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. and Canadian returns (about 55% of gross) represent only 20% of a film’s final revenue, which includes overseas theatrical, video and TV income. The industry marketing average of $30 million per film is factored into these profit equations, as is the relative strength of specific film genres in foreign markets. Results for the weekend of June 8-10:

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Highlights:

* The weekend’s two new films, Warner Bros.’ “Swordfish” and DreamWorks/Sony’s “Evolution,” look to fall short of recoupment. DreamWorks sold foreign rights to “Evolution” to Sony for more than half the budget and is somewhat protected on the downside.

* With long-term prospects becoming increasingly cloudy, “Pearl Harbor” and “The Animal” now look likely to be less profitable than previously predicted.

* “What’s The Worst That Could Happen?” now looks to fall short of recouping its budget.

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$$ Mega-Moneymakers ($50 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 Shrek DreamWorks 1 $60 $240 The Mummy Returns Universal 8 98 200

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$ Moneymakers ($10 million or more in profit)

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Pearl Harbor Disney 3 $140 Bridget Jones’s Diary Miramax/Universal 10 26 The Animal Sony 5 22 A Knight’s Tale Sony 9 41 Memento Newmarket 11 5

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Pearl Harbor $190 Bridget Jones’s Diary 70 The Animal 60 A Knight’s Tale 55 Memento 20

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? Toss-ups ($5 million or more in profit/loss)

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Moulin Rouge Fox 6 $50 $46

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Losers (less than $5 million)

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Swordfish Warner Bros. 2 $80 Evolution DreamWorks/Sony 4 80 What’s The Worst . . . MGM 7 45 Angel Eyes Warner Bros. 12 $38

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Swordfish $60 Evolution 32 What’s The Worst . . . 32 Angel Eyes $24

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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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