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 June 25-27:

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With its powerhouse debut, “Big Daddy” looks to be Sony’s major cash cow. Miramax will probably more than recoup on “An Ideal Husband,” for which it footed less than half the $6-million cost for U.S. and Australian rights. Similarly, Lion’s Gate is likely to make a profit on its less than $1-million investment for U.S. rights to “The Red Violin.”

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions The Matrix Warner Bros. 10 $62 $170 Phantom Menace Fox 5 115 400 Notting Hill Universal 6 42 105 Austin Powers 2 New Line 3 33 200 The Mummy Universal 7 78 150 Tarzan Buena Vista 2 150 180 Big Daddy Sony 1 32 140

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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 Entrapment Fox 11 66 85 The General’s Daughter Paramount 4 60 85

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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 The Red Violin Lion’s Gate 12 10 8 An Ideal Husband Miramax 9 14 12

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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 Instinct Buena Vista 8 55 35

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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.