For all of the romance that surrounds essential tales and the technical efforts of filmmaking, on the finish of the day Hollywood is as a lot a enterprise as any, and that signifies that cash is normally greater than good intentions. This steamy truth has seen a lot of actors shell out their very own cash to get a film they’re keen about.
Whereas this generally results in nice success with the actor making tens of millions of {dollars} in earnings, it typically backfires with disastrous penalties. From sentimental tasks that audiences aren’t enthusiastic about to flamboyant listeners betting on themselves and shedding, there have been loads of actors who’ve helped finance their very own films and by no means seen their a reimbursement.
1 John Wayne – The Alamo (1960)
like John Wayneardour challenge, Alamo It was conceived as early as 1945 however took years to hit the bottom operating the best way Wayne envisioned. It was later concluded that he himself would direct and produce the movie by way of his manufacturing firm, Batjac Productions, however was adamant that he wouldn’t seem in it.
When Wayne tried to enlist monetary assist, it grew to become clear that he would solely get the coveted cash if he starred within the image. Wayne finally struck a cope with United Artists He contributed $1.5 million to it from his personal pocket to make the film. Whereas Alamo Simply sufficient to repay United Artists, Wayne’s funding did not reap the monetary rewards.
2 Kevin Costner – “The Postman” (1997)
Kevin Costner He’s no stranger to financing his personal movies. It labored when he put $3 million in dancing with the wolves which made almost twenty occasions its funds, and managed to tug off a monetary catastrophe on water world Due to post-theatrical income streams, however he wasn’t so fortunate Postman.
Costner directed, acted and produced the three-hour post-apocalypse epic on a whopping $80 million funds. No matter luck the last decade had began with although had clearly dried up Postman It made simply $20.8 million after being marred by a horrible opening weekend and a disastrous important reception.
3 John Travolta – Battlefield Earth (2000)
It’s extensively thought-about one of many worst movies ever madeAnd battle area – Based mostly on the novel Battlefield Earth: The Epic of the 12 months 3000 By Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard – Change into john TravoltaArdour Challenge in the course of the Nineties. A scholar in his personal proper, Travolta was given a signed copy of the ebook from Hubbard upon its publication in 1982 and used the resurgence of his profession to attempt to adapt it by a significant Hollywood studio.
Whereas she struggled to search out studio curiosity because of her Scientology ties, the movie was finally picked up with Travolta contributing tens of millions of {dollars} of his personal cash, And sacrifice a big a part of his wageto get the film. Towards a funds of $73 million, battle area Incomes $29.7 million, the deliberate sequel was by no means made.
4 Tommy Wiseau – Room (2003)
So far as cult movies go, the room It’s such an enormous hit Well-known hero of Breaking Unhealthy cinema. Sadly Tommy WiseauFolks did not fairly see it as a popular culture phenomenon upon its theatrical launch because the film solely made $1,900 in opposition to a funds of $6 million.
Whereas the precise nature of how he obtained this amount of cash stays considerably of a thriller, Wiseau contributed all the funds So as to preserve inventive management. Regardless of its disastrous preliminary run, the affect of widespread tradition has seen the movie’s earnings soar to $4.9 million, and who is aware of, it’d show to be a moneymaker.
5 Matthew McConaughey – Sahara 2005
One of the crucial well-known and controversial manufacturing processes, the desertThe corporate’s funds began at a modest $80 million however ballooned to over $160 million by the point filming ended, with a further $61 million tied to distribution bills. Based mostly on Cliff CusslerNovels by Dirk Pitt, the action-adventure movie is deliberate as the primary in a collection.
This apparently by no means occurred, because the movie’s $119 million field workplace earnings account for simply over half of its whole outgoings. Matthew McConaughey He even blogged a promotional highway journey in an effort to market the movie He invested his personal cash in itbut it surely proved to be ineffective.
6 Brad Pitt – The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Stable proof that not all actor-financed field workplace films are dangerous films, The assassination of Jesse James by the hands of the coward Robert Ford star and producer Brad Pitt I admit it Engaged on the film value him cash. A revisionist Western epic It particulars Jesse James (Pete) and the break-up of his gangThe movie gained acclaim from followers and critics alike for its efficiency and portrayal of Eighteen Eighties America, and Roger DickensThe cinematography is breathtaking.
Nevertheless, the film flopped, turning into a field workplace bomb even with its restricted funds of $30 million. After making slightly below $4 million with its theatrical launch, it has since boosted that determine to $15 million with DVD gross sales and amassed an enormous fan following.
7 George Clooney – Leatherheads (2008)
After successful gold in 2005 Good night and good luckduring which George Clooney Mortgaging his home to assist fund the $7 million funds (the movie grossed $54.6 million), Clooney tried to copy his success with leatherheads. A sports activities comedy with a unfastened basis in historical past, it was removed from a horrible film, but it surely did not do very properly on the field workplace.
Clooney was clearly excited in regards to the film, as he served as author, director, and star, and produced it by way of his manufacturing firm, Smokehouse Productions. It proved to be an costly gamble, although leatherheads It made solely $41.3 million, failing to interrupt even by some margin.
8 Mel Gibson – Get the Gringo (2012)
till 2012, Mel Gibson He has had a formidable report in relation to making monetary contributions to the movies during which he has been concerned. He helped fund his administrative efforts on the The eagerness of Christ And Apocalypto with huge monetary success, however the properly ran out when he produced and starred Get Gringo.
Whereas the 2012 motion film performed properly with critics, it was launched at the moment Gibson has been criticized for making antisemitic feedback. Made on a $20 million funds, it was additionally marred by a demand-release technique video and ended up solely making $8.8 million.
9 Will Smith – “After Earth” (2013)
With an ambition to be a large sci-fi journey spectacle, after Earth a noticed will Smith and his son Jaden Smith Share the display screen as a father-son duo crash-land on Earth a thousand years after humanity was pressured to flee the planet. The film made $243.8 million by way of its theatrical launch which sounds spectacular, however in opposition to a $150 million funds and a further $100 million poured into the advertising marketing campaign, it fell wanting expectations.
Whereas Will Smith himself didn’t contribute any cash to the movie’s huge manufacturing, his manufacturing firm, Overbrook Leisure, did. Smith described on the again the movie’s important and industrial failure after Earth Because the ‘most painful failure’ [his] profession” in an interview with Revered He regretted having led his son into the challenge.
10 Tina Fey – Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)
A daring effort to combine comedy with struggle drama, Tango Foxtrot Whiskey It can’t be dealt with by anybody who lacks delicate poise and comedic finesse Tina Fey. Based mostly on Kim ParkerDiary Dodge the Taliban: Unusual Days in Afghanistan and PakistanThe comedy star launched the pre-production course of in 2014 together with her manufacturing firm, Little Stranger, in cost.
With a funds of $35 million and Margot Robbie And Martin Freeman Among the many notable forged members within the film, it appeared as if he would simply surpass that quantity. Regardless of optimistic critiques, it was hobbled by a poor opening weekend and by no means recovered, incomes simply $25.4 million.