Julia Roberts’s dazzling repertoire in Hollywood showcases the immense talent she possesses. The actress has headlined spectacular projects for years, which helped her garner tremendous fame, accolades, and audience worship. As one of the most bankable stars, one would expect the Oscar winner’s stature in the industry to command a fee per endeavor that honors it. And it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume this.
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For 2010’s Valentine’s Day—in which Roberts’ appearance can only be dubbed a glorified 6-minute cameo—the actress was roughly paid $500K per minute. Not only that, the Pretty Woman alum’s contract also included a 3% cut of the movie’s earnings. The amount she totaled is not only stupefying but also mind-blowing, given the endeavor’s status as one of the worst chick flicks ever.
Julia Roberts Was Paid $14 Million For One Of Her Worst Movies Ever
In the same way that critically acclaimed masterpieces may fall short of being a box office hit, the reverse can also be true. Valentine’s Day (2010) may have been a commercially lucrative blockbuster, but it thoroughly disappointed the critics of the time.
An endeavor helmed by Garry Marshall—the man behind notable titles such as The Princess Diaries, Pretty Woman, and Runaway Bride—the Julia Roberts starrer holds an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics’ consensus couldn’t refrain Marshall’s pursuit from amassing a hefty fortune, though. In the end, Roberts received a large sum (that can be only described as confounding) from her initial upfront payment and a 3% cut of the movie’s gross.
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The star of Ticket to Paradise reportedly appeared in the movie for about six minutes, according to Vulture. For this, New Line Cinema, the production company backing the endeavor, offered the actress a whopping $3 million. That’s about $500K for each minute Roberts could be seen on the screen!
If you believe that to be all, prepare for the next revelation. Valentine’s Day (2010) went on to amass $216.5 million at the global box office on a $52 million budget. As per stipulations of Roberts’ contract, a percentage of the film’s gross earnings was also given to the Hollywood sensation. Her income came to an astounding $14 million as a result.
That’s a tremendous sum to be paid for only 6 minutes of screen time! And most of it was spent sitting beside Bradley Cooper on a plane. Now that’s a deal.
Julia Roberts Has Collaborated With Garry Marshall Four Times
Roberts was a frequent collaborator of director Garry Marshall. The helmer’s endeavor Pretty Woman (1990) shot the actress to superstardom, and the three-time Golden Globe winner went on to team up with the late director for three more movies before his passing in 2016. The actress-helmer duo collaborated on a film nearly every decade following their first outing in 1990.
Roberts returned to co-starring opposite Richard Gere in Marshall’s Runaway Bride (1999). Then, in the romantic comedy ensemble Valentine’s Day (2010), which had A-list actors like Anne Hathaway, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Alba, and Jessica Biel, among others, Roberts made a brief appearance.
Just four years before the start of a new decade, the actress participated in Mother’s Day (2016), Garry Marshall’s final pursuit. She enjoyed the limelight alongside Jason Sudeikis, Kate Hudson, and Jennifer Aniston.
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Although the last two ventures marked the lowest rated in Julia Roberts’ otherwise magnificent filmography, the actress could solidify a strong bond with her frequent collaborator. Regarding her professional relationship with the director, the Notting Hill star said in an interview with the LA Times for Mother’s Day promotion:
“We do reminisce [about our old movies together]. We’re both kind of nostalgic people. And honestly, how many people do you have a whole lifetime of work with? Not a lot.”
On July 19, 2016, in the early morning, Garry Marshall, aged eighty-one, passed away. Two years later, Julia Roberts honored the screenwriter-director at the New York Broadway performance of Pretty Woman: The Musical (via THR).
Despite their critical reception, Marshall’s projects with Roberts and others hold a special place in the hearts of many rom-com enthusiasts. Their unconditional appreciation will continue to honor his legacy.
Valentine’s Day (2010) is available via buying/renting on Amazon Prime Video.
