15 Actors Who Made A Fortune On Their Box Office Flops

A flop can be brutal at the box office, but it can still be a paycheck generator for the right star.

Take Julia Roberts in Mother’s Day, she barely showed up for the cameras yet still collected $4 million after a $750,000-a-day fee. Or Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages, where he got $5 million even though the movie couldn’t turn a profit. Then you’ve got the bigger swings, like Sylvester Stallone taking home $15 million for Bullet to the Head despite a $22 million haul, and Halle Berry banking $14 million from Catwoman while everyone else roasted the film.

Here’s the pattern, and it gets even wilder as the list keeps stacking up.

1. Julia Roberts

In the 2016 movie Mother's Day, Roberts had a supporting role alongside major stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Timothy Olyphant, and Kate Hudson. Unfortunately, the movie was a flop, but thanks to Roberts' hefty fee of $750,000 per day and her limited time on set, she still managed to receive a total of $4 million for her brief appearance.

Juliaroberts/ Instagram

2. Tom Cruise

Despite Tom Cruise's status as a highly successful actor over recent decades, he has still taken on roles in movies that have been unsuccessful at the box office. For example, Cruise was paid $5 million for his role in Rock of Ages, although the movie ultimately failed to turn a profit.

pinterest

3. Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone's seemingly successful formula of playing the same type of role in every movie didn't work out as well as he had hoped with his 2012 feature, Bullet to the Head. The movie only made $22 million at the box office, yet Stallone still managed to take home a hefty $15 million paycheck.

Officialslystallone/ Instagram

4. Halle Berry

When Halle Berry took the risk to star in 2004's Catwoman, it was met with widespread mockery. Unfortunately, time has not been kind to the film and its legacy. Despite the negative reviews, the film did result in Berry earning $14 million for her role.

Halleberry/ Instagram

5. Mark Wahlberg

Despite the negative press surrounding All the Money in the World after it was revealed that Michelle Williams was paid only $625,000 compared to Mark Wahlberg's $5 million salary, the film failed to make all the money in the world.

Markwahlberg/ Instagram

6. Vin Diesel

At the start of Vin Diesel's career, he was able to earn $2.5 million for his role in 2003's A Man Apart. Unfortunately, the film was not a success and was considered a box office bomb.

Vindiesel/ Instagram

7. George Clooney

Despite having a big budget and major stars, Disney's Tomorrowland was unable to live up to the hype and failed to satisfy its viewers. Nevertheless, George Clooney still earned $25 million for his part in the movie.

Pinterest

8. Steve Carell

The 2010 comedy Dinner for Schmucks should have been more successful than it was. Despite being a box office flop, Steve Carell earned $12 million for his role, co-starring alongside fellow funnyman Paul Rudd.

Stevecarellofflcial/ Instagram

For another “fair vs. equal” fight, see whether someone should split family bills based on income.

9. Angelina Jolie

Not every project that Angelina Jolie is involved with is successful. The Good Shepherd, directed by Robert De Niro, is an example of this. The movie only made $10 million at the box office despite its $90 million budget. Nevertheless, Jolie still earned a hefty sum of $10 million for her role in the film.

Angelinajolie/ Instagram

10. Arnold Schwarzenegger

Since the 2000 film The 6th Day was a box office failure, earning only $96 million worldwide on a budget of $82 million, Arnold Schwarzenegger's career has been on a downward trajectory. However, he still earned an impressive $25 million for his role.

Schwarzenegger/ Instagram

11. Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. had already made a comeback due to his Marvel roles, but his later role in the movie Dolittle was a critical and commercial flop. Despite this, he was paid $20 million to star in the film.

Robertdowneyjr/ Instagram

12. Scarlett Johansson

Prior to its release, there was much anticipation for the movie Ghost in the Shell. Unfortunately, when it was released, it failed to perform well at the box office. Despite this, its leading actress, Scarlett Johansson, still earned a hefty $10 million salary for her part.

Scarlettjohanssonworld/ Instagram

13. Reese Witherspoon

The romantic comedy How Do You Know had an unsatisfactory performance at the box office, earning only $48 million against a budget of $120 million. Reese Witherspoon, who starred in the movie, was paid $15 million.

Resewitherspoon/ Instagram

14. Eddie Murphy

Despite experiencing some major box office failures in his career, Eddie Murphy remains a prominent star in Hollywood. One of his biggest flops was The Adventures of Pluto Nash, which resulted in an estimated loss of over $90 million. Nevertheless, Murphy still earned $17 million for his role in the movie.

pinterest

15. Johnny Depp

Do you recall Mortdecai? It's understandable if you don't, as it was exceptionally forgettable. This movie was a total misfire that displeased both critics and audiences, earning only $47 million in contrast to its $60 million production budget.

Even so, Johnny Depp was handsomely paid an astonishing $18 million for his role in the disaster.

Johnnydepp/ Instagram

Before you even get to the bigger disasters like Catwoman, Julia Roberts already proved you can lose money as a movie and still win big as a contract.</p>

Then Tom Cruise steps in with Rock of Ages, reminding everyone that box office failure is not the same thing as financial consequences for the cast.</p>

Next comes Sylvester Stallone in Bullet to the Head, where the numbers look bad on paper but the paycheck looks downright smug.</p>

And once Halle Berry’s $14 million from Catwoman is on the board, the whole “flop equals empty wallet” theory starts falling apart fast.</p>

Ultimately, it is the quality of a movie rather than the star power of its actors that will determine its success. While big names may draw in an audience, it is the quality of the movie itself that will keep them engaged and make the film a success.

What do you think?

Flops didn’t break these stars, their contracts did.

Still dealing with money after a breakup, read about refusing to split stock investments with an ex-husband.