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. 28-30:

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

*--*

Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Something About Mary 20th Century Fox 2 $25 Saving Private Ryan DreamWorks 3 65 Armageddon Buena Vista 12 150

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Something About Mary $150 Saving Private Ryan 190 Armageddon 195

*--*

$ Minor Moneymakers

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Parent Trap Buena Vista 9 $55 $65 Ever After 20th Century Fox 6 24 60

*--*

? Tossups

*--*

Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions How Stella Got Her... 20th Century Fox 7 $25 Blade New Line 1 45 Dead Man on Campus Paramount 11 12 54 Miramax 4 15

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions How Stella Got Her... $40 Blade 60 Dead Man on Campus 15 54 18

*--*

Money Losers

*--*

Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Snake Eyes Paramount/Disney 8 $70 Dance with Me Sony 10 24 Why Do Fools Fall... Warner Bros. 5 18

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Snake Eyes $55 Dance with Me 14 Why Do Fools Fall... 10

*--*

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.