Why are some Hollywood celebrities being paid mega bucks to produce big flops? Usually in Hollywood celebs receive top dollars for being able to draw in mass audiences. You would think this would be the return on investment for stars to demand such outrageous price tags.
1. Nicole Kidman
Kidman has an Oscar and earns $15 million paydays, but she’s proved to offer a poor return on investment. Despite bringing in $370 million in worldwide box office, The Golden Compass only grossed $3.36 for every dollar Kidman was paid. The Invasion lost $2.68 for every dollar that went to Kidman. She has a chance for a high-profile comeback with this fall’s epic Australia, which could earn the Aussie her third best actress nomination. For every dollar she was paid, Nicole Kidman’s movies averaged $1 of gross income.
2. Jennifer Garner
Garner has stayed fairly under the radar since her 2005 big-budget disaster Elektra, which cost $40 million to make and earned only $56 million worldwide. Unfortunately for Garner her follow-up films didn’t do much better. Both Catch and Release and The Kingdom underperformed at the box office. For every dollar she was paid, Jennifer Garner’s movies averaged $3.60 of gross income.
3. Tom Cruise
His recent cameo as a foul-mouthed studio exec in Tropic Thunder is earning raves and might usher in the era of Tom Cruise comedies. In the meantime, Cruise has to deal with the fallout from his recent dramatic blunder, Lions for Lambs. The film’s box office ($63 million worldwide) was bad enough that even without taking any upfront pay Cruise still earned the movie only $1.88 for every dollar he was paid. For every dollar he was paid, Tom Cruise’s movies averaged $4 of gross income.
4. Cameron Diaz
The highest paid actress in Hollywood, Diaz pulled in $50 million last year. But her high salary makes it hard for the romantic comedies she stars in to earn a good return. The Holiday brought in $205 million worldwide but Diaz’s high payday meant the film only grossed $3.70 for every dollar Diaz was paid. For every dollar she was paid, Cameron Diaz’s movies averaged $4 of gross income.
5. Jennifer Lopez
The singer/actress/designer has struggled at the box office for the past few years, choosing small projects like 2006’s El Cantante, a low-budget musical biopic starring her husband Marc Anthony, which barely registered at the box office. Her last big film was 2005’s Monster-in-Law, which grossed $155 million worldwide returning $6.85 for every dollar Lopez was paid.
For every dollar she was paid, Jennifer Lopez’s movies averaged $4.10 of gross income.
2007 was a year of highs and lows for Nicolas Cage. Book of Secrets, the sequel to Cage’s 2004 hit National Treasure, grossed $456 million worldwide. The sci-fi thriller Next, released that spring, brought in only $73 million. The movie lost 50 cents for every dollar Cage was paid.
For every dollar he was paid, Nicolas Cage’s movies averaged $4.16 of gross income.
8. Drew Barrymore
For every dollar she was paid, Drew Barrymore’s movies averaged $4.38 of gross income.
The former Saturday Night Live star did well with high-grossing comedies like Blades of Glory. The sports tale grossed $4.95 for every dollar Ferrell was paid. But he stumbled with his more serious turn in 2006’s Stranger Than Fiction, which grossed $53 million in worldwide box office, only $1.63 for every dollar Ferrell was paid. For every dollar he was paid, Will Ferrell’s movies averaged $4.67 of gross income.
10. Cate Blanchett