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 March 12-14:

“Baby Geniuses” is low-priced enough to squeak into the black, and, depending on its hold, possibly do even better. “Carrie 2” needed a stronger start to overcome the normally high horror film drop-off, but will not be a big loser thanks to home video. Fox will make back its $5-million pickup investment on “Wing Commander,” but the film’s poor U.S. box-office performance will make it difficult for the independently financed film to recoup.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Payback Paramount 12 52 85 Shakespeare in Love Miramax 11 42 80 Analyze This Warner Bros. 1 45 85 Cruel Intentions Sony 3 10.5 35

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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 October Sky Universal 10 22 28 The Other Sister Disney 8 32 30 Baby Geniuses Sony 5 12 20

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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 8 MM Sony 9 48 40 Carrie 2 MGM 2 21 17 Deep End of the Ocean Sony 6 38 20 Wing Commander Fox 7 29 14 The Corruptor New Line 4 31 20

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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.