‘Animal’ Deal Could Be Lucrative for Producer

“The Animal” could be more profitable than it would appear at first blush thanks to a unique arrangement the film’s producer, Revolution Studios, has with its distributor and co-financier, Sony Pictures, according to Revolution executives.

Of the $22 million it cost to make the movie, Sony put up only about $9 million. The studio will spend at least $30 million to release it worldwide, outside of Germany and Japan, but it also owns worldwide home video rights as well as some international television rights.

Revolution, the company started by former Disney Studios Chairman Joe Roth, picked up the remaining $13-million cost of the film. In exchange, it retained theatrical rights in Germany and Japan, U.S. cable and television rights and some foreign theatrical TV.

If the movie earns as much as $75 million during its North American theatrical run--which it now looks like it will--Revolution could earn a profit of $50 million. As for Sony, after the studio recoups its costs on the film, it will collect a distribution fee (approximately half a major studio’s usual 33%) on the remaining profit and Revolution will receive the rest.

Sony should see a profit on the movie as well, though nowhere near as handsome as Revolution’s. But with little in-house product this summer, Sony has aggressively marketed “The Animal.” The studio is under fire from other studios for breaking with industry convention and paying exhibitors to show the “Animal” trailer. Sony also is taking flak for the recent revelation that laudatory quotes from a fictitious critic have appeared in print advertising for some of its movies, including “The Animal.”

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