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 (about 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. 19-21:

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Something About Mary 20th Century Fox 3 $25 Saving Private Ryan DreamWorks 6 65 Armageddon Buena Vista 9 150 Rush Hour New Line 1 34

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Something About Mary $175 Saving Private Ryan 190 Armageddon 200 Rush Hour 100

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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 Ever After 20th Century Fox 8 $24 $62 Blade New Line 7 45 68 The Parent Trap Buena Vista 11 55 65

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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 12 $24 Snake Eyes Paramount/Disney 10 70 Rounders Miramax 4 22 Simon Birch Disney 5 21 One True Thing Universal 2 33

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions How Stella Got Her... $38 Snake Eyes 57 Rounders 24 Simon Birch 23 One True Thing 32

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Notes: New Line’s “Rush Hour” looks to be one of the biggest hits of the fall season and with its budget largely covered by foreign sales, the company will make a handy profit from domestic theatrical and ancillary business. Universal’s “One True Thing” will be a moderate performer and with foreign and ancillaries should manage to cover its costs.

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.