Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson isn’t a billionaire – yet. His current net worth is reported to be around $800 million, so he’ll be joining the nine-digit club real soon. But, while The Rock is no stranger to making bank, he surely will appreciate how much Amazon Studios is reportedly paying him to star in Red One.
The upcoming action-adventure Christmas film stars The Rock alongside Chris Evans in a project that’s currently envisioned as a potential start of a new franchise. While the cast isn’t as filled to the brim with superstars like, let’s say, Red Notice, which is another franchise that The Rock stars in, Red One might prove to be the more lucrative venture for The Great One.
According to the latest newsletter by Puck journalist Matthew Belloni, The Rock will earn $50 million for Red One.
This striking number surpasses the previous records held by Robert Downey Jr. and Will Smith, who each raked in a once-record setting $40 million for starring in Captain America: Civil War and King Richard, respectively.
The enormity of Johnson’s remuneration needs some perspective. The $50 million figure equates to a sizable chunk of the production budget of films like The Flash and his most recent outings, Fast X and Black Adam.
Despite some of his films underperforming critically, there’s no denying the gravitational pull Johnson exerts when it comes to audiences. Take, for example, Red Notice which, despite earning a mediocre 36% on Rotten Tomatoes and pulling in very little at the global box office due to its limited theatrical release, shattered viewership records on the platform.
Amazon Studios clearly believes in this, banking heavily on Johnson’s ability to attract audiences to “Red One” this holiday season.
Johnson’s financial success may be awe-inspiring, but it has also sparked debates and controversy. In a world where screenwriters and smaller-scale actors struggle for their due recognition and remuneration, Johnson’s earnings are drawing flak.
As a reaction to the announcement, fans across social media expressed their discontent, suggesting that the windfall should be more equitably distributed among the cast and crew. In a time when organizations like the SAG-AFTRA and the Writer’s Guild of America are protesting for better pay and protection against AI, Johnson’s sizable earnings stand in stark contrast.
Nonetheless, these record-breaking paydays seem to be setting a new standard for Hollywood’s highest earners. Johnson, who topped the list as the highest-paid actor in 2019 and 2020, is solidifying his place at the top.
The underlying story of Red One may be veiled in mystery for now, with the screenplay by Hiram Garcia kept under tight wraps, but the film’s economic implications are crystal clear. It’s set to redefine the holiday genre, and by the look of it, the financial dynamics of Hollywood as well.
Only time will tell whether Johnson’s hefty payday will translate into commercial success for Amazon and whether it will be the new financial norm in Hollywood.
One thing’s for sure, though: when Red One lands on Amazon Prime Video this holiday season, all eyes won’t just be on the action onscreen, but also on the fallout from Johnson’s precedent-setting paycheck.
Black Adam’s lack of commercial success amid reports that he was partly to blame for the enormous budget hasn’t seemed to have affected The Rock’s Hollywood luster. After coming back to reprise his former role as Luke Hobbs in Fast X, much to everyone’s surprise, The Rock will star in an upcoming spin-off film set between Fast X and the franchise’s finale. Finally, The Rock is still expected to come back and do at least two more Red Notice films with Netflix.
