Company Town Film Profit Report

The report is based on projections of total U.S. box-office gross from a consensus of industry sources and studio financial models. The U.S. returns (approximately 55% of gross) represent only 20% of a film’s final revenue, which includes overseas theatrical, video and TV income. The industry marketing average of $30 million per film is factored into these profit equations, as is the relative strength of specific film genres in foreign markets. Results for the weekend of Aug. 7-9:

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Dr. Dolittle 20th Century Fox 11 $68 Something About Mary 20th Century Fox 4 25 Armageddon Buena Vista 9 150

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Dr. Dolittle $140 Something About Mary 105 Armageddon 190

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$ Minor Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions The Mask of Zorro Sony 8 $73 $90 Saving Pirvate Ryan DreamWorks 1 65 175 Parent Trap Buena Vista 5 55 65 Small Soldiers DreamWorks/Univ. 12 55 52 Ever After 20th Century Fox 6 24 36 Halloween Miramax 3 17 70

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? Tossups

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Lethal Weapon 4 Warner Bros. 10 $135 $130 The Negotiator Warner Bros. 7 45 40 Snake Eyes 20th Century Fox 2 70 65

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Notes: Cost estimates are for production only. Only half of box-office receipts come back to the studio.

Researched by RICHARD NATALE

If you have information or comments about the chart, call (213) 237-2001 or send e-mail to company.town@latimes.com. Send faxes to (213) 237-7837.

For weekly box-office listings, see Calendar section on Tuesdays.