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 9-11:

Both of the weekend’s teen comedies, “Never Been Kissed” and “Go,” hit their target audience and, with their modest budgets, should at least break even. Miramax/Dimension’s pickup of “Twin Dragons” should enjoy a healthy afterlife on video. “Foolish” looks to provide an even lower-risk payoff for Artisan.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Shakespeare in Love Miramax 11 $42 $95 Matrix Warner Bros. 1 62 135

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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 45 100 Doug’s First Movie Disney 9 5 20 10 Things I Hate ... Disney 3 13 33 Foolish Artisan 10 1.6 10 Twin Dragons Miramax 8 1 8

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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 7 43 50 Never Been Kissed Fox 2 22 33 Go Sony 6 7 15

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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 EDtv Universal 12 55 25 The Out of Towners Paramount 4 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.