Most Underpaid Golden Globe Winners

December 6, 2018 by Steven M. Peters

The Golden Globes have been held since 1944 to recognize “distinguished achievements in the film industry,” according to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association — the organization behind the awards ceremony. In the course of its history, the event has recognized much of Hollywood’s reigning royalty, ranging from Meryl Streep and Julie Andrews to Paul Newman and Marlon Brando.

While many Golden Globe winners work solely in the realm of large-budget, blockbuster projects, others devote their time and talents to smaller budget films. These movies don’t often have the same level of box-office success as the most recent Marvel Studios offering, but still often do quite well considering their production budgets — in large part thanks to the contributions of their Golden Globe-winning talent.

24/7 Wall St. has identified the most underpaid Golden Globe winners. We ranked the actors by the return on investment — the ratio between the box office gross and production budget — for films in which they have a lead role. These actors may not always command huge production budgets, but they have a gift for making the most out of what’s available.

A common type of movie that provides the absolute highest returns on investment for Golden Globe winners is independent features. Bill Murray could be given a large amount of credit for the success of “Lost in Translation,” which grossed more than $838 million in the U.S. The actor won the award for best actor in a motion picture (musical or comedy) at the 2004 Golden Globes thanks to his work in the film, after being nominated twice prior to its release.

Ryan Gosling is another actor who has dedicated himself to smaller productions throughout his career. His role in 2010’s “Blue Valentine” — a film with a reported production budget of just $1 million — helped the title gross nearly $10 million at the domestic box office.

While not every actor featured on the list primarily focuses on small films, all are prone to creating box office gold when cast in a lead role.

Click here to see the most underpaid Golden Globes winners.
Click here to see our methodology.

25. Diane Keaton
> Movie with highest ROI: “Book Club” (2018)
> Lifetime leading roles: 4
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $194.7 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, “Something’s Gotta Give” (2004)

In “Book Club,” Diane Keaton is joined by Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen as lifelong friends whose book club is upended when they read the salacious “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Keaton has been nominated for  nine Golden Globes and has won two.

[in-text-ad]

24. Jim Carrey
> Movie with highest ROI: “The Mask” (1994)
> Lifetime leading roles: 16
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $2.3 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, “Man on the Moon” (2000)

The film with highest return high on investment starring the comedian-turned-dramatic actor is the 1994 comedy, “The Mask.” Carrey was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in the film.

23. Jason Bateman
> Movie with highest ROI: “The Gift” (2015)
> Lifetime leading roles: 10
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $571.4 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, “Arrested Development” (2005)

Bateman has been nominated for four Golden Globes, including two times for the TV series “Ozark” for best performance by an actor in a television series. He won a Golden Globe in 2005 for best actor in a musical or comedy for is role in “Arrested Development.”

22. Judi Dench
> Movie with highest ROI: “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (2012)
> Lifetime leading roles: 5
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $211.0 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film, “The Last of the Blonde Bombshells” (2001)

Dame Judi Dench has been acting in films since the 1960s. She received her first Golden Globe award in 1998 for her performance in “Mrs Brown.” She has won once more and been nominated a total of 12 times.

[in-text-ad-2]

21. Ryan Gosling
> Movie with highest ROI: “Blue Valentine” (2010)
> Lifetime leading roles: 10
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $272.9 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, “La La Land” (2017)

“Blue Valentine,” starring Ryan Gosling, grossed $9.7 million on a budget of $1 million. Gosling has been nominated for five Golden Globes and won once for best performance by an actor in a motion picture – musical or comedy – for “La La Land” in 2017.

20. Tom Hanks
> Movie with highest ROI: “That Thing You Do!” (1996)
> Lifetime leading roles: 28
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $4.0 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, “Cast Away” (2001)

The name Tom Hanks is near synonymous with box office success. His greatest success – from an ROI perspective – is 1996’s “That Thing You Do!” Hanks not only wrote the film, which had a production budget of $2.5 million, but also starred in and directed it.

[in-text-ad]

19. Steve Carell
> Movie with highest ROI: “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006)
> Lifetime leading roles: 12
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $1.7 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, “The Office” (2006)

Steve Carell has been a reliable money-maker for the motion picture and television industry. Besides his acknowledged work on the television series “The Office,” for which he won a Golden Globe, Carell appeared in “Little Miss Sunshine” in 2006, a movie that raked in $60 million domestically on a budget of $8 million.

18. Sigourney Weaver
> Movie with highest ROI: “Alien” (1979)
> Lifetime leading roles: 7
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $480.7 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, “Gorillas in the Mist: The Adventure of Dian Fossey” (1989)

Sigourney Weaver shot to fame after starring in “Alien,” which was made for $9 million and grossed more than $80 million at the domestic box office. Weaver has since won two Golden Globes, one for her performance in “Gorillas in the Mist: The Adventure of Dian Fossey” and one for “Working Girl.”

17. Michael Keaton
> Movie with highest ROI: “Batman” (1989)
> Lifetime leading roles: 7
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $763.1 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, “Birdman” (2015)

The quirky and sometimes manic Michael Keaton has been nominated for two Golden Globes and won one for his performance in “Birdman.” He did a turn as the Caped Crusader in “Batman” in 1989, and that film pulled in more than $251 million.

[in-text-ad-2]

16. Robin Williams
> Movie with highest ROI: “Good Will Hunting” (1997)
> Lifetime leading roles: 17
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $1.6 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Cecil B. DeMille Award (2005)

After finding success with work on large budget features such as Disney’s “Aladdin,” Robin Williams starred in the independent film “Good Will Hunting” in 1997, helping it gross over 13 times its initial budget in the U.S.

15. Woody Allen
> Movie with highest ROI: “Annie Hall” (1977)
> Lifetime leading roles: 12
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $321.7 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Cecil B. DeMille Award (2014)

Woody Allen directed, wrote, and starred in “Annie Hall,” which grossed $38 million domestically on a budget of $4 million, at the time his biggest commercial success in motion pictures. Allen has been nominated for 13 Golden Globes and has won twice.

[in-text-ad]

14. Billy Bob Thornton
> Movie with highest ROI: “Monster’s Ball” (2001)
> Lifetime leading roles: 7
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $289.9 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor In A Television Series – Drama, “Goliath” (2017)

Billy Bob Thornton has found great success with small films such as “Monster’s Ball” and “Sling Blade,” which he also wrote and directed. His two Golden Globe wins were for his work on television shows “Goliath” and “Fargo,” however.

13. Helen Mirren
> Movie with highest ROI: “Winchester” (2018)
> Lifetime leading roles: 8
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $265.6 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, “The Queen” (2007)

The British actor has had a long and distinguished career, from provocative movies like “Caligula” to period pieces such as “Elizabeth I” to the long-running television series “Prime Suspect.” The Golden Globes has acknowledged this by honoring her with 15 nominations and three wins. In 2018, she appeared in the horror movie “Winchester” that raked in more than $25 million at the box office.

12. Maggie Smith
> Movie with highest ROI: “A Room with a View” (1986)
> Lifetime leading roles: 4
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $105.0 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film, “Downton Abbey” (2013)

Maggie Smith has racked up 12 Golden Globe nominations and three wins in her more than 50-year-long acting career. Her performance in “A Room with a View” helped turn a $3 million budget into nearly $21 million at the U.S. box office and also earned her her second Golden Globe.

[in-text-ad-2]

11. Morgan Freeman
> Movie with highest ROI: “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989)
> Lifetime leading roles: 8
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $560.8 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Cecil B. DeMille Award (2012)

Morgan Freeman is a proven star, with credits in movies such as “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Unforgiven.” He has garnered five Golden Globe nominations and won one, for his memorable role in “Driving Miss Daisy.” That film, which also starred Jessica Tandy, has grossed more than $106 million since its release in 1989.

10. Clint Eastwood
> Movie with highest ROI: “Unforgiven” (1992)
> Lifetime leading roles: 12
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $1.3 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Director – Motion Picture, “Million Dollar Baby” (2005)

Clint Eastwood has a history of turning ordinary budgets into extraordinary box office successes. The films that he starred in that have grossed their budgets back at least five times over — in the U.S. alone — include “Unforgiven,” “Pale Rider,” “Gran Torino,” and “Escape from Alcatraz.”

[in-text-ad]

9. John Travolta
> Movie with highest ROI: “Grease” (1978)
> Lifetime leading roles: 18
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $1.8 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, “Get Shorty” (1996)

John Travolta, who has been nominated for a Golden Globe nine times and won three times, has proved to be a reliable and versatile box-office star with lead roles in hits such as “Saturday Night Fever” and “Pulp Fiction.” Travolta, who rose to fame on the 1970s television sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter,” starred in 1978 in the musical “Grease,” which has raked in almost $160 million on a $6 million budget.

8. Emily Blunt
> Movie with highest ROI: “A Quiet Place” (2018)
> Lifetime leading roles: 4
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $321.3 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film, “Gideon’s Daughter” (2007)

British actor Emily Blunt helped turn “A Quiet Place” into one of the year’s top-earning horror films, grossing $188 million in the U.S. on a $17 million production budget. She is also nominated for a Golden Globe this year for her performance in the Disney film “Mary Poppins Returns.”

7. Ben Affleck
> Movie with highest ROI: “Chasing Amy” (1997)
> Lifetime leading roles: 20
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $1.8 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Director – Motion Picture, “Argo” (2013)

Ben Affleck has distinguished himself as a director (“Argo”), writer (“Good Will Hunting”), and actor (“Hollywoodland”), and has earned three Golden Globe nominations. He won twice. Affleck starred in the $250,000-budget “Chasing Amy” that was directed by Kevin Smith in 1997, and the film pulled in more than $12 million at the box office in the U.S.

[in-text-ad-2]

6. Emma Stone
> Movie with highest ROI: “Easy A” (2010)
> Lifetime leading roles: 4
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $249.6 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, “La La Land” (2017)

Emma Stone drove major profits for studios with her performances in the films “Easy A” and “The Help.” While she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her work in the former, her only win thus far has been for her role in 2016’s “La La Land.”

5. Mel Gibson
> Movie with highest ROI: “Mad Max” (1980)
> Lifetime leading roles: 18
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $2.2 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Director – Motion Picture, “Braveheart” (1996)

Mel Gibson enjoyed great success in front of the camera in epics like “Braveheart,” “The Patriot,” as well as buddy films like “Lethal Weapon.” He also distinguished himself as a director with the war movie “Hacksaw Ridge.” The Australian actor and director has earned five Golden Globe nominations and won one for directing “Braveheart.” In 1980, he starred in the original “Mad Max,” which gained a cult following and grossed about $100 million at the box office worldwide.

[in-text-ad]

4. Bill Murray
> Movie with highest ROI: “Lost in Translation” (2003)
> Lifetime leading roles: 9
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $838.3 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, “Lost in Translation” (2004)

Bill Murray spent the 1980s acting in some of the decade’s biggest comedies, such as “Caddyshack,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Ghostbusters II.” He later dedicated himself to numerous roles in much smaller productions, such as “Rushmore” and “Lost in Translation,” undoubtedly leading these film’s substantial financial success.

3. John Goodman
> Movie with highest ROI: “10 Cloverfield Lane” (2016)
> Lifetime leading roles: 4
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $316.0 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, “Roseanne” (1993)

The highly prolific John Goodman has had leading roles in numerous successful films, including “The Flintstones” and “The Jungle Book 2.” Yet the film that earned the greatest ROI under his lead was 2016’s “10 Cloverfield Lane.” With a $5 million budget, the horror movie grossed $72 million in the U.S. and $108 internationally.

2. Sylvester Stallone
> Movie with highest ROI: “Rocky” (1976)
> Lifetime leading roles: 23
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $1.7 billion
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actor in any Motion Picture, “Creed” (2016)

Action hero Sylvester Stallone has carried numerous film franchises to box office success, including the Rambo and Expendables movies. His greatest success, however, is “Rocky,” which he both wrote and starred in. Made on a $1 million budget, the movie grossed more than $117 million in the U.S. in 1976, becoming the top grossing film of that year.

[in-text-ad-2]

1. Jamie Lee Curtis
> Movie with highest ROI: “Halloween” (2018)
> Lifetime leading roles: 5
> Lifetime gross of movies with actor as lead: $402.3 million
> Most recent Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, “True Lies” (1995)

Jamie Lee Curtis rose to fame thanks to her performances in numerous horror films, including 1978’s “Halloween.” Horror movies often turn a profit after being made on shoestring budgets, and Curtis’ films often do even better. Returning to the role of Laurie Strode in this year’s newest “Halloween” film, Curtis helped the $10 million budget film gross $159 million in the U.S.

Her two Golden Globe wins were for work outside the horror genre, however. She won in 1990 for her role on the television series “Anything But Love” and in 1995 for the movie “True Lies.”

Methodology

To identify the most underpaid Golden Globe winners, 24/7 Wall St. determined the average return on investment for all films in which each actor starred in a lead role. Data on production budgets and domestic box office grosses come from movie industry data site The Numbers. Golden Globe award data is from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. To be considered, an actor must have won at least one Golden Globe award and appeared in a leading role in a feature film since 2009. Additionally, they must have at least three leading roles throughout their lifetime.

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.