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 Sept. 4-7:

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Something About Mary 20th Century Fox 1 $25 Saving Private Ryan DreamWorks 3 65 Armageddon Buena Vista 11 150

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Something About Mary $160 Saving Private Ryan 190 Armageddon 198

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$ Minor Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions The Parent Trap Buena Vista 10 $55 $65 Ever After 20th Century Fox 5 24 62 Blade New Line 2 45 65 Knock Off Sony 4 11 13

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? Tossups

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions How Stella Got Her... 20th Century Fox 9 $25 54 Miramax 6 15 Snake Eyes Paramount/Disney 8 70

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions How Stella Got Her... $36 54 18 Snake Eyes 55

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Money Losers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Dance With Me Sony 12 $24 $16 Why Do Fools Fall... Warner Bros. 7 18 12

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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

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.