz
- Release Date
- 2007-12-04
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.1 / 10 (4944)
Cast
- Dakota Blue Richards
- Nicole Kidman
- Daniel Craig
- Ben Walker
- Freddie Highmore
- Ian McKellen
- Eva Green
- Jim Carter
- Tom Courtenay
- Ian McShane
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Golden Compass about?
- A rebellious Oxford girl crosses a perilous parallel world to protect magical dust, rescue imperiled children, and aid a dethroned armored bear king.
- What is The Golden Compass like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Golden Compass as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Golden Compass violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in The Golden Compass as moderate.
- What did critics think of The Golden Compass?
- Critics broadly found the film visually impressive and well cast but weakened by rushed storytelling, underdeveloped characters, and a failure to preserve the source material's thematic bite.
- Which films are like The Golden Compass?
- Films with a similar feel include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Mortal Engines, and The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
- How long is The Golden Compass?
- The Golden Compass runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Golden Compass?
- In United States, The Golden Compass is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
In Ember's collections
Movies like The Golden Compass
- From Time to Time2009
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian & The Voyage of the Dawn Treader1989
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian2008
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe2005
- The Spiderwick Chronicles2008
- The Nutcracker and the Four Realms2018
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader2010
- The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box2013
- Come Away2020
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
