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 12-14:

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Highlights:

* “Battlefield Earth” is a bust in the U.S., but the independently financed movie has covered most of its budget with overseas sales. Warner Bros. is taking a reduced distribution fee while the producers are on the hook for marketing costs, which they are unlikely to recoup.

* “Center Stage” may break even on its modest budget, while “Screwed” and “Held Up” will fall only modestly short of profits.

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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 Gladiator DreamWorks/Univ. 1 $110 $140 Rules of Engagement Paramount 12 50 60 Where the Heart Is Fox 7 15 30 Love and Basketball New Line 9 11 28

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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 U-571 Universal 3 $62 $70 Keeping the Faith Buena Vista 11 29 36 Frequency New Line 4 31 35 Center Stage Sony 6 18 17

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Losers (more than $5 million in loss)

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Viva Rock Vegas Universal 5 $60 $35 Battlefield Earth Warner Bros. 2 75 30 Screwed Universal 8 12 8 Held Up Trimark 10 8 5

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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.