Arnold Schwarzenegger recently disclosed surprising details about his career earnings, sharing that starring in the 1988 film Twins brought him more financial success than any of his other movies. During an interview with Andy Cohen on Watch What Happens Live, Schwarzenegger explained how his agreement for Twins resulted in earnings exceeding $40 million, far surpassing his paydays from the blockbuster Terminator franchise. This revelation highlights the remarkable deal structure behind Schwarzenegger’s participation in the film and underscores the importance of smart financial decisions in Hollywood.
How Schwarzenegger Secured an Unconventional Movie Deal
While negotiating his role opposite Danny DeVito in Ivan Reitman’s comedic film Twins, Schwarzenegger made a pivotal decision to forgo his salary in exchange for a share of the movie’s profits. He stated,
“Well number one was ‘Twins’ because we got no money for the salary but ownership with a piece of the back end,”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor. This unconventional arrangement allowed him and his co-star to share 40% of the film’s profits, a deal rarely offered in Hollywood at the time.
Looking back on the experience, Schwarzenegger added,
“It was fantastic. We went all the way to the bank with that.”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor. The negotiations reflected a high level of risk, as the studio’s faith in Schwarzenegger’s comedic abilities was uncertain.
“Why would they [cast me in a comedy?]”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor. He explained to his son Patrick in a discussion for Variety that studio executives doubted the idea, saying,
“They said, Are you crazy? The more people that this guy kills on-screen, the more money we make. Why would we change that?”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor. This hesitancy prompted Schwarzenegger, DeVito, and director Ivan Reitman to devise their unique profit-sharing deal to keep production costs low and attract studio approval.
Financial Success of Twins Surpasses Expectations
The risk taken by Schwarzenegger paid off well beyond expectations. When Cohen questioned him on whether his earnings from Twins exceeded $20 million, Schwarzenegger confirmed,
“It was more than that. It was more than any movie I ever made.”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor. The comedy eventually grossed $216 million globally at the box office, with further revenue rolling in from home video sales, cementing its place as one of the era’s surprise financial hits.
Schwarzenegger detailed the practical side of the arrangement, sharing,
“If we don’t take any salaries, we can shoot the movie for $16.5 million. We worked out a deal where we got 40% of the backend of the movie. It happened to be the best deal we’ve ever made.”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor. This approach was instrumental in reducing costs for Universal Pictures and maximized returns for the stars involved.
The Shelved Plan for a Sequel and Its Impact
Although Twins proved tremendously lucrative, Schwarzenegger and DeVito never made a sequel. A proposed follow-up, tentatively titled Triplets, was in development and would have brought Eddie Murphy into the cast. However, plans stalled when director Ivan Reitman
“passed away before we wanted to start shooting,”
—Arnold Schwarzenegger, Actor. Without Reitman’s vision, the next chapter in the franchise was set aside indefinitely.
Schwarzenegger’s experience with the Twins movie earnings serves as an influential example in film industry deal-making, demonstrating both creative risk and business acumen. The actor’s willingness to rethink compensation and trust in an unconventional project paid off handsomely, illustrating how bold choices can change careers and industry standards in Hollywood.
