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 Aug. 24-26:

*

Highlights:

* A trio of new films, Sony’s “Ghost of Mars,” Dreamworks’ “Curse of the Jade Scorpion” and Disney’s “Bubble Boy” will forfeit a large part of their investments.

* “Jay & Silent Bob” looks to break even for Miramax as should “Summer Catch” for Warner Bros.

*

$$ 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 Rush Hour 2 New Line 2 $90 $220 Jurassic Park III Universal 12 92 175 Planet of the Apes Fox 10 100 175 American Pie 2 Universal 1 30 140 The Princess Diaries Disney 7 30 95

*--*

$ Moneymakers ($10 million or more in profit)

*--*

Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions The Others Dimension 4 $17 $65

*--*

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

*--*

Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Rat Race Paramount/Fireworks 5 $48 Jay and Silent Bob Miramax 3 22 Summer Catch Warner Bros. 6 17

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Rat Race $45 Jay and Silent Bob 28 Summer Catch 22

*--*

Losers (less than $5 million)

*--*

Box- Estimated office cost, in Movie title Studio rank millions Captain Corelli’s Mandolin Universal/Miramax 8 $57 Ghost of Mars Sony 9 28 Curse of Jade Scorpion Dreamworks 11 26 Bubble Boy Disney -- 13

Projected U.S. box-office receipts, Movie title in millions Captain Corelli’s Mandolin $20 Ghost of Mars 12 Curse of Jade Scorpion 8 Bubble Boy 6

*--*

*

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 [email protected]. Send faxes to (213) 237-7837.