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. U.S. returns (about 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 Dec. 4-6:

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$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions The Waterboy Disney 5 23 $160 Rugrats Paramount 4 25 100 A Bug’s Life Disney 1 85 150

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$ Minor Moneymakers

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Antz DreamWorks SKG 4 45 I Still Know What You Did.. Sony 9 25 Enemy of the State Sony 3 85

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Antz 85 I Still Know What You Did.. 40 Enemy of the State 100

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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 Very Bad Things PolyGram 11 9 10 Elizabeth Gramercy 8 24 22 Ringmaster Artisan 12 5 10

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? Money Losers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Psyco Universal 2 25 22 Babe: Pig in the City Universal 7 85 20 Meet Joe Black Universal 6 90 50 Home Fires Warner 10 15 12

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Notes: Cost estimates are for production only. Only half of box-office receipts come back to the studio. NA = not applicable.

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.