Most Profitable Stars in Hollywood.

[Smokey]

Hollywood studios routinely shell out $20 million paychecks to A list stars like Will Smith, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp on the premise that their famous faces ensure packed movie houses on opening weekend.

But are these superstars worth it?

Recently Forbes magazine complied a list of most profitable stars and according to the list (Ultimate Star Payback), the answer to above question is no.

Matt Damon, the soft-spoken leading man in box office winner The Bourne Ultimatum turns out to be Hollywood's best investment. For every dollar Damon got paid for his last three roles, his films returned $29 of gross income.

Here is the complete list (link at bottom)...

Matt Damon: For each dollar he got paid, Matt Damon's movies averaged $29 of gross income.


Brad Pitt: For each dollar he got paid, Brad Pitt movies averaged $24 of gross income.


Vince Vaughn: For each dollar he got paid, Vince Vaughn movies averaged $21 of gross income.


Johnny Depp: For each dollar he got paid, Johnny Depp movies averaged $21 of gross income.


Jennifer Aniston: For each dollar she got paid, Jennifer Aniston movies averaged $17 of gross income.


Angelina Jolie: For each dollar she got paid, Angelina Jolie movies averaged $15 of gross income


Renée Zellweger: For each dollar she got paid, Renée Zellweger movies averaged $14 of gross income.


Reese Witherspoon: For each dollar she got paid, Reese Witherspoon movies averaged $13 of gross income


Ben Stiller: For each dollar he got paid, Ben Stiller movies averaged $13 of gross income


Sandra Bullock: For each dollar she got paid, Sandra Bullock movies averaged $13 of gross income.

[Smokey]

Tom Hanks: For each dollar he got paid, Tom Hanks movies averaged $12 of gross income


Leonardo DiCaprio: For each dollar he got paid, Leonardo DiCaprio movies averaged $11 of gross income.


Tom Cruise: For each dollar he got paid, Tom Cruise movies averaged $11 of gross income


Will Smith: For each dollar he got paid, Will Smith movies averaged $10 of gross income


Denzel Washington: For each dollar he got paid, Denzel Washington movies averaged $10 of gross income.


Cameron Diaz: For each dollar she got paid, Cameron Diaz movies averaged $9 of gross income.


Adam Sandler: For each dollar he got paid, Adam Sandler movies averaged $9 of gross income.


Will Ferrell: For each dollar he got paid, Will Ferrell movies averaged $8 of gross income.


Jim Carrey: For each dollar he got paid, Jim Carrey movies averaged $8 of gross income.


Nicole Kidman: For each dollar she got paid, Nicole Kidman movies averaged $8 of gross income.


Jennifer Lopez: For each dollar she got paid, Jennifer Lopez movies averaged $7 of
gross income.

Russell Crowe: For each dollar he got paid, Russell Crowe movies averaged $5 of gross income.

http://www.forbes.com/2007/08/03/cel...arpayback.html

[PeruvianSkies]

Interesting, but it doesn't make a lick of difference to me. What would be more interesting to see is which celebrity took the least amount for a paycheck and had the most successful film. There are also a few issues with regards to these exact numbers because there are certain overlaps, for example the movie OCEANS ELEVEN that starred a number of these people.

Besides everyone knows that the greatest film star is Norma Desmond.

[Worf101]

Peruvian Flake FTW!!!!

Da Worfster

[Smokey]

Interesting, but it doesn't make a lick of difference to me. What would be more interesting to see is which celebrity took the least amount for a paycheck and had the most successful film.

What I find intresting is big comedy stars like Carry , Sandler or Ferrell rank at botton of scale. Forbes magazine mentioned that foreign ticket sales was also part of calculated investment returns.

It seem that American comedy movies does not play too well in foreign market. But action and drama movies do.

[Groundbeef]

What I find intresting is big comedy stars like Carry , Sandler or Ferrell rank at botton of scale. Forbes magazine mentioned that foreign ticket sales was also part of calculated investment returns.

It seem that American comedy movies does not play too well in foreign market. But action and drama movies do.

I think that humor is much more of a local taste. What I mean is that an action film is just that. Its a guy with a gun. People can relate to that.

However, humor is more difficult to nail down, and what plays in Peoria, probably wont play in Paris (unless its Jerry Lewis...).

[PeruvianSkies]

Usually people that are UNfunny to American audiences are eaten up by non-US places and it's interesting how things like Baywatch can be so huge in some places. Then again not that many American's found BORAT all that funny, others found it hilarious.