4 Hollywood stars who have made millions acting in Netflix movies, including a massive $250 million deal

Travis ClarkMay 10, 2019, 18:29 IST

Netflix

Hollywood stars can now strike huge deals with Netflix that rival those from traditional movie studios.
Ryan Reynolds is getting paid $27 million for his upcoming Michael Bay movie, "Six Underground."
Adam Sandler struck gold with a four-film, $250 million deal in 2014.
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Actors don't get paid like they used to, and the days of them making $100 million for a single role - like Will Smith did on "Men in Black 3" - are over.

But as traditional movie-star salaries have declined over time, Netflix salaries are on the rise. More and more Hollywood heavy hitters, from Smith to "Bird Box" star Sandra Bullock, are turning to Netflix because they can get paid just as much as, if not more than, they would for a Hollywood studio movie.

Will Smith made $20 million on the Netflix original movie "Bright" in 2017, and will make $35 million for its sequel, according to Variety.

Ryan Reynolds will earn $27 million for the upcoming Netflix Michael Bay movie, "Six Underground," about six billionaires who turn into vigilantes after faking their deaths. For comparison, that's more than the $20 million Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is getting for this summer's "Fast and Furious" spin-off "Hobbs and Shaw," and more than the $17 million Will Smith is being paid for "Bad Boys for Life."

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is the biggest movie franchise of all time, and the longer its stars stick with it, the more they make. Brie Larson earned $5 million for "Captain Marvel," but Scarlett Johansson will earn $15 million for the upcoming solo Black Widow movie (her eighth MCU title). Robert Downey Jr received $75 million pay day for "Avengers: Endgame."

It's good to note, however, that many actors get paid a percentage of box-office earnings, which Netflix does not have. But Netflix is proving to be a lucrative platform for actors.

The greatest example of Netflix's willingness to invest in star power is Adam Sandler, who signed a four-film deal in 2014 worth $250 million (or $62.5 million a movie). And it signed him on for four more movies in 2017.

Here are four stars who have signed big deals with the streaming giant:

See 4 Hollywood stars who have made millions acting in Netflix movies, including a massive $250 million deal >>

Ben Affleck — $8 million for "Triple Frontier"

Source: Variety (2019)

Netflix said that "Triple Frontier" was viewed by 52 million households in its first month of release, despite middling reviews (it has a 71% on Rotten Tomatoes). It stars Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, and more as former special forces operatives planning a heist in South America.

Ryan Reynolds — $27 million for "Six Underground"

Source: Variety (2019)

The Michael Bay-directed action movie, "Six Underground," follows six billionaires who turn into vigilantes. It will be Bay's first movie since 2017's "Transformers: The Last Knight," and is expected to debut later this year.

Will Smith — $35 million for "Bright 2"

Source: Variety (2019)

"Bright," about a human cop and his orc partner, was panned by critics with a 25% Rotten Tomatoes critic score. Despite that, it was a major hit for the streamer, and a sequel is on the way.

Adam Sandler — $250 million for four movies

Source: Forbes (2017)

Sandler's Netflix movies have been major critical misfires, but that didn't stop the streamer from signing him for four more movies in 2017 after his initial deal. His 2015 Netflix movie "The Ridiculous Six" has a 0% Rotten Tomatoes critic score.

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4 Hollywood stars who have made millions acting in Netflix movies, including a massive $250 million deal

Ben Affleck — $8 million for "Triple Frontier"

Ryan Reynolds — $27 million for "Six Underground"

Will Smith — $35 million for "Bright 2"

Adam Sandler — $250 million for four movies