<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000924146
<NAME> BIG FLOWER PRESS
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR                   9-MOS                   6-MOS                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             SEP-30-1996             JUN-30-1996             MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                           4,200                   8,956                  11,499                  14,728
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  113,850                 109,505                  42,738                  33,476
<ALLOWANCES>                                     8,580                   8,339                   2,712                   1,686
<INVENTORY>                                     30,126                  31,722                  30,670                  42,847
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               162,504                 180,291                 119,380                 132,363
<PP&E>                                         384,419                 329,153                 309,212                 299,058
<DEPRECIATION>                                  87,993                  78,828                  67,074                  59,415
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 749,742                 705,778                 674,305                 684,039
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          193,325                 183,997                 162,194                 174,470
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                           186                     175                     175                     175
<OTHER-SE>                                      96,164                  89,208                  86,200                  82,512
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   749,742                 705,778                 674,305                 684,039
<SALES>                                      1,201,860                 844,286                 531,038                 229,128
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,201,860                 844,286                 531,038                 229,128
<CGS>                                          971,789                 694,433                 444,534                 196,786
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  971,789                 694,433                 444,534                 196,786
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               186,448                 118,646                  72,541                  33,076
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   658                     512                     218                      15
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              37,967                  27,726                  17,980                   8,297
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  4,998                   2,969                 (4,235)                 (9,046)
<INCOME-TAX>                                     8,283                   1,801                 (2,368)                 (4,623)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (3,285)                   1,168                 (1,867)                 (4,423)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                (2,078)                 (1,892)                 (1,892)                 (1,892)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,363)                   (724)                 (3,759)                 (6,315)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.30)                  (0.04)                  (0.21)                  (0.35)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.30)                  (0.04)                  (0.21)                  (0.35)
        

</TABLE>