These 10 films, raking in more than $500 million at the box office, not only conquered the financial game but also played a major role in catapulting their stars into the realm of fortunes.
The Avengers (2012)
Being one the first of a long line of Marvel movies, ‘The Avengers’ is a high hitter on this movie list. With profits of $1.5 billion worldwide, this movie broke many records when it was first released. It made a number of actors very rich including;
- Robert Downey Jr with a whopping $50 million
- Scarlett Johansson earned somewhere between $4-$6 million
- Chris Evans with somewhere north of $3 million
- Chris Hemsworth with $3 million
- Jeremy Renner with $3 million
- Mark Ruffalo with $3 million
With Marvels being such a popular movie franchise, this whole list could be used as a tribute of sorts to this epic franchise. A combination of engaging storytelling, a captivating cast and stunning visuals places this movie as well as any sequels, as one of the highest grossing movies of all time.
Top Gun Maverick (2022)
The sequel of a beloved classic and a movie that grossed over $1.3 billion worldwide. Top Gun Maverick became the highest earning movie of famous actor Tom Cruise’s career. It Brings about the question, how much did the actors earn for this pandemic masterpiece?. We have:
- Tom Cruise with a crazy $100 million.
- Van Kilmer with around $ 400,000- $2 million.
- Miles Teller with $3.5 million.
- Jennifer Connelly at $3 million.
- Jon Hamm with $3 million.
We can certainly say that Tom Cruise earnt a fortune compared to his co-stars but the exact numbers are not publicly confirmed. Saying that Tom Cruise’s pay day Is not unreasonable taking the movie’s gross earnings into account.
Titanic (1997)
A timeless classic famous worldwide, this movie was inspired by the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. A perfect movie to watch with your significant other, it was the highest grossing movie for years until it was finally surpassed in 2010 by Avatar. It earned $2.1 billion worldwide and earned its actors a pretty penny. Here are some of the earning of the cast:
- Leonardo DiCaprio with a base salary of $2 million and a 1.8% share of gross income making him a rough estimate of about $45 million.
- Kate Winslet with $2 million.
Other salaries are unreported but it’s safe to say they all made a killing with this movie. Whether that was from future opportunities that came about because of this classic or the money they made, everyone benefited from this famous classic.
Avatar (2009)
James Cameron’s epic science-fiction film ‘Avatar’, surprised the world with its phenomenal success. It Captivated its viewers with ground breaking visual and 3D technology. That paired with the compelling story line and amazing portrayal of the fictional world ‘Pandora’, made this movie the number one grossing movie of all time. With a whopping $2.8 billion worldwide, this movie broke all records both domestically and internationally. Saying this the cast also earned a fortune with this piece of cinematic wonder:
- Sam Worthington made around $7-$10 million as a base salary with anywhere from 4-10% share of the movies gross profit making his net worth skyrocket overnight.
- Zoe Saldana earnt upwards of $4 million for the 2009 movie.
- Sigourney Weaver earnt more than the leads with $11 million.
- Stephan Lang earnt a comfy $2 million.
This movie revolutionized the way films were made, setting a new standard for commercial success and solidifying its place in cinematic history.
Jurassic World (2015)
The sixth highest grossing movie worldwide, it earned $1.6 million domestically and internationally. the movie reignited the thrill of the Jurassic Park franchise bringing about a new generation of dinosaur lovers everywhere. The cast also made a hefty fortune with:
- Chris Pratt earning an estimated $5 million.
- Bryce Dallas Howard was paid lower than her co-star but nothing was ever suggested however in the second movie she got paid around $8 million making her a fortune.
The movie’s triumph is largely attributed to the nostalgic and innovative take on a classic franchise. People went to see the amazing visuals and the new take on dinosaur packed action.
Justice League (2017)
The 2017 film “Justice League,” helmed by director Zack Snyder, achieved considerable success at the box office. Despite facing some production challenges, the movie’s highly anticipated release played a significant role in its global triumph. Garnering a total of $658 million in domestic and international box office revenue, it solidified its position as one of the most expensive films ever made. Consequently, the cast and crew were rewarded handsomely with impressive paychecks.
- Ben Affleck with an estimated $10-$20 million for portraying batman.
- Henry Cavill earned a crazy $14 million throughout his role as superman.
- Gal Gadot earn around $10 million as wonder woman.
It is unclear how much each earned for this specific movie but overall they earn a small fortune for the number of movies they made.
Spider-Man No Way Home
Tom Holland’s prominent presence in the limelight resulted in the creation of a Marvel film that amassed an astounding $1.92 billion in box office revenue. Demonstrating his exceptional talent, Tom, alongside his co-stars Zendaya and Jacob Batalon, delivered performances of unparalleled excellence that have left an indelible mark on the world of cinema. How much did they get for this blockbuster phenomenon:
- Tom holland with an amazing $10 million.
- Zendaya with $2 million.
- Jacob Batalon with $1 million.
- Benedict Cumberbatch with an estimated $7 million.
- Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield both at $1 million.
Surrounded by swirling rumors of past Spider-Man iterations, the movie generated an unprecedented level of anticipation and excitement. Viewers eagerly anticipated witnessing an epic collaboration featuring Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, and Tobey Maguire. Judging by its remarkable box office success, it’s safe to say that the film lived up to the immense hype and proved to be far from a disappointment.
Pirate of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Johnny Depp’s unforgettable and iconic portrayal in “Pirates of the Caribbean” led to a worldwide gross of $654 million. This film’s winning formula, combining adventure, humor, and supernatural elements, propelled it to become a massive success. Now, the focus shifts to the question of how the cast benefitted financially from this blockbuster hit.
- Johnny Depp with a comfy $10 million.
- Orlando Bloom’s salary wasn’t specified for the first movie however was paid $11 million per sequel thereafter.
- Keira Knightley with around $2-$3 million.
Star Wars VII- The Force Awakens (2015)
The success of “Star Wars” exceeded all expectations, amassing a staggering $2 billion in worldwide box office revenue. This movie became an absolute sensation, a testament to the immense size of its fan base. The inclusion of beloved characters such as Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia, combined with the introduction of a new generation of characters, excited audiences worldwide. Given the epic scale of this film, it is natural to wonder how much the cast earned for their roles in this monumental production.
- Daisy Ridley earnt around $100,000- $300,000.
- John Bayega earnt $300,000.
- Harrison Ford earnt $10-$20 million.
- Oscar Isaac earnt somewhere in the mid six figures.
Indeed, this movie served as a resounding confirmation that the “Force is still strong” within the Star Wars franchise. It revitalized the fan base and left them eagerly anticipating what the future holds.
The Lion King (2019)
The highly anticipated live-action adaptation of the beloved animated film, The Lion King, made a remarkable impact, evoking a wave of nostalgia among audiences. Its worldwide box office success, reaching a staggering $1.6 billion, solidified it as a massive hit. With acclaimed actors such as Donald Glover, Beyoncé, and Seth Rogen among the cast, it is reasonable to assume that Disney allocated a substantial financial package for these esteemed performers. Now the question arises: How much did they earn for their roles in this star-studded production?
- Donald Glover earnt around $12 million.
- Beyonce earnt around $15 million.
- Seth Rogan’s salary was not announced but it’s safe to say he earned something similar to both Glover and Beyonce.