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 Sept. 7-10:

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Highlights:

* Universal and Miramax should see an acceptable return on their less than $8-million investment for North American and United Kingdom rights to “The Musketeer.” The independent financiers retain the rest of the world rights and may have a bit of struggle breaking even.

* Sony’s Screen Gems division will make a profit on the niche-marketed “Two Can Play That Game.”

* “Rock Star” and “Soul Survivors” are largely write-downs for Warner Bros. and Artisan respectively.

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$$ 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 Rush Hour 2 New Line 6 $90 $220 American Pie 2 Universal 7 30 140 The Princess Diaries Disney 9 30 100 The Others Dimension 5 17 80

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$ Moneymakers ($10 million or more in profit)

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Rat Race Paramount/Fireworks 8 $48 Jeepers Creepers MGM 3 10 Two Can Play That Game Sony 2 6 O Lion’s Gate 10 5

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Rat Race $50 Jeepers Creepers 32 Two Can Play That Game 22 O 15

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? Tossups ($5 million or more in profit/loss)

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Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions The Musketeer Universal/Miramax 1 $40 Jay and Silent Bob ... Miramax 11 22 Summer Catch Warner Bros. 12 17

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions The Musketeer $30 Jay and Silent Bob ... 30 Summer Catch 20

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Losers (less than $5 million)

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Rock Star Warner Bros. 4 $38 $18 Soul Survivors Artisan -- 14 3

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

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