Johnny Depp’s Hollywood Comeback Came At A Price, With His Salary Slashed By 94% From His Biggest Movie
Johnny Depp Took A Staggering 94% Pay Cut For His Hollywood Return After His Highest-Paid Movie (Photo Credit – Instagram)

There was a time when Johnny Depp could walk into a Hollywood movie and claim a million-dollar paycheck. In fact, his biggest payday came from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie Dead Men Tell No Tales, which earned him a whopping $90 million, including backend profits.

But after a decade, that story has changed completely. As you already know, Johnny Depp has made his comeback to Hollywood after almost a decade with the adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. After some personal life challenges with his wife, Amber Heard, his return to work came with a whopping 94% pay cut.

Yes, compared to his last record-breaking earnings from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Depp had to settle for a 94% decrease. So, how much is Hollywood actually paying him?

How Much Is Johnny Depp Getting Paid For Ebenezer?

According to Variety, Johnny Depp is reportedly earning $5 million up front for playing Scrooge in Ebenezer. Yes, that’s a drop of almost $85 million. However, in Dead Men Tell No Tales, Depp’s $90 million paycheck included backend profits too. That means he received a share of the movie’s financial success in addition to his upfront payment.

And his Ebenezer paycheck of $5 million is only his upfront payment, and what he is receiving in backend is still unknown. Still, we can’t unsee the major difference. Even for a cameo role in Alice in Wonderland back in 2010, Depp reportedly received a paycheck between $50 million and $75 million, according to The Telegraph. Even his reported payment for Fantastic Beasts was triple his present paycheck.

However, Johnny Depp had his reasons for charging so much for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. In a Vanity Fair interview back in 2011, the actor accepted that his Pirates paychecks were ridiculous and that he accepted them because of his children. However, with a huge salary came huge criticism too. Even back in 2015, Forbes listed him as the most overpaid actor.

Could Depp’s Massive Pay Cut Actually Help His Hollywood Comeback?

I think Depp’s smaller paycheck was only a kick-start and a very smart move, especially considering the popularity Ebenezar is giving him.

After the highly publicized defamation trial against his wife, Amber Heard, this is Depp’s first major Hollywood studio release. So, this movie gives him a chance to revisit his legacy and enjoy a mainstream theatrical release.

With a popular cast of Rupert Grint, Ian McKellen, Daisy Ridley, and more, the movie’s production budget is also quite limited, reportedly $38 million. Besides, if the movie does well, it will again push him towards the 8-figure mark, or maybe 9. 

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Must Read: Ebenezer First Reactions Out: Critics Praise Johnny Depp’s Comeback As Scrooge, Calling The Film Haunting & Deeply Moving!

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