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. and Canadian returns (about 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 for the weekend of July 6-8:

*

Highlights:

* Like most hit family movies, Warner Bros.’ “Cats & Dogs” will make the real profit from home video and DVD sales.

* “Scary Movie 2” should follow the trajectory of most sequels in grossing less overall than the original, but given its still modest budget and the first film’s massive overseas appeal, it should still bring in a tidy profit for Miramax’s Dimension division.

* Fox is in only for slightly more than half the “Kiss the Dragon” budget in return for rights in the U.S. and key foreign territories, and should make a significant profit.

*

*

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

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office* office cost, in receipts,* Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Shrek DreamWorks 8 $60 $260 The Fast and the Furious Universal 5 38 130

*--*

*

$ Moneymakers ($10 million or more in profit)

*--*

Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Pearl Harbor Disney 12 $140 Lara Croft: Paramount 7 80 Tomb Raider A.I. Warner/DreamWorks 3 95 Dr. Dolittle 2 Fox 6 72 Cats & Dogs Warner Bros. 1 60 Scary Movie 2 Dimension 2 45 Atlantis Disney 9 90 Kiss of the Dragon Fox 4 25 Baby Boy Sony 10 16

Projected U.S. box-office* receipts,* Movie title in millions Pearl Harbor $195 Lara Croft: 130 Tomb Raider A.I. 100 Dr. Dolittle 2 100 Cats & Dogs 100 Scary Movie 2 75 Atlantis 80 Kiss of the Dragon 45 Baby Boy 32

*--*

*

? Toss-ups ($5 million or more in profit/loss)

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office* office cost, in receipts,* Movie title Studio rank millions in millions crazy/beautiful Disney 11 $14 $17

*--*

*

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

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.