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 April 28-30:

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

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Erin Brockovich Universal/Sony 9 $51 $130

*--*

$Moneymakers ($10 million or more in profit)

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Fantasia2000* Buena Vista 12 $80 $100 Rules of Engagement Paramount 6 50 65 Final Destination New Line 10 23 51 Keeping the Faith Buena Vista 7 29 40 Love and Basketball New Line 5 10 30 Where the Heart Is Fox 4 15** 30

*--*

?Tossups ($5 million in profit or loss)

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions U-571 Universal 1 $62 $60 28 Days Sony 8 43 38 Return to Me MGM 11 24 32 Frequency New Line 3 31 30

*--*

Losers (more than $5 million in loss)

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Viva Rock Vegas Universal 2 $58 $30

*--*

* Fantasia completed a four-month run in Imax theaters this weekend. It will be re-released June 16 in theaters nationwide for a four-week run.

** Where the Heart Is is a pickup for Fox. Fox’s cost is $9 million.

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

Researched by JUDY BRENNAN

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.