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 summer of 1998:

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions The Truman Show Paramount $65 $125 Deep Impact Paramount/DreamWorks 88 140 The X-Files 20th Century Fox 65 83 Mulan Disney 100 120 Dr. Dolittle 20th Century Fox 68 140 Something About Mary 20th Century Fox 25 150 Armageddon Disney 150 195 Saving Private Ryan DreamWorks/Paramount 65 190

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$ Minor Moneymakers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Hope Floats 20th Century Fox $32 $60 Can’t Hardly Wait Sony 13 25 Madeline Sony 18 28 Small Soldiers DreamWorks/Universal 58 54 Ever After 20th Century Fox 25 60 Halloween H2O Miramax 17 55 The Parent Trap Disney 55 65

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? Tossups

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions The Horse Whisperer Disney $75 $75 A Perfect Murder Warner Bros. 65 68 Six Days, Seven Nights Disney 65 72 Godzilla Sony 130 136 Out of Sight Universal 45 38 Lethal Weapon 4 Warner Bros. 135 130 Disturbing Behavior MGM 15 18 The Negotiator Warner Bros. 45 42 How Stella Got Her... 20th Century Fox 25 36 Blade New Line 45 60 Mask of Zorro Sony 73 90 Dead Man on Campus Paramount 12 15 54 Miramax 15 17 Air Bud Miramax 8 9 Snake Eyes Paramount 70 55

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Money Losers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Bulworth 20th Century Fox $35 $27 Dirty Work MGM 18 10 Fear and Loathing ... Universal 20 11 Mafia! Disney 30 21 Quest for Camelot Warner Bros. 80 23 BASEketball Universal 24 7 Return to Paradise PolyGram 20 6 Wrongfully Accused Warner Bros. 22 10 The Avengers Warner Bros. 65 23 Dance With Me Sony 24 14 Why Do Fools Fall... Warner Bros. 18 10

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

Researched by RICHARD NATALE

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For weekly box-office listings, see Calendar section on Tuesdays.