How Bruce Willis Landed Record-Breaking Pay For The Sixth Sense
Bruce Willis is primarily known for his work as an action star. He gained attention appearing in several explosive films with massive budgets including Die Hard and 12 Monkeys. But surprising to some, Willis is also known for his intimate portraits with some of the most iconic directors in Hollywood. Whether it's his portrayal of Captain Sharp in Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, his work as Butch Coolidge from Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, or even as Peter Fallow in The Bonfire of the Vanities, Willis has showcased his dynamic potential as an actor, destroying whatever box the audience places him into.
But one of his most talked about performances is M. Night Shyamalan's feature film The Sixth Sense. Beyond its creative direction that placed Shyamalan into the mainstream category of original filmmakers, the movie also sparked controversy when it established early on Shyamalan's ost iconic technique, the twist. The moment has spawned several references throughout pop culture including a line from The Lonely Island and an episode of Rick & Morty. But beyond the cultural significance of the performance, it also turned out to be Bruce Willis' most lucrative decision of his career. And not just his own career, either. The risky business move has placed him at the top of the lists for the highest paid film roles of all time, an unexpected twist that rivals that of the film itself.
So how exactly did Bruce Willis make an astonishing $120 million for starring in the relatively low-budget feature film? The answer lies in well-articulated contracts, a willingness to bet on himself and put his own performance on the line, and a confidence in himself that shines through in almost all of his performances. Here is a brief overview of how Bruce Willis earned the top spot for the highest paid actor for a single role in all of Hollywood's history.
Bruce Willis first started his career as an actor in 1980 when he debuted as a small role on the series The First Deadly Sin. It wasn't until 1985 that he started to get recurring work as an actor. He earned recognition from an audience when he starred as David Addison Jr. on the television series Moonlighting. But it wasn't until 1988 that he made his blockbuster breakout as John McClane in the film Die Hard.
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When Bruce Willis first signed on to work with M. Night Shyamalan on The Sixth Sense, he made a decision that was relatively new to Hollywood. He agreed to an initial salary, but also negotiated for 17% of the film’s global box office gross plus additional rights to its home video sales. It was a risky endeavor that ultimately paid off as The Sixth Sense was the second highest grossing film of 1999, earning $672.8 million worldwide.
The success of the film relied on the uncanny twist in the films' plot. Through deceptive techniques of storytelling that eventually landed the screenplay a spot on the Writers Guild of America's list list of Top 101 Screenplays of All Time, audiences were quick to want a second screening of the film. This created a viral piece of marketing pre-internet buzz that got the general public excited about the film. The decision for Willis to rely on the success of the film in relation to his contract began to pay off. And once the film launched into a worldwide release, the total gross for the film shot past $672 million worldwide, making it M. Night. Shyamalan's highest grossing film to date.
The magic of the decision and their risky investment deals paid off, leading to future collaborations between the director and actor including Unbreakable and Glass. Both films were a pat of a superhero franchise that Shyamalan created.
The financial success of the film and contractual decision allowed for Willis to experience dynamic freedom in regards to what roles he selected to act in. For example, Willis only starred in one feature film in the year 2001. Now with a greater pool of scripts and projects to choose from, he began to make his own decisions in regards to what roles he wants to portray.
He started taking on parts like Hartigan in Sin City and Old Joe in the 2012 film Looper. It was Willis' and Rian Johnson's first collaborative effort. Willis has showed no signs of slowing down as an actor, but his selective roles have resulted in more critically acclaimed appearances. Recently, he starred in Breach and Cosmis Sin. If Willis can continue to navigate creative contractual agreements and the power to showcase his true capabilities as an actor, he might surpass his own record as the highest paid film actor for a single role in history.
Sources: Yahoo, CelebrityNetWorth, WealthyGenius, OKMagazine, VocalMedia, HollywoodReporter, IMDb, TheThings, WGA, BoxOfficemMojo
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