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 represent only 20% of a film’s final revenue, which includes income from video, TV and overseas theatrical. 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 16-18:

“Life” will at least make its money back and could generate some profit. “Goodbye Lover” may lose its entire investment. “Never Been Kissed” now looks to be solidly profitable.

$$ 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 10 $42 $95 Matrix Warner Bros. 2 62 150 Life Is Beautiful Miramax 11 11 55

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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. 4 45 100 10 Things I Hate ... Buena Vista 3 13 35 Never Been Kissed Fox 2 22 45 Life Universal 1 55 70

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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 8 43 52 Go Sony 7 7 15 Cookie’s Fortune October 9 8 12 Twin Dragons Miramax 8 1 8

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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 Out of Towners Paramount 6 40 30 Goodbye Lover Warner Bros. 20 3

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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.