Company Town : 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 release. 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 Sept. 3-6:

Miramax should break even on “Outside Providence” because it’s exposed only for $4 million of the budget. The Morgan Creek production “The Chill Factor” is not expected to recoup its costs.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Runaway Bride Paramount 2 $70 $150 The Blair Witch Project Artisan 8 1 140 The Sixth Sense Buena Vista 1 40 250

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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 The Thomas Crown Affair MGM 5 $48 $65 In Too Deep Miramax 12 7 14 Bowfinger Universal 4 55 65

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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 Mickey Blue Eyes Warner Bros. 7 $36 $34 Outside Providence Miramax 11 7 9

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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 13th Warrior Buena Vista 3 $85 $35 The Muse USA 10 15 12 The Astronaut’s Wife New Line 9 33 14 The Chill Factor Warner Bros. 6 34 15

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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.