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 (approximately 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 Nov. 27-29:

Even though Disney and Pixar will split the profit on “A Bug’s Life,” it’s still a win-win situation. “Babe: Pig in the City” will not be as big a disaster as domestic theatrical results indicate because the film is likely to do substantially better overseas and on video. “Elizabeth” is on its way to becoming a solid art-house performer and has amassed solid grosses overseas.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost,in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions The Waterboy Disney 4 $23 $150 Rugrats Paramount 2 25 100 A Bug’s Life Disney 1 85 140

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$Minor Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions I Still Know What You ... Sony 7 25 45 Enemy of the State Disney 3 85 95 Elizabeth Gramercy 9 24 22

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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 Very Bad Things PolyGram 11 9 10 Ringmaster Artisan 10 5 10

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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 Babe: Pig in the City Universal 5 85 20 Meet Joe Black Universal 6 90 50 The Siege Fox 12 63 42 Home Fries Warner Bros. 8 15 12

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Notes: Cost estimates are for production only. Only half of box-office receipts come back to the studio. NA = not applicable.

Researched by RICHARD NATALE

If you have information or comments about the chart, call (213) 237-2001 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Send faxes to (213) 237-7837.

For weekly box-office listings, see Calendar section on Tuesdays.