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 May 5-7:

Highlights:

* “Gladiator” will reap a tidy profit for DreamWorks SKG and Universal, which co-financed the film, particularly in the overseas market.

* “I Dreamed of Africa” is a total loss for Sony.

$$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 11 $51 $125

*--*

$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 Gladiator DreamWorks/Univ. 1 $107 $125 Rules of Engagement Paramount 8 50 60 Final Destination New Line 12 23 52 Love and Basketball New Line 6 11 30 Where the Heart Is Fox 5 15 28

*--*

?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 2 $62 28 Days Sony 10 43 Keeping the Faith Buena Vista 7 29 35 Frequency New Line 4 31 34

Movie title U-571 $68 28 Days 38 Keeping the Faith Frequency

*--*

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 Flintstones Universal 3 $60 $32 I Dreamed of Africa Sony 9 34 5

*--*

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.