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 Dec. 16-20:

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Warner Bros. “You’ve Got Mail” should be a solid hit both here and abroad, where Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan both carry clout. Its only profit ceiling comes from the gross profit participation owned its principals, “Prince of Egypt,” with its highly questionable negative cost and a large worldwide marketing budget, will have to prove a major long-term player in order to cross into profit. Miramax’s “Life is Beautiful” is already a major hit overseas and has a chance of becoming the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever in the U.S. and Canada. *

$$ 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 7 $23 $120 Rugrats Paramount 8 $25 $90 A Bug’s Life Disney 3 $85 $150

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$ Minor Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Est. U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Enemy of the State Disney 6 85 100 Star Trek: Insurrection Paramount 4 62 72 You’ve Got Mail Warner Bros 1 60 90 Life is Beautiful Miramax 12 11 23

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? Tossups

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Projected Box- Est. U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Elizabeth Gramercy 10 $24 $22 Psyco Universal 9 21 22 Prince of Egypt Dreamworks 2 75 75

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? Money Losers

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Projected Box- Est. U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Jack Frost Warner Bros 5 40 30 Meet Joe Black Universal 12 90 46

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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.

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