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 March 10--12:

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Highlights:

n “Romeo Must Die” looks to be Warner’s first in-house profit maker of the year.

n “Here on Earth” has only a slightly better chance than “Whatever It Takes” to squeak into break-even.

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$$ Mega-Moneymakers ($50 million or more in profit)

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions Erin Brockovich Universal/Sony 1 $51 $125 American Beauty DreamWorks SKG 7 15 120 My Dog Skip Warner Bros. 8 7 35

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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 Fantasia 2000 Buena Vista 12 80 60 Romeo Must Die Warner Bros. 2 25 60 The Whole Nine Yards Warner Bros. 10 24 58 The Cider House Rules Miramax 9 24 55 Final Destination New Line 3 23 35

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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 The Ninth Gate Artisan 11 30 19

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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 Mission to Mars Buena Vista 4 90 62 Here on Earth Fox 5 13 10 Whatever It Takes Sony 6 15 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.

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