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 Aug. 6-8:

In separating itself from the pack in a crowded field, the thriller “The Sixth Sense” looks to be a major hit. “The Thomas Crown Affair” should do well enough to cross into the black and perhaps better depending on its overseas appeal. “Mystery Men” appears to have only cult appeal with a mainstream budget. “Iron Giant” will not gross enough theatrically to position it for the bounty of family-entertainment home video. Chances for modestly budgeted “Dick” were squashed by the intense late-summer competition.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Proj US Box- Est box-office office cost in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions American Pie Universal 10 $11 $95 Runaway Bride Paramount/Buena Vista 3 70 130 Blair Witch Project Artisan 2 1 130 Phantom Menace Fox 11 115 420 Sixth Sense Buena Vista 1 40 90

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$Moneymakers

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Proj Box- Est US box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Inspector Gadget Buena Vista 7 $75 $85

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? Tossups

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Proj Box- Est US box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions The Haunting DreamWorks 8 $80 $90 Deep Blue Sea Warner Bros. 5 82 80 Thomas Crown Affair MGM 4 48 50

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Money Losers

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Proj Box- Est US box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Mystery Men Universal 6 $68 $35 The Iron Giant Warner Bros. 9 48 18 Dick Sony 12 13 8

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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.

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For weekly box-office listings, see Calendar section on Tuesdays.