Company Town Film Profit Report

This 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. Typical industry marketing costs are factored into this profit analysis, as are the relative strengths of specific film genres in foreign markets. Results for the weekend of March 31--April 2:

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Highlights:

* “The Road to El Dorado” doesn’t seem to be paved with gold, and it probably will fall short of recoupment.

* “High Fidelity” should be able to cross into the black.

* “Price of Glory” is largely a write-off.

$$Mega-Moneymakers ($50 million or more in profit)

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts Movie title Studio rank millions in millions American Beauty DreamWorks SKG 6 $15 $130 Erin Brockovich Universal/Sony 1 51 125 My Dog Skip Warner Bros. 12 7 34

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$ Moneymakers ($10 million or more in profit)

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Romeo Must Die Warner Bros. 4 25 60 The Cider House Rules Miramax 11 24 60 Final Destination New Line 7 23 38 Skulls Universal 3 16 25

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? Tossups ($5 million in profit or loss)

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts Movie title Studio rank millions in millions High Fidelity Buena Vista 5 20 24

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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 Mission to Mars Buena Vista 8 90 62 The Road to El Dorado DreamWorks SKG 2 95 55 Here on Earth Fox 9 13 11 Whatever It Takes Sony 10 15 10 Price of Glory New Line --- 10 4

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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 Tuesdays.