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 April 2-4:

“Matrix” looks to be one of spring’s more profitable ventures. “10 Things I Hate About You” will make some money, but “The Out of Towners” seems unlikely to break even. “Baby Geniuses” now looks to be a likely moneymaker for Sony.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Life Is Beautiful Miramax 9 $11 $55 Shakespeare in Love Miramax 7 42 95 Matrix Warner Bros. 1 62 125

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$ Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Analyze This Warner Bros. 5 45 95 Doug’s First Movie Disney 8 5 20 10 Things I Hate... Disney 2 13 25 Baby Geniuses Sony 11 12 25

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? Tossups

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Forces of Nature DreamWorks SKG 4 43 50

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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 True Crime Warner Bros. 12 38 16 EDtv Universal 6 55 25 The Mod Squad MGM 10 21 15 The Out of Towners Paramount 3 40 30

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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.