Google Inc (GOOG) – “Pacific Rim”: Why Legendary’s Monstrous Bet Should Pay Off

Page 2 of 2

History may also be instructive here. Del Toro has proven to be an adept director of monster and horror films over the past decade:

Guillermo Del Toro’s Films (% Fresh) Production Budget Worldwide Box Office
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) 87% $85 million $160.39 million
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) 96% $19 million $83.26 million
Hellboy (2004) 81% $66 million $99.32 million
Blade II (2002) 59% $54 million $155.01 million

Sources: Rotten Tomatoes, Box Office Mojo.

Pacific Rim isn’t that far afield from Del Toro’s niche, with the notable difference being the film’s reported $180 million to $200 million budget.

Legendary Pictures has the most to lose if the film proves to be a flop. Co-producer Time Warner Inc (NYSE:TWX) put up just 25% of the film’s production costs, leaving its partner to shoulder the remainder.

Legendary is famous for a long string of successful arrangements with Warner and its DC Comics properties, having helped to produce all three of Christopher Nolan’s Batman films plus Man of Steel. But now the two appear to be parting ways. Legendary is in talks to add either Sony or Universal as its new distribution partner, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

How good a production and distribution deal the studio secures depends, in part, on whether Pacific Rim sinks the Battleship comparison. I think it will. Do you agree? Will you plan to see Pacific Rim next weekend? Leave a comment to let us know what you think.

Pacific Rim opens on July 12. Sources: YouTube, Warner Bros., Legendary.

The article “Pacific Rim”: Why Legendary’s Monstrous Bet Should Pay Off originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Tim Beyers.

Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Google, Netflix, and Time Warner at the time of publication. He was also long Jan. 2014 $50 Netflix call options. Check out Tim’s web home and portfolio holdings or connect with him on Google+Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Google, and Netflix.
The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com, Google, and Netflix.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Page 2 of 2