Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Mark Wahlberg and Peter Berg collaborated for the second time in the 2016 filmDeepwater Horizon. The film, based on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion, earned praise from critics but failed to attract a significant audience in theaters. The film made only under $122 million, resulting in a substantial loss of over $60 million for the producers. Interestingly, Wahlberg took home a hefty paycheck of over $15 million from the film.
Wahlberg’s salary range of $15-17 million for movies likeDeepwater Horizon,Daddy’s Homesequel, and the fifthTransformersmovie, catapulted him to the highest-paid actor in 2017. Despite the big loss for the studio, the film was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Sound Editing and Best Visual Effects.
Also Read:After a Chilling Role in Bruce Willis Film, Mark Wahlberg’s Brother Donnie Makes Headlines Again After Hit Series Comes to an End
Mark Wahlberg’s Movie Lost $60 Million But Earned Him Over $15 Million
Peter Berg, helmingDeepwater Horizon, delivered a well-made disaster movie based on real events. The film even received an 82% freshness rating onRotten Tomatoes. The film’s initial budget stood at a whopping $156 million, but it was cut down to around $120 million after Louisiana state waived $37.7 million in tax incentives. This decision was heavily criticized at the time, given the state was scrambling for resources after a Biblical flood.
Despite the reduced budget and favorable reviews, the film struggled to recoup its budget.Mark Wahlberghad earlier collaborated with Berg on the $152 million grossing film,Lone Survivor. However, they couldn’t recreate the same hype in theaters forDeepwater Horizonas it opened with only $18 million, a significant contrast to the $37.8 million opening ofLone Survivor.
By the end of its theatrical run, the film grossed $61.4 million in domestic box office and $121.7 million worldwide. According toThe Hollywood Reporter, the overall loss for Lionsgate studio likely amounted to more than $60 million, although the studio maintained that their estimated loss was $31 million. Interestingly, Wahlberg received his negotiated salary of over $15 million for the film, despite it being one of the biggest box office bombs of 2016.
According to a 2017THRarticle, the year in which he was dubbed the highest-paid actor, the salaries from movies, includingDeepwater Horizon, contributed to his $90 million worth in the previous year. This was not the first time that critics raised their eyebrows at Mark Wahlberg’s salary.
Also Read:“I would have stopped it”: Mark Wahlberg Gets Brutally Trolled For Tall Claims After All Hell Breaks Lose at UFC 296 Thanks to Sean Strickland
Mark Wahlberg’s $1.5 Million Compensation For Reshoots Received Backlash
In the wake of the s*xual assault allegations againstKevin Spacey, directorRidley Scottdecided to reshoot scenes in his filmAll the Money in the Worldfeaturing Spacey. The reshoots sparked a huge controversy when the male lead, Wahlberg, received $1.5 million, while his co-star and the female lead,Michelle Williams, received less than $1,000 for the same.
The controversy also brought attention to the significant gender pay gap in Hollywood. TheInstant Familyactor responded to the issue by donating his reshoot salary to the Time’s Up initiative, a movement against s*xual harassment co-founded by Williams. According toThe Guardian, Wahlberg also stated that he “100%” supported the right to fair pay in the film industry.
Also Read:The Family Plan Star Mark Wahlberg Doesn’t Blame Himself But Studios for Flops: “Spending so much money to pull the wool over audience’s eyes”
Deepwater Horizonis now available for rent on AppleTV+.
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
