Tom Cruise’s $7000 per word vs. Keanu Reeves’ ‘John Wick 4’ windfall.
Known for starring in action movies, both Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves have solidified their places as beloved figures in the film industry. While one is known for his on-screen persona of the secret agent in the Mission Impossible franchise, the other has become popular playing the ex-hitman seeking vengeance for his beloved dog in the John Wick franchise. Beyond their on-screen charisma, reports suggest that every word spoken by these stars holds significant value, which also showcases a substantial difference in estimated costs.
Mission Impossible star Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise Estimated to Make $7000 Per Word in His Movies
Hollywood star Tom Cruise is known for many things, one of them being his substantial earnings from film projects. From topping Forbes’ list of the highest-paid actors in 2012, he has also been featured on the list multiple times, thanks to popular and blockbuster franchises such as Mission Impossible, Top Gun, and Jack Reacher.
Tom Cruise in a still from Top Gun
In addition to his traditional salary, the actor is also known for receiving a percentage of his movies’ profits, making hundreds of millions of dollars. While it could seem equivalent to many other popular and well-known Hollywood stars, a study by Casumo adds an intriguing twist with the estimates for each word he says in his movies.
According to Business Insider, a 2020 study conducted by Casumo states that the Top Gun star makes an estimated $7,000 per word he delivers in his movies. The cost was estimated by analyzing several of his movies’ salary data and scripts throughout his career.
Keanu Reeves Made $40,000 Per Word in John Wick 4
Much like Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves is also known for starring in some of the most popular action franchises, including The Matrix and John Wick. While he surely has starred in a range of genres, fans love to see the 59-year-old Canadian star taking a swing at the bad guys.
Keanu Reeves in a still from John Wick
Having a net worth of $380 million, it is no surprise that he also receives millions for his movies. However, when it came to the fourth installment in the John Wick franchise, every word Reeves said has been estimated to cost around $40,000.
According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Reeves said just 380 words in the 2023 film John Wick: Chapter 4. Considering the actor reportedly received $15 million for the film, his paycheck amounted to $39,473 per word in the whole movie, as per Celebrity Net Worth.
A still from Knight And Day
While there is a significant contrast in these numbers, it is worth noting that Cruise is estimated to make $7,000 per word in his movies, while Reeves’ $40,000 per word estimate is based on a single film. The 2020 report by Casumo features the Constantine star as well, who secured the seventh position, earning $3,643 per word in his movies.
