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Jim Carrey was paid nothing for movie rising to top of Netflix and made fortune from its release
Home>Entertainment>Film
Published 17:36 27 Jan 2025 GMT

Jim Carrey was paid nothing for movie rising to top of Netflix and made fortune from its release

The 2008 movie is now available to watch on Netflix

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

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Jim Carrey was initially paid nothing to star in a movie that is not only considered to be a huge success, but is also currently in Netflix's top 10 films in the UK.

Obviously the Dumb & Dumber star, 63, isn't short of a few quid, having featured in countless comedy classics over the years.

In fact, he is reportedly worth an eye-watering $180 million (£144 million), according to Celebrity Net Worth.

Jim Carrey was initially paid nothing for the role (Warner Bros.)
Jim Carrey was initially paid nothing for the role (Warner Bros.)

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But while Carrey is often paid handsomely to sprinkle his comedic brilliance on set, this wasn't the case with one 2008 film... well, at first.

Yes Man - now at number five on Netflix's 'Top 10' list - sees the actor take on the role of Carl, who says 'no' a little too often. We probably all know a person like this (I am that person).

However, the premise of the film sees Carl deciding to say 'yes' to everything after attending a self-help seminar, leading to a number of very awkward moments.

I mean, imagine agreeing to go out for a meal at 9pm on a weekday? I can't think of anything worse.

So, with the flick having a budget of $70 million (£56 million), Warner Bros. opted to not pay Carrey's salary out of that sum. Instead, the actor apparently decided to do something a little different when it came to his wages on the film, and Carrey is said to have taken a whopping 36.2 percent stake in the whole profit of the movie.

Given that the movie was seen as a bit of a risk at the time, it could have left Carrey with a very small reward for all his efforts.

But in the end, the actor reportedly made between $35 million (£28 million) and $50 million (£40 million), as the comedy was a box office success, raking in $223 million (£179 million) worldwide.

While Carrey seemingly enjoyed working on Yes Man, there is one film he somewhat regrets making.

His character had to say 'yes' to everything (Warner Bros.)
His character had to say 'yes' to everything (Warner Bros.)

It appears that Kiss-Ass 2 launched during a sensitive time in the United States.

Carrey filmed the movie a month before the Sandy Hook Massacre, a national tragedy that saw a gunman shoot and kill 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, US.

Taking to X back in June 2013, Carrey said: "I did Kick-Ass a month before Sandy Hook and now in all good conscience I cannot support that level of violence. I meant to say my apologies to others involve [sic] with the film. I am not ashamed of it but recent events have caused a change in my heart."

Additional words by Callum Jones.

Featured Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Topics: Film, Jim Carrey, Netflix, US News

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

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@Anish_Vij

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