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 July 24-26:

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

*--*

Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Mulan Buena Vista 10 $100 Dr. Dolittle 20th Century Fox 6 68 Something About Mary 20th Century Fox 4 25 Armageddon Buena Vista 5 150

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Mulan $120 Dr. Dolittle 130 Something About Mary 100 Armageddon 185

*--*

$ Minor Moneymakers

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Small Soldiers DreamWorks SKG 9 58 50 The Mask of Zorro Sony 2 73 100 Saving Private Ryan DreamWorks SKG 1 65 120

*--*

? Tossups

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Lethal Weapon 4 Warner Bros. 3 135 130 Disturbing Behavior MGM 7 15 18

*--*

? Money Losers

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Mafia Buena Vista 8 30 21

*--*

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.