It’s not easy to make it big in Hollywood. But over the years, multiple stars embarked on the challenging endeavor, charting their own unique path to success. And establishing his place in the industry, Sylvester Stallone witnessed a turning point in his career when he wrote and starred in the iconic film Rocky. And this is imperative because, since the movie, Stallone has worked in blockbuster hits and commanded substantial paychecks for his work, cementing his status as one of the highest-earning actors in the industry. So much so, that the Cobra actor made an insane amount of money even from his flop projects.
In fact, Stallone once demanded a staggering paycheck of $20,000,000 for a movie that is considered the biggest flop of his career.
What was Sylvester Stallone’s lucrative box office bomb?
Despite Sylvester Stallone’s undeniable success, there have been instances where studios took a gamble on him that didn’t pay off. And one such example of this is his 2002 thriller/mystery Eye See You. Following the story of an FBI agent Jake Malloy who is recovering from the death of his wife, while a serial killer stalks him, the movie, initially titled D-Tox had a limited release in America.
Completed in 1999, the movie’s initial screening attracted a ton of negative reviews. Hence, it remained shelved for a while before the makers made the necessary re-shoots and story changes. However, citing creative differences between the director and the studio (Universal), Stallone admitted that D-Tox landed in limbo. And in November 2002, DEJ Productions released it under the title Eye See You.
And interestingly, Stallone received a massive paycheck of $20,000,000 for his role in Eye See You. The film generated a mere $6 million collection at the box office, whereas Stallone took home $20 million from what is now considered to be the biggest flop of his career.
Other noteworthy earnings that helped Sylvester Stallone accumulate his massive wealth
Over the course of his illustrious career, Sylvester Stallone has consistently brought home massive paychecks, solidifying his impressive net worth of $400 million. This financial success can be attributed to his involvement in numerous high-grossing films and franchises, as well as his commanding presence as an action movie icon.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Stallone’s earnings have been substantial throughout his career. In 1982, he earned $3.5 million for First Blood, followed by $10 million in 1983 for his first producer credit in Staying Alive. Furthermore, Stallone continued his successful streak by earning $4 million and his second producer credit for 1984’s Rhinestone, and an impressive $12 million paycheck, along with another producer credit, for Rocky IV the very next year. Moreover, he also received an additional $12 million for Over the Top and a staggering $16 million for Rambo III.
Apart from these, the Rocky star also made a significant amount of money from his two other flop ventures. Reportedly, he earned a $12 million paycheck for Bullet to the Head which could only collect $22 million at the box office. And the 2001 movie Driven helped him bank $20 million while it proved to be a major flop, accumulating a mere $32 million against its $72 million budget.
Source: The Things, Celebrity Net Worth
