Forbes is at it again – this time, uncovering the most overpaid movie stars. Now, before you start, let me state that they did it very scientifically. They looked at the star’s last three films that opened before January 1 (to give it time to be released on DVD). They discounted animated films, supporting roles, and any star that consistently earned less than $5 million per movie.
To calculate the gross income for every dollar paid, those at Forbes took half of the worldwide box office per movie, then added the first three months of DVD revenues. They then subtracted what it took to make the film to get the gross. They took the amount the actor was paid (including any of sharing of the profits) and divided that into the gross income.
Now for the list. There are some big, big names here, but I bet if you think about their last three movies, you will realize they are indeed overpaid.
Nicole Kidman
She won an Oscar in 2002, but Oscars don’t always add up to box office bonanzas. Nicole gets about $15 million per film, but she only averages $1 of gross income for ever dollar she was paid for her last three films.
Jennifer Garner
Ouch – 2005’s Elecktra cost $40 million to make and only brought in $56 million. For every dollar of her salary for the past three films, Jennifer brought in $3.60 in gross income.
Tom Cruise
No real surprise here. While Tom has certainly ridden many films to box office success, it has not necessarily been his last three. Tom averages $4 of gross income per dollar he is paid.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron made $50 million last year, but her movies aren’t doing quite so well. Like Tom, she brings in an average of $4 of gross income per dollar she is paid.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer was riding high in 2005 when Monster-in-Law brought in $155 million, but now, she is only averaging $4.10 of gross income per dollar paid.
Jim Carrey
Jim cannot seem to decide if he wants to do comedy or be a serious actor and maybe that may be hurting his box office returns. His gross income average is $4.11 per dollar paid to him.
Nicolas Cage
This one just seems wrong, considering the success of both the National Treasure movies. But, Next, a sci-fi thriller, only made $73 million, meaning it lost 50 cents per dollar that was paid to Cage. He averages $4.16 of gross income per dollar paid.
Drew Barrymore
Her last film, Lucky You lost 17 cents for every dollar paid to her – it only made $8 million worldwide. Drew averages $4.38 per dollar paid to her.
Will Ferrell
This one really surprised me – I thought all his films were doing excellent at the box office. But, 2006’s Stranger than Fiction helped lower his average to $4.67 of gross income for ever dollar in salary he earned.
Cate Blanchett
Cate has received five Oscar nominations, but her gross income per dollar paid has been up and down. Her 2003 film The Missing cost $65 million to make, but only brought back $38 million. That meant the film lost $2.94 for every dollar Cate was paid. But she rebounded with Babel, which made $13.20 for every dollar she was paid. Her average is $4.97.