- Film studios have poured ever-increasing budgets into large franchises and "tentpole" films even as they scale back on mid-sized and budget releases, and with good reason, Robert Fishman says: It's led to skyrocketing profits for Warner Bros (NYSE:TWX), Fox (NASDAQ:FOXA), Disney (NYSE:DIS) and Paramount (VIA, VIAB).
- Tbe MoffettNathanson analyst takes on the always-difficult task of parsing out film profits from entertainment companies' other financials, and estimates those four drew $3.5B in EBITDA from film, up 35% Y/Y, off $24.1B in film revenues (up 7.6%).
- The global film market is helping drive the profit mix to bigger budget films, Fishman says.
- He notes a few risk factors that could slow the profit train, including declines in both domestic attendance and home video sales, as well as more film releases and currency effects.
- Previously: Global box office: 2014 boosted by Asia's moviegoers, especially in China (Mar. 12 2015)