Company Town Film Profit Report

The report is based on projections of total U.S. box-office gross based on a consensus of industry sources and studio financial models. Note that 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.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

Movie title: The Truman Show

Studio: Paramount

Box-office rank: 5

Estimated cost, in millions: $60

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: $130

*

Movie title: Deep Impact

Studio: Paramount/DreamWorks

Box-office rank: 11

Estimated cost, in millions: 88

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 140

*

Movie title: The X-Files

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Box-office rank: 3

Estimated cost, in millions: 65

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 90

*

Movie title: Mulan

Studio: Buena Vista

Box-office rank: 2

Estimated cost, in millions: 100

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 120

*

Movie title: Dr. Dolittle

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Box-office rank: 1

Estimated cost, in millions: 68

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 90

*

$ Minor Moneymakers

Movie title: Hope Floats

Studio: 20th Century Fox

Box-office rank: 8

Estimated cost, in millions: $32

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: $55

*

Movie title: Can’t Hardly Wait

Studio: Sony

Box-office rank: 9

Estimated cost, in millions: 13

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 25

*

? Tossups

Movie title: The Horse Whisperer

Studio: Buena Vista

Box-office rank: 10

Estimated cost, in millions: $75

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: $72

*

Movie title: A Perfect Murder

Studio: Warner Bros.

Box-office rank: 7

Estimated cost, in millions: 65

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 70

*

Movie title: Six Days, Seven Nights

Studio: Buena Vista

Box-office rank: 6

Estimated cost, in millions: 65

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 70

*

Movie title: Out of Sight

Studio: Universal

Box-office rank: 4

Estimated cost, in millions: 45

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 45

*

Movie title: Godzilla*

Studio: Sony

Box-office rank: 12

Estimated cost, in millions: 130

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 138

*

* Change in designation based on additional information.

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

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.

Researched by RICHARD NATALE.