Summary
- Streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are under pressure to produce mega-hits, leading to them paying hefty sums for A-list talent.
- Dwayne Johnson broke records with a $50 million paycheck for his role in the Amazon Prime movie Red One.
- John Krasinski earned over $16 million from Amazon Prime Video in 2022 alone for his role in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan.
The trend in streaming has truly shaken up how television stars get paid, and it seems like the hunger for top-notch talent won't be slowing down any time soon.
Some insiders hint that streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are now feeling more pressure than ever to come up with mega-hits, and they're not hesitating to put down a ton of money for A-list talent.
What Amazon pays for film rights is a bit of a mixed bag. It can swing pretty wildly, depending on stuff like how fancy the film looks, how popular it is, and all the specific details in the distribution deal. The usual cut for indie films on Amazon Prime Video falls somewhere in the 50% to 60% range of the money the film brings in from streaming or downloads.
8 Dwayne Johnson Scored The Highest Salary Of His Career In Amazon Prime's Movie, Red One
Dwayne Johnson has been grabbing headlines ever since his appearance as Black Adam in the DC universe. Unfortunately, the movie's performance fell flat, taking a major hit at the box office, and critics called the Black Adam a big mess.
According to Matthew Belloni's newsletter, Johnson has broken records with his earnings from the 2023 movie Red One. This holiday-themed action-comedy, where Johnson stars alongside MCU veteran Chris Evans, is set to bring some holiday cheer, with Johnson reportedly raking in a staggering $50 million.
This impressive $50 million paycheck marks the highest amount the actor has ever received for a single role. It's also the largest sum any actor has been paid for a single movie role.
For context, the actor's previous record for a single movie role was tied between Jumanji: The Next Level and Netflix's Red Notice. Reports from Deadline and Forbes indicate that Johnson took home around $23.5 million for his work on these films.
7 Matt Damon Received Millions For His Role In The Amazon Movie Air, Directed By Ben Affleck
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck share a friendship that spans over a decade. The two actors took on the role of screenwriters for the Amazon Prime movie, Air.
Damon took the lead in Air, which was directed by Affleck. In the film, he portrayed Sonny Vaccaro, a Nike basketball executive who teamed up with basketball legend Michael Jordan to transform the sports shoe industry and modern culture.
For his role, Damon earned an astonishing $30 million, marking the highest payout in his career. The Amazon original movie had a budget of $90 million. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Amazon secured the rights and package for the film by paying $120 million. However, the movie's performance at the box office has fallen short of the anticipated success.
While Damon unquestionably had the highest payday from the budget, the question remains whether his substantial earnings will match the film's collection returns. Despite its lackluster box office performance, Air received praise from critics. It boasts an impressive 92% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 73%.
6 Sacha Baron Cohen Earned A Massive Paycheck On Amazon's Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Sacha Baron Cohen once again took center stage during his 2020 film, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. This serves as the follow-up to his immensely successful 2006 comedy Borat. With impressive acting credits to his name and an array of talents spanning comedy, drama, and music, Cohen has established himself as a truly versatile luminary.
In Borat's sequel, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Deadline reported that Cohen secured an impressive sum of $80 million for his involvement in the movie.
5 How Much Did Bella Ramsay Make In Amazon Prime Video's Movie Catherine Called Birdy?
Bella Ramsey's incredible performance in The Last of Us did not come short of her portrayal as Lady Catherine in Amazon’s 2022 film, Catherine Called Birdy. Ramsey's captivating character as Lady Catherine came with a salary of $450,000, according to Showbiz Galore.
With Ramsey taking the lead, portraying a young woman reaching adulthood but adamantly resisting her father's attempts to arrange her marriage, this movie emerges as one of the most cleverly crafted comedies of recent times. It owes its success not only to the skillful guidance of director Lena Dunham but also to the remarkable contribution of Andrew Scott in a supporting role.
4 Chris Pratt Became One Of The Highest-Paid Actors On Amazon Prime's The Terminal List
Chris Pratt has taken the lead in Variety's 2021 ranking of the highest-earning TV stars. His role in the Amazon Prime thriller The Terminal List has earned him an astonishing $1.4 million per episode.
As reported by Variety, Pratt's star power has played a pivotal role in securing this impressive top-tier salary for his involvement in The Terminal List. This figure represents a substantial leap from the more conventional compensation norms seen in TV and streaming platforms.
The Terminal List brought aboard accomplished action director Antoine Fuqua to both direct and executive produce the series. Pratt, once again donning the dual hat of actor and producer, has rekindled his collaboration with Fuqua, following their joint efforts on The Magnificent Seven.
3 How Much Did Make On Amazon Prime's Drama Goliath?
Billy Bob Thornton embodied the role of ace attorney Billy McBride in Amazon Prime's compelling drama series Goliath across four dynamic seasons. According to Variety, Thornton's dedication to the character earned him a handsome compensation of $250,000 for each episode.
After a successful four-season run, Goliath concluded in 2021. Remarkably, the series maintained its quality throughout its journey, a feat that caught the attention of both viewers and critics alike. Thornton shared with Newsweek his perspective on concluding the show at this juncture, "There's something about when series go a bridge too far, you know. We knew that this season was very strong, and it seemed right to end it here."
2 How Much Did Jeffrey Tambor Earn In Amazon's Transparent Before Leaving The Show?
Jeffrey Tambor portrayed the central character, Maura in Amazon's groundbreaking series Transparent, before he was let go from the show in 2018. This followed allegations of sexual misconduct against him brought forth by his former assistant, Van Barnes, and fellow cast member Trace Lysette. Before he departed from the show, Tambor was reportedly earning $275,000 for every episode.
In a 2020 interview on SiriusXM's Gilbert Gottfried's Colossal Show, hosted by Gilbert Gottfried and Frank Santopadre, Tambor once again expressed remorse for his actions.
1 John Krasinski Is One Of The Highest-Paid Actors For His Role In The Amazon Thriller Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
John Krasinski firmly established himself among the upper echelons of highly compensated television actors, courtesy of his role in Amazon Prime Video's adaptation of Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan.
Krasinski's remuneration for acting and executive producing was reported to surpass $2 million for each episode.
Considering the third season of Jack Ryan consisted of eight episodes, it can be deduced that John Krasinski's earnings directly from Amazon Prime Video in 2022 alone surpassed the impressive sum of $16 million.
