Big Paychecks: 22 Roles Actors Took Just for the Money
1. Michael Caine in “Jaws: The Revenge”
Michael Caine openly admitted he took the role in “Jaws: The Revenge” purely for the paycheck. He once said, “I have never seen the film, but by all accounts, it was terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific.”
2. Alec Guinness in “Star Wars”
Alec Guinness was not a fan of science fiction and didn’t think much of “Star Wars.” He took the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi for the money and later called the dialogue “fairy-tale rubbish.”
3. Ben Affleck in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”
Ben Affleck admitted he took on the role of Batman because he wanted to do something his kids would like, but the hefty paycheck certainly didn’t hurt.
4. Halle Berry in “Catwoman”
Halle Berry knew “Catwoman” wasn’t going to be a hit, but the paycheck was too good to pass up. She even joked about it in her Razzie acceptance speech.
5. Robert Pattinson in “Twilight”
Robert Pattinson has been vocal about his distaste for the “Twilight” series. He mostly took the role for the money and to gain exposure in Hollywood.
6. Laurence Olivier in “Inchon”
Laurence Olivier called his role in “Inchon” “a piece of sh*t,” but the paycheck was reportedly $1 million, which was hard to turn down.
7. Morgan Freeman in “The Contract”
Morgan Freeman took a role in “The Contract” because it was filmed in Bulgaria, where he had always wanted to visit. Plus, the money was good!
8. Gary Oldman in “Tiptoes”
Gary Oldman took a role in “Tiptoes” mainly for the paycheck. The movie was critically panned, and Oldman later expressed regret over his involvement.
9. Nicolas Cage in “Ghost Rider”
Nicolas Cage took on the role of Johnny Blaze in “Ghost Rider” for financial reasons. He’s known for taking roles to pay off debts, and this was no exception.
10. Bill Murray in “Garfield”
Bill Murray admitted he only took the role of Garfield because he thought the script was written by Joel Coen of the Coen Brothers. It turns out it was another Joel Cohen, and Murray regretted signing on.
11. Marlon Brando in “Superman”
Marlon Brando took the role of Jor-El in “Superman” for a huge paycheck and minimal work. He reportedly earned $3.7 million for just 13 days of filming.
12. Bruce Willis in “A Good Day to Die Hard”
Bruce Willis took on another “Die Hard” film purely for the money. He later admitted he wasn’t passionate about the franchise anymore.
13. Sandra Bullock in “Speed 2: Cruise Control”
Sandra Bullock took on the sequel to “Speed” for the paycheck, despite knowing the script wasn’t great. She later called it a mistake.
14. Eddie Murphy in “Norbit”
Eddie Murphy took the role in “Norbit” for the money. The film was widely criticized, but Murphy has admitted he did it for financial reasons.
15. George Clooney in “Batman & Robin”
George Clooney has apologized multiple times for his role in “Batman & Robin.” He took the part for the paycheck and later regretted the decision.
16. Christopher Plummer in “The Sound of Music”
Christopher Plummer referred to “The Sound of Music” as “The Sound of Mucus.” He took the role for the money and later expressed disdain for the film.
17. Whoopi Goldberg in “Theodore Rex”
Whoopi Goldberg took the role in “Theodore Rex” after being legally forced to honor a verbal agreement. The paycheck was significant, but the film was a disaster.
18. Jeremy Irons in “Dungeons & Dragons”
Jeremy Irons took a role in “Dungeons & Dragons” because he needed a new castle. He later admitted it was a bad career move, but the paycheck helped him buy the castle.
19. Richard Dreyfuss in “Piranha 3D”
Richard Dreyfuss took on a role in “Piranha 3D” for the money. He later admitted he only did it because he needed to pay bills.
20. Jamie Lee Curtis in “Virus”
Jamie Lee Curtis took the role in “Virus” for the paycheck. She has since called it a terrible film and regrets her involvement.
21. Matt Damon in “The Great Wall”
Matt Damon took the role in “The Great Wall” for the money and the opportunity to work in China. He later admitted the film wasn’t his best work.
22. Samuel L. Jackson in “Snakes on a Plane”
Samuel L. Jackson took the role in “Snakes on a Plane” for fun and money. He embraced the ridiculousness of the film and enjoyed the paycheck.
