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 (about 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 Feb. 26-28:

*

Sony’s thriller “8 MM” will squeak into a break-even only with the help of Nicolas Cage’s overseas appeal. Paramount sold off foreign rights on “200 Cigarettes” to cover production costs and protect its downside. Disney’s “The Other Sister” should end up a wash when all ancillary revenue is figured in.

*

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions She’s All That Miramax 8 $9 $65

*--*

$ Minor Moneymakers

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Payback Paramount 2 52 85 Shakespeare in Love Miramax 7 42 75

*--*

*

? Tossups

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Message in a Bottle Warner Bros 4 55 60 Rushmore Disney 12 12 18 Office Space Fox 11 10 12 October Sky Universal 6 22 22 My Favorite Martian Disney 5 45 40 Blast From the Past New Line 9 32 30 8MM Sony 1 48 45 200 Cigarettes Paramount 10 8 7 The Other Sister Disney 3 32 32

*--*

*

Notes: Cost estimates are for production only. Only half of box-office receipts come back to the studio. NA = not applicable.

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.