Johnny Depp To Earn $56 Million For Pirates 4?

Posted on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 by Peter Sciretta

According to The Daily Mail (read: grain of salt), Johnny Depp will be paid £32,000,000 (about $56 million) for the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean 4. This would make Depp the highest paid actor (up-front) in film history. Tom Hanks supposedly made an estimated $50 million for the Da Vinci Code follow-up Angels & Demons. Keanu Reeves holds the record of the highest paid actor of all time after the fact. Reeves made $20 million plus 15% of the gross for the two Matrix sequels, which equals out to an estimated $194 million (or $97 million a film).

Regardless of if this contact makes Depp the highest paid actor in Hollywood or not, one thing is for sure - its a lot of cash for just one movie role. If true, this pretty much confirms that Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom would not be back for the sequel (so wouldn’t it technically be a spin-off?). The first three Pirates of the Caribbean films grossed over $2.68 billion worldwide, so $42 million plus some points on the back end is very reasonable as another film is essentially like printing money.

Discuss: Is Johnny Depp Or Any Actor Worth Paying $56 Million?

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  • Eric B.
    What about Will Smith?
  • Bill
    That Johnny Depp is so hot right now. If you put him in your summer blockbuster (in a starring role) you'll get your money back.
  • Nick Notes
    So maybe we should all go out and buy Disney shares?
  • simon2it
    That's just wrong. I still think that 10-15 millions is way too much to pay any actor for any part. It's sickening how much Hollywood actors get paid.
  • Yar!...That's a big booty!
  • Pirates of the caribbean 4 will officially be released to theaters on may 20th, 2011 friday, and then to dvd and blu ray disc on december 6th, 2011 tuesday!. The movie trailer and clips will be out by march 12th, or 14th, 2011 and then the soundtrack will be out on may 17th, 2011 tuesday!!!=).
  • Tom
    No actor is worth $56 million for one film. But then, if he doesn't get it the fat cats behind the scenes will just get more. I'd like to see Depp take home around $20 million, and divide the extra $36 amongst the remaining cast and crew.
  • If any actor is worth that much, it's Johnny Depp.
  • Justin
    Really, is it "sickening?" Or are you just jealous? Listen, for movies that consistently gross 1 billion worldwide (and over 3 billion overall) I think 56 million is very reasonable, especially since Jack Sparrow is pretty much the only reason I saw the last 2 movies. How does him making money affect you in any way? Or again, is it just jealousy? I'd rather he have the money than the Disney studio. He has the talent, after all.

    I say he deserves it.
  • KeanE
    Damn!!! Thats alotta cash...But if you think about it, Would anyone really watch Pirates if it wasn't for Johnny Depp???
  • If there paying him 56 million he better not only be in the new Pirrates movie, but also in Batman III

    Sike just playing!! Johnny is totally worth it
    It better be the best acting ever.
  • Jeff Nyman
    The public largely creates the "worth" of an actor. When we all go to see a given movie and that movie rakes in massive dollars, then that actor's credentials go up, at least in terms of Hollywood who then feels they have a bankable actor. If we keep that money train going for them, that actor continues to be bankable. (I know it's more complex than that in reality but in essence it ultimately boils down to that.)

    So the real question here is this: if you don't feel Johnny Depp (or any other actor) is worth this kind of movie, are you willing to stop seeing any movies that have actors you feel are overpaid?

    My guess is that most people will still go see the movies, regardless. (Just as how people still flock to sporting events, even though many of us agree that many athletes are overpaid.)
  • Dan
    If Depp isn't in the next Pirates movie, then it won't really be a pirates movie and nobody will go to see it. The studios realize that any of the other actors are disposable in that franchise, but Depp is the actor who puts the asses in the seats.
    They could just pay Depp this much, call the movie Pirates 4, and then just have Depp spin around in a chair occasionally throwing his own feces at the camera for two hours dressed as Jack Sparrow, and the movie would still gross over 500 million domestically. Just cause of Depp and the word Pirates.
  • OhNoItsGojira
    I agree with 'Tom' : share that wealth Jonny.

    But on topic. I don't think any actor is worth 56 million. Throw that money into the production values of the film, or the script (cough cough), and stop making Pirates of the Caribbean movies...
  • RAZA
    ~~~~****No actor is worth $56 million for one film.~~~~****

    I like johnny depp.

    ******He is a Gooooooood PiRaTe.**********
    RaZa MuRaD
  • vader182
    In this paticuler role, no. I loved the first Pirates, and the sequals were fun mindless movies, but for pirates 4 it just isn't worth it. I think the man is worth the money, but for a much more lucrative role.
  • Garko
    I have much more respect for Depp after him, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell donated their earning for "Dr. Parnassus" to Ledger's daughter. That showed some class right there!


    *and plus the more money he takes home, the less the demons at Disney get!
  • Kramit the Frog
    Actors are commodities, you pay what you have to to get them to make a flic. If they pay him 50million and the film brings is 10 times that it's worth it to the studio.

    It's not about what the actors performance is worth, it's about what it takes to make the movie and thus make money.
  • I don't think the numbers for Keanu are right. I could be wrong but I've never heard of anyone getting points of WORLDWIDE grosses, just US (maybe some additional territories). If it's just US grosses, Keanu's paycheck for the last 2 Matrixes would be $83mil.

    And if IMDB is right, Adam Sandler out-earned Tom Hanks - for Anger Management he allegedly received $25mil up front plus 25% gross... which totals over $58mil.
  • Wrong, Sir
    Keanu Reeves made $15 million/15% not 20/15. You're also wrong about his making the most off any movie. Depp made more from the Pirates sequels.

    By the way, Depp for $56 million (which is automatically wrong given the source) is a bargain, so long as he gets no backend on top of it.
  • He's worth it, But I don't want another Pirates movie.
  • Brian
    no actor should get 56 mil for one rolre. acting isn't easy but it sure as hell isn't 56 mil. hard. i work on sets and believe me there are a lot of people that deserve to make more money. that could be spread out. on the other hand he is the draw for most of if not all the money the film will make. it's still sickening though.

    seriously most of an actor's time is spent waiting.
  • AnthonyFTMFW
    This is why the terrorists hate us.
  • Smumdax
    I do believe some actors are overpaid... However, I understand that if one actor as good as Depp would do the role for 1 million, imagine how stupid that would be, because it's the studio that would get all the money... So, in a sense, the actor's salary is a % part of what the movie might gross at the end.

    On the other end... Walt Disney World have some pretty darn good Jack Sparrow look-a-likes that do street shows. And I really mean "pretty darn good". How about taking one of them instead :D
  • How about Bruce Willis getting 100 million for Sixth Sense?
  • Darrell
    Either he gets it... or the Executive Producers will... I vote Johnny.
  • Evan
    Not worth it. No actor is.
    But as far as the sequel/spin-off goes, if the other characters are out, I vote for a prequel. Maybe one that ends with Depp coming into port at the top of the mast of a sinking ship? And there should definitely be sea-turtles.
  • Jordan
    the only reason they can ask for that amount of money is because they know the studios will give it to them. johnny thinks to himself, "my movie has made over 2 billion dollars, i think they can spare 56 million." they only get paid so much because the movie will make a ton.
  • No one is worth that amount of money regardless of the job.
  • Shazam!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Johnny Depp IS worth that amount of money....if the movie makes 400 million dollars and HE'S what's bringing people in the theaters why shouldn't he?
    If Ledger were alive and asked for 65 mill (because TDK is the #2 grossing movie of all time) to do Batman 3.........then the studio only loses if Batman 3 only makes 100 million dollars ..................(which it won't)
    BTW no CEO is worth that amount either but get "more"
  • Detective Comic
    @ddog stop hatin'
  • Da Joka
    @ Ddog....so if a scientist discovers a cure for cancer tomorrow he doesn't deserve 56 million????....get the f#$! outta here!!
  • Liz
    It is almost right about Keanu Reeves. He got US$ 15 million per film more 15% Worldwide. He made almost US$ 200 million on the movies (sequels) alone. Just imagine what he got when considering marketing, TV and DVD rights...
  • RageTreb
    It wouldn't be a spin-off as Knightley and Bloom's characters' stories are over and pretty much set in stone for ten years (movie time). Expecting them to be in the new movies is like expecting Ewoks in the Star Wars prequels (ignoring the fact that chronologically they happened before Jedi-- I'm just saying there's no reason to bring them back).
  • JP Dyno
    Ofcourse he is worth it. They'll make money back plus a bucketload more, and they couldn't do it without depp. If i was signing the cheque Id try to bargain for less... Which no doubt disney did. But good agent + good franchise centered on his charactor = bucketloads of money.
  • Harry Lime
    Now, now, remember, these are October 2008 dollars. With the way the economy is going, Stephen Tobolowsky should be getting 56 million to be in the next Beethoven movie by Christmas.
  • The scariest part of this is not Depp (who is definitely worth it since Sparrow carries these mediocre films past $1bn every time), but that Keanu, someone with a wooden face and little to no acting skill, has made that much off the most overhyped trilogy in history.
  • R_McCall
    Dan above nailed it... I have nothing else to add.
  • Gene
    Pavel is right: Bruce Willis made over $100 million for The Sixth Sense. He worked for the minimum amount to get the movie made for under $50 million, and took money off the back-end. According to IMDB it's $100 million+, which means that it could be a lot more!
  • He is totally worth that much money. Come on people like you would not go and see the movie? I can't wait for it to come to my little town. I will be there opening night. I loved all three and to hear that there is going to be a fourth is wonderful if you ask me.

    So people don't like the idea of Johnny making this much money for the movie? Well let me ask you this, would you stop seeing movies that actors make if they get paid this much money? My guess is no. People yearn for sequels, it's in our blood. If you didn't than Nightmare on Elm Street, Star Wars, Matrix, Bad Boys, and Rush Hour (Just to name a few) would not have done nearly as well as they did.

    Just go and see the movie when it comes out and then decide if Johnny Depp earned his millions for doing the role...
  • Costantinos Sozou
    I actually didn't really like Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly in Pirates. I think Johnny Depp was great though. If bloom and knightly arnt in the fourth, i think its gonna be the best pirates film. Meh.
  • spoilerkid
    shit anyone can get that kinda money i got 48 million kuz i got ran overed by a coke truck i might have my both legs nd my arms nd neck broken but shit 48 million is worth it
  • MIKEY
    Pirates of the Caribbean 4, I cannot wait personally! I Love all the Fantasy/Adventure Films, Lord of the Rings , Indiana Jones,Star Wars and most definitely The Pirates movies for one reason alone,It takes me out of the reality of a stressful life, struggling to pay a single bill and not knowing what the future holds for me, my family and all other Americans in my situation... And, frankly,,,going to see these movies takes me out of my screwd up reality and takes Me some place else, even if its only for a few hours, it Helps!!!!!!So I say " Keep making them, PLEASE"!!!
  • John S.
    I will only see this if it is a prequel. Everything in this series after Black Pearl was awful.
  • cass
    It's totaly out of hand.Nobody is worth $56 million a movie. If you wonder why it cost so much to go to a movie or a ball game.....just look at their salaries.
  • Aslam Yun
    yeh.... sure bet, he(Jhony Dep) must be paid large sum of money like this because see the efert he had put to the three films of the pirates series...! wow he is a hel of a best actor i had ever know...! keep the rhythm going on Jhony....ma best eishes to the success of the up coming 4th one...and i eagerly waiting to watch it....!
  • Aslam Yun
    yeh.... sure bet, he(Jhony Dep) must be paid large sum of money like this because see the efert he had put to the three films of the pirates series...! wow he is a hel of a best actor i had ever know...!
  • nub
    i think if those guys work from their money. give it to them but i rather take my girl to the park, than to give thses acters my money
    i work so hard for.
    but if the company wants to give him that amount of money then so be it who cares. but Jhony Dep is funny but i think the 3rd movie was boring.
  • Falade
    I read half of the comments and there are a few reasons Depp is getting paid so much.

    1. He is a good actor
    2. When he is in movies then people watch it (So really they are paying for the number of people behind him)

    In essence it is our fault that he gets paid so much. WE go out to watch movies with DEPP in it. So they are slightly obligated to...reserve his services

    3. marginal utility falls into play
    4. Cuz he is human and when somebody flashes...lets say 32 million at you and you know you can get more...Might as well get more.
  • Emilee
    No one deserves that much money, not matter what they do. There are many poor people out there that don't even have the money to buy food. Don't they deserve atleast at least a quarter of the money. You'd think so too, if you were one of them. This is cruelty. A fourth movie sounds great, but no one deserves that much and it really depends how you use it.
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