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, television and overseas theatrical release. 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 Sept. 10-12:

“Stigmata” is expected to be moderately profitable. Artisan’s “Stir of Echoes” is expected to recoup, but the low-budget “Love Stinks” will not.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Runaway Bride Paramount 4 $70 $150 The Blair Witch Project Artisan 10 1 140 The Sixth Sense Buena Vista 1 40 250

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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 The Thomas Crown Affair MGM 7 $48 $68 Bowfinger Universal 5 55 65 Stigmata Miramax 1 32 45 In Too Deep Miramax 12 7 14

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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 Mickey Blue Eyes Warner Bros. 8 $36 $34 Stir of Echoes Artisan 3 13 17

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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 Love Stinks IA 11 $4 $2 13th Warrior Buena Vista 6 85 33 The Chill Factor Warner Bros. 9 34 14

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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.