One surprise hit movie can still supercharge an actor’s trajectory.
In December 2023, Sydney Sweeney starred with Glen Powell in Anyone But You, Sony Pictures’ romantic comedy that became an unabashed box office success, making $220 million on a budget of $25 million. Sweeney’s fee for the movie was $2 million for the film.
Less than a year later, in October, Sweeney nabbed a $7.5 million payday to star in The Housemaid, a Lionsgate thriller that will also star Amanda Seyfried and be directed by Paul Feig, multiple sources tell The Hollywood Reporter.
It’s a notable jump that is not too common in modern Hollywood, where big hits tend to come from franchise plays and, A-list actors aside, pay jumps come in pre-negotiated increments. But Sweeney has become one of the most in-demand actresses, and has capitalized by lining up a savvy range of movies, including a boxing biopic and a Hollywood period drama looking at the affair between Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr.
Part of the fee jump factors in the massive backend profits Sweeney made from Anyone But You, which is said to be in the millions. She also earned a $250,000 executive producing fee, according to sources.
The actress was also key in getting the movie made. One source says Sweeney agreed to first shoot a supporting role in Madame Web, part of Sony’s Spider-Man-centric universe of films, as way to help Anyone But You get the greenlight. “She wanted them to know she was a team player,” says a source, of Sony Pictures.
Although the much-maligned Madame Web bombed, Sweeney still made out all right, making $750,000 on that picture.
Before shooting Anyone But You and Madame Web she shot Reality, a biopic in which she starred as whistleblower Reality Winner. It was an indie drama that was picked up by HBO and released on Max just over half a year before the breakthrough rom-com. Sweeney was paid $65,000 for that one, according to insiders.
And for Immaculate, a horror movie released in March by Neon, she received $250,000, although she was also a producer on the thriller.
Sweeney, thanks to the Housemaid deal, is now one of the highest-paid actresses of her generation. The benchmark appears to be her Euphoria co-star Zendaya, who reportedly earned $10 million for starring and producing the tennis drama Challengers.
This story first appeared in the Oct. 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
