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. 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 Feb. 25-27:

Paramount says it has less than $10 million invested in the “Wonder Boys” total budget, so the studio should eventually recoup. But because the film’s overseas returns are tied to its domestic performance, the remainder of the film’s investment is in doubt--unless the film improves dramatically in the U.S. Meanwhile, Miramax looks to forfeit much of its outlay on “Reindeer Games.”

$$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 9 $15 $100 Scream 3 Miramax 8 40 90 Snow Day Paramount 2 13 65 The Tigger Movie Buena Vista 6 15 45

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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 The Cider House Rules Miramax 10 24 45 The Whole Nine Yards Warner Bros. 1 24 45 Pitch Black USA 5 23 33

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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 The Beach Fox 11 50 40 Hanging Up Sony 4 40 42 Boiler Room New Line 12 9 15

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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 Reindeer Games Miramax 3 36 22 Wonder Boys Paramount 7 35 22

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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.