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 March 23-25:

Highlights:

* “The Brothers” should be profitable for Sony from its domestic theatrical run and ancillary rights.

* MGM split the budget on “Heartbreakers” with Winchester Films and should just about clear its investment once ancillaries are factored in.

* “Say It Isn’t So” is a total write-down for 20th Century Fox.

$$ 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 Crouching Tiger Sony Classics 6 15 120 Traffic USA 7 50 115

*--*

$ 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 The Mexican DreamWorks 5 $38 $68 Chocolat Miramax 9 25 68 Down to Earth Paramount 11 30 65 Exit Wounds Warner Bros. 3 40 50 See Spot Run Warner Bros. 8 16 36 The Brothers Sony 2 6 33

*--*

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

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office* office cost, in receipts,* Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Enemy at the Gates Paramount 4 $70 $38 Heartbreakers MGM 1 38 34

*--*

*--*

Losers (more than $5 million in loss) Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions 15 Minutes New Line 12 $42 Say It Isn’t So Fox 10 25

Losers (more than $5 million in loss) Projected U.S. box-office* receipts,* Movie title in millions 15 Minutes $25 Say It Isn’t So 6

*--*

*

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

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.