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 Jan. 15-17:

Varsity Blues” may be 1999’s first clear profit maker, even though the football comedy is unlikely to do well overseas. Fox’s $45-million investment in “The Thin Red Line” looks to be more of a critical success than a financial one. “At First Sight” will be a disappointment, while “Virus” and “In Dreams” will bleed pools of red ink.

$$ Mega-Moneymakers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Movie title Studio rank millions in millions Patch Adams Universal 2 $65 $130 You’ve Got Mail Warner Bros. 7 60 115

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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 Stepmom Sony 6 50 90 Varsity Blues Paramount 1 15 55

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? Tossups

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Prince of Egypt DreamWorks 8 75 92 Shakespeare in Love Miramax 10 40 42 A Civil Action Disney 3 55 55 The Thin Red Line Fox 4 53 42

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? Money Losers

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Projected Box- Estimated U.S. box-office office cost, in receipts, Virus Universal 9 41 18 In Dreams DreamWorks 11 42 15 At First Sight MGM 5 42 28 Mighty Joe Young Disney 12 85 50

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

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