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 summer season, April 30 to Sept. 3.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions The Phantom Menace Fox $115 $425 Austin Powers New Line 33 207 Notting Hill Universal 42 116 Tarzan Buena Vista 150 172 The Mummy Universal 78 157 Big Daddy Sony 34 163 American Pie Universal 11 102 Runaway Bride Paramount 70 150 The Blair Witch Project Artisan 1 140 The Sixth Sense Buena Vista 40 275

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$ Moneymakers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Entrapment Fox 66 88 The General’s Daughter Paramount 60 104 South Park Paramount 20 53 The Wood Paramount 6 26 Inspector Gadget Buena Vista 75 95 Bowfinger Universal 55 65 The Thomas Crown Affair MGM 48 65 In Too Deep Miramax 7 14

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? Tossups

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Election Paramount 9 15 Trippin’ October 8 9 Black Mask Artisan 8 13 Tea With Mussolini MGM (G2) 14 14 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Searchlight 15 16 Love Letter DreamWorks SKG 8 8 An Ideal Husband Miramax 14 18 Summer of Sam Buena Vista 22 22 Lake Placid Fox 27 31 The Haunting DreamWorks SKG 80 92 Drop Dead Gorgeous New Line 10 11 Mickey Blue Eyes Warner Bros. 36 34 Teaching Mrs. Tingle Miramax 12 11

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Money Losers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Idle Hands Sony 15 4 The Castle Miramax 6 1 The 13th Floor Sony 18 12 Instinct Buena Vista 55 35 Wild, Wild West Warner Bros. 105* 114 Limbo Sony 8 4 Arlington Road Sony 30 24 Muppets From Space Sony 24 16 Mystery Men Universal 68 32 Dick Sony 13 8 Eyes Wide Shut Warner Bros. 65 55 Detroit Rock City New Line 16 6 Brokedown Palace Fox 23 12 Universal Soldier: Return Sony 22 12 The 13th Warrior Buena Vista 85 32 Deep Blue Sea Warner Bros. 82 72 The Muse USA 15 12 Dog of Flanders Warner Bros. 7 3 Dudley Do-Right Universal 22 12 The Astronaut’s Wife New Line 34 12 Chill Factor Warner Bros. 34 14 Outside Providence Miramax 12 8 The Iron Giant Warner Bros. 48 24

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Notes: Cost estimates are for production only. Only half of box-office receipts come back to the studio.

*Warner Bros. official budget. Industry estimates range far higher.

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.