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. Results for the weekend of Sept. 8-10:

Highlights:

* Of the new releases, “Nurse Betty” stands the best chance of breaking even.

* “The Watcher” won’t lose money for Universal, which paid only $5 million for domestic rights. Similarly, “Way of the Gun” won’t be much of a loss for Artisan because overseas rights were sold for $8 million. But it will probably not recoup its U.S. release costs.

$ Moneymakers ($10 million or more in profit)*--*

Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions What Lies Beneath DreamWorks/Fox 6 $100 The Nutty Professor II Universal 12 84 Space Cowboys Warner Bros. 5 65 The Cell New Line 4 33 Bring It On Universal 3 10 The Original Kings.... Paramount 8 3

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions What Lies Beneath $150 The Nutty Professor II 120 Space Cowboys 85 The Cell 60 Bring It On 58 The Original Kings.... 38

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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 Nurse Betty USA 2 $24 $24

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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 The Replacements Warner Bros. 11 $50 $42 The Art of War Warner Bros. 7 40 36 The Watcher Universal 1 33 24 Highlander: Endgame Dimension 10 15 12 Way of the Gun Artisan 9 9 5 Turn It Up New Line -- 9 2

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

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