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Company Town Film Profit Report

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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. Results for the weekend of Dec. 22-25:

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Highlights:

* Having already grossed more than $20 million overseas, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” has the potential to be one of Sony’s most profitable films. The studio acquired the right to market and distribute the film in the U.S. and several foreign countries for about $7.5 million budget.

* “Miss Congeniality” and “Family Man” will turn a nice profit for Warner Bros. and Universal, with the latter film having the potential to be a Christmas perennial on video and television.

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* “Dracula” will miss break-even by a slim margin.

$$ 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 The Grinch Universal 4 $123 $270 Cast Away Fox/DreamWorks 1 90 150 What Women Want Paramount 2 65 135

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$ Moneymakers ($10 million or more in profit)

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Box- Estimated U.S. box-office * office cost, in receipts, * Movie title Studio rank millions Miss Congeniality Warner Bros. 5 $45 The Family Man Universal 3 60 Crouching Tiger ... Sony Classics 10 15 Dude, Where’s My Car? Fox 9 13

Projected Box- office Movie title in millions Miss Congeniality $70 The Family Man 70 Crouching Tiger ... 50 Dude, Where’s My Car? 38

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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 Emperor’s New Groove Disney 6 $100 $80 Vertical Limit Sony 8 75 70

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Losers (more than $5 million in loss)

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Box- Estimated U.S. box-office* office cost, in receipts,* Movie title Studio rank millions 102 Dalmatians Sony 12 $85 Proof of Life Warner Bros. 11 65 Wes Craven’s Dracula Miramax 7 37

Projected Box- office Movie title in millions 102 Dalmatians $60 Proof of Life 30 Wes Craven’s Dracula 27

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

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.

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