Forbes has released their annual ranking of the highest-paid movie stars, and one of the biggest surprises is that Robert Pattinson made the cut! The 27-year-old British actor is credited with helping to make Twilight a global phenomenon, starring in all the movie adaptations of Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling vampire saga. Before Twilight, Pattinson had mostly appeared in British TV series, playing a variety of characters. He even had a role in the popular film, Out of Sight, as one of the FBI agents chasing Jennifer Lopez’s character. However, it was his role as the rebellious teenager, Edward Cullen, that propelled him to fame.
Meyer’s other famous novels, including New Moon and Eclipse, have also been made into movies, with Pattinson reprising his role as the vampire Edward Cullen.
Based on 2018 earnings, Forbes estimates that Pattinson made $60 million from his role in Twilight. His highest-paid co-star is Emma Watson, who stars in upcoming movie, The Boy Widow, and made $42 million. In 2018, Watson starred in a group of superhero movies, including Aquaman, Black Widow, and Mary Queen of Scots, earning a total of $350 million.
How Much Did Taylor Lautner Get Paid for Snow White And The Huntsman?
Another surprising name on the list is Taylor Lautner. The 27-year-old actor was initially famous for playing Troy in the Twilight franchise, helping to make him one of the highest-paid actors of 2018. He then went on to play the heroic Logan, in the X-Men movies, which were some of the most popular superhero films of all time and made him a household name. While most actors make their living from TV series and commercials, Lautner has focused on film. Most recently, he appeared in the hit TV series, The Handmaid’s Tale, for which he won a Golden Globe and has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy.
Based on 2018 earnings, Lautner made a little over $25 million. However, his fame increased dramatically since his role in Snow White and the Huntsman, which premiered in 2012. The critically-panned movie was a box office flop and it didn’t help that it was full of clichés and poor acting. Still, it went on to earn over $200 million, which is the highest gross for any Wes Anderson film.
What Was Leonardo DiCaprio’s Paycheck From The Wolf Of Wall Street?
Perhaps the most successful actor on the list, and one of the highest-paid actors of all time, is Leonardo DiCaprio. Over the last decade, the 38-year-old actor has taken Hollywood by storm, starring in popular blockbusters and leading man movies. He recently produced and starred in the acclaimed documentary, The Wolf Of Wall Street, about the stock market in the years leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.
The Wolf Of Wall Street was widely regarded as one of the greatest documentary films of all time, and it became the highest-grossing documentary of all time, with a total lifetime gross of over $550 million. It also won him a Golden Globe, an Academy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Based on 2018 earnings, DiCaprio made a cool $65 million. However, he probably made even more than that. It’s known that DiCaprio was paid $20 million for just three hours of screen time in the blockbuster, The Wolf Of Wall Street. That’s more than $66 million before taxes and incentives.
Which Actors Were The Biggest Gainers Since The Start Of 2018?
Many famous faces went up on the leaderboard this year. Among them, are Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, and Leonardo DiCaprio. The list also features many familiar names from the TV show, The Handmaid’s Tale, including Mary Kay Letts and Sophie Turner. These are all popular and well-paid actors who will likely appear in many more films and TV shows.
Turner, in particular, made a name for herself this year. After starring in the final season of Game Of Thrones, she landed a leading role in Richard Linklater’s epic, Where To Next, which just wrapped filming. She will next be seen in the upcoming Alien movie, on which she is acting alongside Kate McKinnon.
It’s interesting to see how some of the biggest names on the list are from the TV show, The Handmaid’s Tale. That likely has a lot to do with Hulu’s incredible success in the TV market. It now streams TV shows and films and is one of the world’s biggest producers of premium content.
Many of the biggest names on this year’s list are likely to be back, with sequels and potential spin-offs, in the near future. That means 2019 could be a very lucrative year for the industry. As for the rest of the list, it features many actors whose roles are probably only recognizable to rabid fans. Still, it’s an interesting snapshot of the industry’s top earners this year.