The report is based on projections of total U.S. box-office gross based on a consensus of industry sources and studio financial models. Note that 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.
$$ Mega-Moneymakers
Movie title: The Truman Show
Studio: Paramount
Box-office rank: 5
Estimated cost, in millions: $60
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: $130
*
Movie title: Deep Impact
Studio: Paramount/DreamWorks
Box-office rank: 11
Estimated cost, in millions: 88
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 140
*
Movie title: The X-Files
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Box-office rank: 3
Estimated cost, in millions: 65
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 90
*
Movie title: Mulan
Studio: Buena Vista
Box-office rank: 2
Estimated cost, in millions: 100
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 120
*
Movie title: Dr. Dolittle
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Box-office rank: 1
Estimated cost, in millions: 68
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 90
*
$ Minor Moneymakers
Movie title: Hope Floats
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Box-office rank: 8
Estimated cost, in millions: $32
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: $55
*
Movie title: Can't Hardly Wait
Studio: Sony
Box-office rank: 9
Estimated cost, in millions: 13
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 25
*
? Tossups
Movie title: The Horse Whisperer
Studio: Buena Vista
Box-office rank: 10
Estimated cost, in millions: $75
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: $72
*
Movie title: A Perfect Murder
Studio: Warner Bros.
Box-office rank: 7
Estimated cost, in millions: 65
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 70
*
Movie title: Six Days, Seven Nights
Studio: Buena Vista
Box-office rank: 6
Estimated cost, in millions: 65
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 70
*
Movie title: Out of Sight
Studio: Universal
Box-office rank: 4
Estimated cost, in millions: 45
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 45
*
Movie title: Godzilla*
Studio: Sony
Box-office rank: 12
Estimated cost, in millions: 130
Projected U.S. box-office receipts, in millions: 138
*
* Change in designation based on additional information.
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.
For weekly box-office listings, see Calendar section on Tuesdays.
Researched by RICHARD NATALE.
