The distributor charged very little because they were film reels that were returned to the distributor after the film's opening few weekends, as movies left the

The distributor charged very little because they were film reels that were returned to the distributor after the film's opening few weekends, as movies left theaters to make room for new movies. So all the money made on those reels was gravy before they were destroyed. (Some of those reels ended up overseas instead, I think.) It's a different world now with digital exhibition.