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The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most celebrated and financially successful franchises in cinematic history. Directed by Peter Jackson, the films redefined fantasy storytelling, grossing nearly $3 billion worldwide and winning multiple Academy Awards. Given its monumental success, many assume that the cast walked away with life-changing paychecks. However, Elijah Wood, who portrayed Frodo Baggins, recently revealed that this was far from the truth.
Speaking at the 2025 Texas Film Awards, Wood disclosed that the actors were bound by single contracts covering all three films, preventing them from renegotiating salaries as the franchise grew in popularity. This structure, set in place by New Line Cinema, meant that despite the films’ massive earnings, the cast’s paychecks remained modest compared to modern blockbuster salaries. The studio, at the time, was taking a considerable risk in adapting J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary work, so they chose not to invest heavily in actor salaries upfront. Even Cate Blanchett, who played Galadriel, once joked that she was paid in sandwiches.
Why the Lord of the Rings Cast Earned Less Than Expected?
When New Line Cinema greenlit The Lord of the Rings in the late 1990s, it was far from a guaranteed success. The studio was taking a massive financial risk by committing to three films at once, an unusual move in Hollywood at the time. As a precaution, they locked in actors under single contracts for the entire trilogy, ensuring that production costs remained controlled even if the films became blockbusters.
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