`BUG'S' BIG BUZZ; DISNEY RELEASE FORECAST BY SOME AS SEASON GIANT.Byline: Dave McNary Daily News Staff Writer Early indications have emerged that ``A Bug's Life'' will soar past rivals and hit a financial home run for co-producers The Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Co. and Pixar Animation Inc. The film, which will debut next week at the El Capitan El Cap·i·tan A peak, 2,308.5 m (7,569 ft) high, in the Sierra Nevada of central California. Its dramatic exposed monolith rises some 1,098 m (3,600 ft) above the floor of the Yosemite Valley. in Hollywood and then go nationwide Nov. 25, could generate more than $500 million in profit, analysts say, due to the enormous markets for ancillary products like stuffed toys stuffed toy stuff n → Stofftier nt and home videos. The buzz over the film, in which an irrepressible ant named Flik leads a revolt of his colony against marauding ma·raud v. ma·raud·ed, ma·raud·ing, ma·rauds v.intr. To rove and raid in search of plunder. v.tr. To raid or pillage for spoils. grasshoppers Grasshoppers may refer to one of the following:
Newsweek gave ``A Bug's Life'' a spot on this week's cover above a dour Newt Gingrich, declaring, `` `A Bug's Life' should thrive at the box office simply because it's such great fun.'' Several Wall Street analysts forecast ``A Bug's Life'' will come close to the $192 million domestic gross taken in by ``A Toy Story'' - the first Disney-Pixar project - three years ago. Analysts calculate that Disney films with strong characters can generate operating profits Operating profit (or loss) Revenue from a firm's regular activities less costs and expenses and before income deductions. operating profit See operating income. that are three to four times beyond the box office revenues in America. ``It's reasonable to expect `A Bug's Life' will take in something in that range of $180 million to $190 million,'' said Linda Bannister, an industry analyst with Edward Jones Edward, Eddie, or Ed Jones is the name of: Edward Jones:
Burbank-based Disney bought 5.5 percent of Pixar last year and agreed to share production costs of five movies. Profits from movies and ancillaries - TV rights, video and merchandise - will be split 50-50 once Disney's marketing and distribution costs distribution costs distribute npl → Vertriebskosten pl are covered. Katherine Styponias of Prudential Securities has forecast that ``A Bug's Life,'' which carries a budget of $70 million to $85 million, will take in $175 million domestically, but could go as high as $225 million. ``From what we've seen, the story holds a lot of interest for a broad audience beyond children,'' she said. ``Everyone already knows about it, given the marketing muscle behind it.'' Doubts persist because of Paramount's Nov. 20 opening of ``Rugrats'' and Universal's Nov. 25 launch of ``Babe 2: A Pig in the City.'' ``Certainly, it's a much more competitive environment than in 1995, but that's not to say there isn't room for all three,'' said Styponias. Here's the profit picture: The movie likely will generate $200 million or more overseas, so total grosses will hit $400 million. Half that will be profit. Styponias believes Disney and Pixar will sell 30 million copies of the home video, which probably will be released next summer or fall, generating $100 million in profits. Pay TV, broadcast and cable rights will generate $50 million in profit, Styponias estimates. An additional $875 million will come in from retail sales, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Styponias. Royalties will run from 10 percent to 15 percent, generating an extra $100 million or so. Jim Silver, editor of Toy Book, said retailers have high hopes for ``A Bug's Life'' merchandise. ``The Disney merchandise is really cute,'' he said. ``I think it's going to skew (1) The misalignment of a document or punch card in the feed tray or hopper that prohibits it from being scanned or read properly. (2) In facsimile, the difference in rectangularity between the received and transmitted page. young. All three family movies are looking pretty strong right now and the `Babe' piggy bank is selling really well.'' Forecasting movie grosses is an inexact in·ex·act adj. 1. Not strictly accurate or precise; not exact: an inexact quotation; an inexact description of what had taken place. 2. science: Witness this summer's predictions that ``Godzilla'' would take in $300 million domestically when it ended up grossing $135 million. Which is why there are some who say $500 million profit projections are off-base. They can paint a worst-case scenario worst-case scenario n → Schlimmstfallszenario nt for ``A Bug's Life'' in which ``Rugrats'' and ``Babe 2'' top expectations and the continued strong performance of DreamWorks SKG's ``Antz'' - now at $75 million after six weeks - holds down ``Bug's' '' business. Robert Bucksbaum, president of Reel Source Inc., has cited those reasons in forecasting a domestic take of $110 million for ``A Bug's Life.'' ``We'd be surprised if it does $175 million, because it would limit the performance by `Rugrats' and `Babe 2,' '' he said. ``Besides, $110 million is still a pretty solid number.'' CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- 3 -- color) Animated characters from Disney's ``A Bug's Life.'' |
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