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 Oct. 1-3:

“Three Kings” could squeak into break-even or slightly better if it holds up. The teen comedy “Drive Me Crazy” will easily be in the black. But “Mystery, Alaska” and “Elmo in Grouchland” look to join the growing fall casualty list.

$$ 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 Sixth Sense Buena Vista 5 $40 $260

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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 Stigmata MGM 10 $32 $48 American Beauty DreamWorks 3 15 40 Blue Streak Sony 4 36 65 Double Jeopardy Paramount 1 45 80

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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 Stir of Echoes Artisan 11 $13 $20 Three Kings Warner Bros. 2 48 48 Drive Me Crazy Fox 6 8 18

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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 Jakob the Liar Sony 12 $15 $5 For Love of the Game Universal 4 50 36 Mystery, Alaska Buena Vista 9 28 8 Elmo in Grouchland Sony 8 17 9

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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.