If they are a regular cast member but a minor part, their income could range from $20,000 to $35,000 each episode; if they are a name/well-known actor, their salary would be more, although contracts are negotiated. The regular primary cast of new shows often starts out at around $35,000 each episode.
If there’s one thing Netflix is known for, it’s spending a lot of money. Every year, Netflix distributes 90 original films, some of which have costs of up to $200 million. Netflix spent $12.04 billion on content last year, with that figure anticipated to rise to $15 billion this year.
What’s even more impressive is how much Netflix pays its actors in comparison to traditional studios. Actors often receive a share of the film’s revenues in addition to their base compensation, but in the case of Netflix films, which aren’t syndicated or released theatrically, actors’ incomes remain constant regardless of how many times a film is streamed.
Netflix films aren’t profitable at the box office, and the business rarely discloses rating information. As a result, Netflix pays its actors more to compensate for the disparity. Furthermore, because they are both a production and distribution company, they can supplement their performers’ pay with the money saved by not having to share earnings.
Variety published the salaries of the stars of this year’s biggest blockbusters today, including Ryan Reynolds, who is set to earn $27 million for his role in Michael Bay’s next Netflix film, Six Underground, and Will Smith, who is set to earn $35 million for his role in Bright 2 on Netflix, despite the fact that the original Bright (for which he was allegedly paid $20 million) was panned by critics.
Gal Gadot, who made a disproportionately low amount of money for Wonder Woman, will be paid $10 million to reprise her role in Wonder Woman 1984, as well as Margot Robbie, who will earn $9 to $10 million for her upcoming film Birds of Prey, and Emily Blunt, who will earn $12 to $13 million for her upcoming role in A Quiet Place 2.
However, with Shonda Rhimes set to produce eight upcoming Netflix series and Netflix’s ever-growing influx of romcoms with their very own Netflix-founded star system, Netflix has a unique opportunity to help close the gender wage gap — especially when it comes to co-stars, such as Claire Foy, who earned less than her co-star Matt Smith in The Crown — firmly in the past.
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