10-21-25 - Entertainment Drill - TUE - List Of Actors Who Were Paid A Ton For Very Little Time On A Movie

Summary

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Episode Overview

Theme:
The October 21, 2025 episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness focuses on actors who scored massive paychecks for minimal screentime in popular films. The crew—John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo—breaks down the surprising salaries, riffs on which movies did or didn't merit their stars, and pokes fun at superhero flicks and cosplay trends. The banter is light, sarcastic, and sharply critical of Hollywood's excess.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Actors Paid a Fortune for Minimal Movie Work

[04:01]

• Ving Rhames:
  • Paid $7.7 million for what amounted to a 39-second cameo in “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”
    Brady: "Ving Rhames made 7.7 million for Pulp Fiction. For what amounted to be a 39 second cameo and mission...possible Ghost Protocol."
    John: “Was he only in that for a little while?”
    Brady: "Yeah. 39 seconds."
    John: “I never saw it.”
• Samuel L. Jackson:
  • Paid $2-3 million for Marvel movies, sometimes for only a single post-credits scene.
    Brady: "Even when he was just in a single end credit... just turned his head and had that patch on."
• Michael Keaton:
  • Received $2 million for a cameo in the “Batgirl” movie that was never released.
    • The crew debates which Batgirl movie it was, and why it was canceled. John: “Really? Was that the Alicia Silverstone one? Did Batgirl not get released? ... I wouldn’t have gone to see it.” [04:44]
• Benicio del Toro:
  • Pay-to-play deal netted him $5 million for “American Gangster” even though the movie replaced him before filming. Brady: "He wasn’t even in it... The movie got delayed. He was replaced. But he had a pay to play deal." John: "Off you go."
• Sean Connery:
  • Earned $250,000 for one day on “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” after negotiating down from a million. Brady: "He originally requested 1 million." John: “Give me a million. No. Give me half of that. All right. Perfect. Negotiations a plus.”
• Jared Leto:
  • Made $7 million for his role as Joker in "Suicide Squad"—about $1 million for every minute of screen time.
    John: "So awful as the Joker... Suicide Squad. So bad." [06:06]
• Robert Downey Jr.:
  • Paid $10 million for just 8 minutes in "Spider-Man: Homecoming."
• Vin Diesel:
  • Collected between $10 and $25 million for voicing Groot in the Marvel films. Brady: "...all he had to do was just 'I am Groot.'" John: "'We are Groot' is the most remarkable and nuanced performance of his career."

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2. Batgirl, Shelved Films, and Superhero Critique

[05:31], [07:29], [08:15]

• The crew is amused and baffled by the trend of big-budget movies being scrapped after massive expenses, particularly “Batgirl.” They discuss how studios used to put the brakes on bad projects but now seem to release them regardless of quality.
  • John: "I don't remember the Batgirl movie didn't come out. The new Batgirl was supposed to come out every couple years after Michael Keaton appeared in The Flash. I don't know what that is. I'm just saying I didn't know any of that."
  • Brady: "Because I remember seeing Batgirl, Alicia Silverstone in one of those Batmans."
  • John: "How bad did [Batgirl] have to be that they released Daredevil and shot this one down? Half the movies they've put out are horrible. The DC world was bad."
• They lament big actors cashing in on bad movies and criticize the state of superhero films in general.

3. Cosplay Tangents & Harley Quinn

[08:46]

• The group riffs about the effect of “Suicide Squad” and Harley Quinn’s popularity at Halloween—particularly disliking non-traditional body types in Harley Quinn costumes.
  • John: "The worst part is is what it spawned was a bunch of 45 year old women wearing Harley Quinn costumes for Halloween. And the fact that they had anything bigger than a size XS... Terrible."
  • Brady: "Should never have happened."

4. Notable Side Story: The Slipknot.com Lawsuit

[06:48]

• The band Slipknot is suing a cybersquatter who's owned Slipknot.com since 2001 and profited from the domain, forcing the band to use Slipknot1.com.
  • Brady: "An anonymous cyber squatter has owned Slipknot.com since 2001..."
  • John: "Good one, Vin. That’s a take. All right, that’s enough."

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Best Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We are Groot is the most remarkable and nuanced performance of [Vin Diesel’s] career.” — John Holmberg, [06:30]
• “Give me a million. No. Give me half of that. All right. Perfect. Negotiations a plus.” — John Holmberg, [05:44]
• “How bad did it have to be that they released Daredevil and shot this one down? Half the movies they've put out are horrible.” — John Holmberg, [08:23]
• “The worst part is is what it spawned was a bunch of 45 year old women wearing Harley Quinn costumes for Halloween. And the fact that they had anything bigger than a size XS... Terrible.” — John Holmberg, [08:48]
• “Jared Leto got $7 million for Suicide Squad, which many are a million bucks for every minute of screen time.” — Brady Bogen, [05:53]

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Major Timestamps for Segments

• [04:01] Introduction of the main topic: movie stars paid millions for cameo appearances or minor roles.
• [04:16] – [06:15] Breakdown of individual actors/cases: Ving Rhames, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Keaton, Benicio del Toro, Sean Connery, Jared Leto, Robert Downey Jr., Vin Diesel.
• [06:48] – [07:16] Side story: Slipknot.com cybersquatting lawsuit.
• [08:15] – [09:44] Rant on Batgirl movie cancellation, superhero movie fatigue, and Harley Quinn cosplay.

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Tone and Flow

• Language: Irreverent, sarcastic, and conversational; the hosts weave pop culture references with personal anecdotes and gentle mockery.
• Style: The tone is playful yet critical—especially about Hollywood’s financial waste and superhero film oversaturation.

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Utility for Non-listeners

This episode offers a humorous but pointed critique of how Hollywood rewards stars for minimal effort, with snappy banter and pop culture sidebars. The hosts highlight the absurdity of major payouts for quick cameos, vent frustration at superhero movie trends, and poke fun at cosplay fads—making for an entertaining and insightful episode even for those just reading the summary.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

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[John Holmberg]

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[John Holmberg]

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[Podcast Host]

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[Movie Industry Analyst]

Here's a list of actors that were paid a ton of money for basically doing very little in a movie. Ving Rhames made 7.7 million for Pulp Fiction for what amounted to be 39 second cameo and mission.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Oh, Mission.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Ghost Protocol.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Was he only in that for a little while?

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Yeah. 39 seconds. Wow.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

I never saw it.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Samuel L. Jackson made around 2 to 3 million for the Marvel movies. Even when he was just in a single end credit. School scenes.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

When he did the thing after the credits. I remember that. And just turned his head and had that patch on.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Michael Keaton was paid 2 million for a cameo and Batgirl movie that never got released.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Really?

[John Holmberg]

Those are the Alicia Silverstone one.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Did Batgirl not get released? I don't remember.

[Podcast Host]

I got shelved. I thought.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Did it really? I remember she was Batgirl.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Wasn't that. But we.

[Podcast Host]

Michelle.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

She was.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

No, that was a Catwoman. Oh, okay.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Was she Batgirl with the one with Chris o'? Donnell? It was Batman and Robin.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

She was Batgirl. Then they made the movie. I don't remember it being. I don't know if that's what I'm asking. I don't remember it. I wouldn't have gone to seeing that.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Del Toro got 5 million for a movie called American Gangster. He wasn't even in it.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Great.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

The movie got delayed. Then he was replaced. But he had a pay to play deal.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Isn't that the Denzel movie?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, Denzel and Josh Brolin. And they scratched him.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Game is 5 mil.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Off you go.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Yep.

[Podcast Host]

That was a good movie.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

That movie's phenomenal.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Sean Connery got $250,000 for a single day of filming. Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. He originally requested 1 million.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Give me a million. No, for the day. Give me half of that. All right. Perfect. Negotiations. A plus. Plus.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Jared Leto got 7 million for suicide Squad, which many are a million bucks for every minute of screen time.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

He was so awful as the Joker.

[Podcast Host]

I never seen it.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

It's Suicide Squad. So bad.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Robert Downey Jr got 10 million for eight minutes of screen time and Spider Man Homecoming.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Okay.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

And your guy, Vin Diesel.

[Larry Fitz]

You were family.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Made between 10 million and 25 million for being the voice of Groot in the Marvel. Marvel movies.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

And all he had to do was just I am Groot, 50 Groots.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

And then he did at once said, we are Groot.

[Larry Fitz]

We have Groot.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Is the most remarkable and nuanced performance of his career.

[Larry Fitz]

Oh, we're firm.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Jesus. Stallone's like I could teach him diction if you want.

[Larry Fitz]

We're family.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

An anonymous cyber squatter has owned a slipknot.com since 2001 and has been using it to make money off the band. Slipknot is suing to gain control of the website and are also seeking financial damages. The Slipknot has been forced to use slipknot1.com but since this guy's been making money off the band, they should have.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Just gone with the Vin Diesel.

[Larry Fitz]

Where's Slipknot? Good one, Vin.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

That's a take. All right, that's enough.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

That's a pretty good gig though.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

The I am groot to get 8 or 9, but they even said 10 to 25 million. They're not even sure how much they paid them. Just pushing. It's in between piles of money across the table going, can you say this?

[Larry Fitz]

I am Groot.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Perfect.

[Larry Fitz]

I am Groot.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Yeah, you're great at it.

[Larry Fitz]

I am Groot.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Record all these, give them 25 million. I don't remember the Back Girl movie didn't come out. The new backer was supposed to come out every couple years after Michael Keaton appeared in the Flash. I don't know what that is. I know the Flash movie. I'm just saying I didn't know any of that. Imagine they had the wherewithal back in the day to shelf a movie that they didn't think was good. Hey, D.C. and Marvel. What happened to that?

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Because I remember seeing Batgirl, Alicia Silverstone and one of those Batmans. But.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

But how bad?

[Movie Industry Analyst]

Never did the spin off.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

How bad did it have to be that they released Daredevil and shot this one down? Half the movies they've put out are horrible. The DC world was bad. That's it. Larry would tell you different. He probably liked that one. He didn't like Suicide Squad. I don't think. I don't remember.

[Podcast Host]

I heard that thing was bad and.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

I wouldn't even see.

[Podcast Host]

Even though Margo's in it, I still wouldn't.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

So bad then Zack Snyder redid it.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Yeah, and then it was bad then too. And the worst part is, is what it spawned was a bunch of 45 year old women wearing Harley Quinn costumes for Halloween. And the sign, the fact that they had anything bigger than a size Xs. Terrible. How dare you buy a Harley Quinn with an L on the. On the thing.

[Podcast Host]

I've seen it one time.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Oh, we've all seen it at a remote. You saw a girl as Harley Quinn? Oh yeah. In the xl. Oh yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Could have been double XL, actually.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

Come on, man. You can't sell that if it's not small. You're not Harley Quinn, right?

[Movie Industry Analyst]

I played her one time.

[John Holmberg]

You're Harley.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

You did it. Yeah. That was great. And you looked as good as most of the people who tried. That's it.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

It was tough to find the outfit.

[Larry Fitz]

Yeah.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

You had to knit it yourself. I remember it was very soft.

[Movie Industry Analyst]

The shirt I got, it came like, sure, you can get a. Yeah.

[Co-host or Guest Commentator]

It was ridiculous. Should never have happened. It's time for Larry. Larry's gonna be nice to you. Be nice Back to Larry. Fitz will have words for you starting at 2:00'.

[Larry Fitz]

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