Shockingly low movie salaries revealed: Hilary Swank and Jamie Lee Curtis

Many A-list actors and actresses have been candid Different movies Where the salary is not commensurate with the role.

Hilary Swank He starred in the 1999 film Boys don't cryreceived her first Academy Award For performance. While Swank received praise from her peers, she only received a salary of $3,000.

Meanwhile, when Jamie Lee Curtis Originally cast Halloween Film At the age of 19 in 1978, she earned only $8,000. In addition to the money she received from acting, she was also tasked with staying on a budget of $200 for her character's wardrobe.

Keep scrolling to see what other stars got shockingly low salaries in some big-name movies:

Sean William Scott

While Sean William Scott had his breakout role American Pie As Steve Stifler, his starting salary doesn't match what this cult classic is worth now. Scott was paid $8,000 for the entire film, which ended up grossing $235 million at the box office.

“I think so, yeah, because then I remember I bought a used Thunderbird for $5,000 or maybe $6,000, and I was like, ‘Oh yeah, baby,’” Scott said of what he did with his winnings during a March 2022 appearance. on Rich Eisen Show. “I don't know what happened to the other $2,000 because I ended up working at the Los Angeles Zoo as a churro man, so it was probably less than $8,000.”

Ryan Reynolds

before making dead pool Reynolds, a household name, admitted that his pay wasn't what it seemed while filming the first superhero movie.

“No part of me was thinking when Deadpool finally got the green light that this was going to be a hit,” the actor said in a July 2024 interview. New York Times. “I even gave up getting paid to make the film just to bring it back to the screen. They won't let my colleagues write Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick On set, so I took what little salary I had left and paid them to be on set with me so we could have an actual writers room.

Christopher Lee

Lee starred in the 1973 film, Wicker manand chose not to receive a salary until the film was produced.

“I don't get paid. I keep repeating it to people and they don't believe it's true,” he said in the 2001 documentary. Wicker Man Mysteryper The Independent. “If they had paid me my normal fees — and everyone else their normal fees — they wouldn’t have been able to make the film.”

Hilary Swank

“So when I did Boys don't cryI was 24 years old. You won $3000. To get health insurance, you need to earn $5,000. So I didn't even know I didn't have health insurance until I went and tried to get a prescription,” Swank recalled during an October 2016 appearance on the show Chelsea HandlerNetflix-themed talk show on Netflix. “They said, 'That's $160.' I said: Have you tried my insurance? “Mmmmm,” they said. “I won an Oscar, and I didn’t have health insurance.”

Ethan Hawke

Hawke shared in a June 2013 interview with Entertainment Weekly That while working on Cleansing He did not have a large salary and even “slept on the producers' couch” throughout filming. The actor admitted that he believes in the idea of ​​horror and wants to be a part of it at all costs.

“I never prioritized making money this way. I decided months ago that I loved it Cleansing “And I felt like it was a great movie,” he said. “I would love it (even) if it bombed. I've had very few money-making movies in my 20-year career. “I've learned not to care about him.”

Jeff Daniels

While Daniels played the title role Dumb and dumber side by side Jim Carreythe newsroom The alum allegedly had a much lower salary. Daniels received $50,000 while Curry received $7 million. Writer-director duo Bobby and Peter Farrelly He pointed out Hollywood Reporter In November 2014, the film studio did not want to cast Daniels for the role due to his lack of comedy background, despite the Farrelly brothers wanting the role.

“The studio didn't want him. They said, 'Please, somebody else.'” Bobby said, “Get a comedian.” “So they offered him, if I remember, 50 grand, which meant, you know, Jim would get seven million, They offered him $50 thinking he would say, “No, I won't take that,” but he took it. “

Jamie Lee Curtis

“I made $8,000. I was making $2,000 a week, which was a fortune at the time,” Curtis said. the people The magazine was released in October 2018 from its original edition Halloween Salary He added that the crew was young and small. “20 people, maybe 15. The oldest person was 30. Everyone else was under 30. It was magical. A friend of one's would cook every day, and we would all eat together on the floor.”

In addition to acting, Curtis was also given a $200 budget for her character's clothing, which she used at JCPenney.

Nick Castle

Like Curtis, Castle – who played the infamous Michael Mayer – didn't have a big Halloween paycheck, but he found the experience on set to be richer.

“I was getting paid $25 a day for it Halloween. That was a lot at the time! He pointed out Vanity gallery in October 2018. “You have to remember: my interest in shooting the film was while I was shooting, so I could demystify the experience of filmmaking and directing. I expected to walk around the group with no money. But hey, $25 a day, and all I had to do was wear a rubber mask.”

Taraji P. Henson

While working on The Strange Case of Benjamin Button side by side Brad Pitt and Cate BlanchettHenson was initially offered $100,000 for her role despite her request for $500,000. After some negotiation, Henson received $150,000 for the role, which earned her an Academy Award nomination.

“I want to make this very clear – I'm not saying that Brad or Kate shouldn't get what they got. They put asses in the seats, so give them their money. They deserve it. I'm not saying they shouldn't get what they get,” she said. What Henson said in an April 2019 interview. diverse. “I was just asking for half a million – that's it. That's it. When I was making Benjamin Button, I wasn't worth a million yet. My audience was still getting to know me. We thought we were asking for what was fair to me at the time.”

Rebel Wilson

Before Pitch Perfect, Wilson appeared in Pitch Perfect Bridesmaids. In her memoirs, Rebel risingWilson revealed that she earned $3,500 for her scenes with the stars Kristen Wiig and Lucas died. The amount was the minimum required to be able to join SAG-AFTRA, which was enough for Wilson.

Terrence Howard

Howard claimed that in addition to receiving a small salary for his leading role in the 2005 film Hustle and flow He also did not receive any royalties for his singing.

“I made $12,000 doing it Hustle and flowThe actor said in a November 2023 interview WREG News Channel 3. “What Paramount did, instead of putting my name as Terrence Howard performing the songs, they put it ‘performed by DJay.’ Well, they owned DJay, so guess what? He claimed the proceeds from the performance went to Paramount.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez revealed that she chose not to receive a salary for her performance Hustlers. However, it has produced crime comedies.

“I didn't get paid a huge amount of money for it Hustlers,” she said in a November 2019 interview with GQ. “I did it for free and produced it. Like Jenny From the Block – I do what I love.

Adam Levine

The Maroon 5 star made his acting debut in a rom-com in 2013 Start again I eventually decided to do it for free.

“I made this movie with no money. I'm very lucky to be in this position,” Levine said in an interview. USA Today In June 2014. “I want to have good experiences. I don't want to do a bunch of things I hate. I want to approach (acting) very differently because I have the very lucky luxury of not having to think about this in terms of money.

George Clooney

Clooney received $1 each for writing, directing and acting Good night, and good luckand earn a total of $3. The actor later shared that his desire to do the film was inspired by his father's work ethic as a journalist.

“I say (to my father): Thank you for raising the bar this high, for your strong belief in information responsibility, and taking it to the level that has cost him so many things over the years.” reflected to Los Angeles Times In September 2005. “He left jobs because he was not willing to compromise.”