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 March 10--12:

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Disney’s “Mission to Mars,” which cost at least $75 million, could break even when foreign revenue is factored in, though its long-term prospects in the U.S. are still unclear. Since Artisan recouped its $30-million investment in “The Ninth Gate” through foreign pre-sales and French tax breaks, (foreign gross to date is $27 million) its only exposure is the $15-million domestic release costs, which should be recouped after ancillaries are counted.

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$$ 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 5 $15 $110 Snow Day Paramount 9 13 62

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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 Whole Nine Yards Warner Bros. 4 24 55 The Cider House Rules Miramax 6 24 50 Pitch Black USA 10 23 40 My Dog Skip Warner Bros. 3 7 26

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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 Mission to Mars Buena Vista 1 75 72 Drowning Mona Destination 7 16 15 The Ninth Gate Artisan 2 30 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 11 42 23 Wonder Boys Paramount 12 35 22 The Next Best Thing Paramount 8 25 16

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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.

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