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. returns represent only 20% of a film’s final revenue, which includes income from video, TV and overseas theatrical release. Typical industry marketing costs are factored into this profit analysis, as are the relative strengths of specific film genres in foreign markets. Results for the weekend of April 7-9:

Highlights:

- Paramount, which paid for less than half the budget on “Rules of Engagement” in return for domestic rights and select foreign territories, should make some money on the drama, though competitors speculate Paramount is understating the film’s budget.

- “Ready to Rumble” will forfeit most of its investment.

$$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 American Beauty DreamWorks SKG 10 $15 $130 Erin Brockovich Universal/Sony 2 51 120

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$Moneymakers ($10 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 Romeo Must Die Warner Bros. 7 $25 $55 Final Destination New Line 9 23 40 Skulls Universal 5 16 30

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?Tossups ($5 million in profit or loss)

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Rules of Engagement Paramount 1 $50 $50 Return to Me MGM 4 24 23 High Fidelity Buena Vista 8 20 21

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Losers (more than $5 million in loss)

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Mission to Mars Buena Vista 12 $90 $60 The Road to El Dorado Dreamworks SKG 3 95 55 Ready to Rumble Warner Bros. 6 24 15 Black and White Sony 11 10 6

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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 Tuesdays.