Company Town Film Profit Report: Fall Recap

The 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 (approximately 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 are for the Sept. 11-Nov. 1 period:

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Rush Hour New Line $34 $130

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$ Minor Moneymakers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Urban Legend Sony $14 $38 Antz DreamWorks 45 75 John Carpenter’s Vampires Sony 16 20

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? Tossups

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Rounders Miramax $22 $24 A Night at the Roxbury Paramount 18 30 Practical Magic Warner Bros. 50 45 Bride of Chucky Universal 18 30 Pleasantville New Line 42 38

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Money Losers

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Projected Estimated U.S. box-office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio millions in millions Beloved Disney $55 $24 Simon Birch Disney 21 18 One True Thing Universal 32 25 Ronin MGM 60 40 What Dreams May Come PolyGram 85 55 Holy Man Disney 65 12 Soldier Warner Bros. 58 16 Apt Pupil Sony 16 9

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

Researched by RICHARD NATALE

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 on Tuesdays.