Company Town Film Profit Report

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 represent only 20% of a film’s final revenue, which includes income from video, TV and overseas theatrical. 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 May 7-9:

“The Mummy” has all the earmarks of a profitable film, based on the international appeal of its genre. “Entrapment” will need Sean Connery’s worldwide drawing power to reach break-even. “Idle Hands” is a total loss, while “Election” looks like it could squeak into the black.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Shakespeare in Love Miramax 10 $42 $98 Matrix Warner Bros. 3 62 160 Analyze This Warner Bros. 7 45 105 Life Is Beautiful Miramax 12 11 58

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$ Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions 10 Things I Hate ... Buena Vista 8 13 35 Never Been Kissed Fox 6 22 48 The Mummy Universal 1 78 120

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? Tossups

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Cookie’s Fortune October 9 8 12 Life Universal 4 55 60 Entrapment Fox 2 66 60 Election Paramount 5 9 11

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Money Losers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions The Out of Towners Paramount 11 40 30 Idle Hands Sony -- 15 5

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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.