'Golden Compass' is big in Japan

Sneak previews earn $2.5 mil in two days

By MARK SCHILLING

TOKYO -- "The Golden Compass" has had a golden bow at the Japanese B.O.

Skedded for a 700-screen release by Gaga on Saturday, the pic scooped Y270 million ($2.5 million) in sneak screenings last Saturday and Sunday.

The audience demo was wider than expected, mixing families, teens of both sexes and fans in their 50s and 60s.

Gaga has not set a B.O. target, but the pic's take was 159% better than sneaks for "Night at the Museum," which scooped $33.4 million in Japan. A reasonable B.O. projection would be $51 million -- not bad for a pic that finished in the U.S. with $70 million.

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