Are You Getting Your Money’s Worth From Name Power? (Part Two)

The following is the second portion of a three-part series/countdown of the top paid actors and their most recent movies. See whether or not name power equates to box office success and critical appeal.

6. Adam Sandler
King of Unfunny Comedy. That is the title that Adam Sandler has been crowned in recent years. He makes one awful movie after another filled with the same jokes and the same actors as previous movies. The ex-SNL cast member who was in the midst of the shows heyday in the 90s now produces his own movies, so until he runs out of money we are going to be stuck with garbage like Bedtime Stories, You Don’t Mess With the Zohan and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.

Bedtime Stories (2008)
Domestic Gross – $110 million
Worldwide Gross – $212 million
Budget – $80 million
IMdb – 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes –24%; 4.4/10
Netflix – 3.8/5
Box Office Mojo – B

You Don’t Mess With the Zohan (2008)
Domestic Gross – $100 million
Worldwide Gross – $200 million
Budget – $90 million
IMdb – 5.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes –36%; 4.6/10
Netflix – 2.9/5
Box Office Mojo – C

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007)
Domestic Gross – $120 million
Worldwide Gross – $186 million
Budget – $85 million
IMdb – 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes –13%; 3.6/10
Netflix – 3.5/5
Box Office Mojo – C

Reign Over Me (2007)
Domestic Gross – $20 million
Worldwide Gross – $22 million
Budget – $20 million
IMdb – 7.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes –63%; 6.3/10
Netflix – 3.7/5
Box Office Mojo – B

5. Harrison Ford
This is an interesting case because discounting the fourth Indiana Jones movie released in 2008, Ford hadn’t made a financially relevant movie since 2000’s What Lies Beneath. Although Ford is a big name and garners a lot of respect when it comes to pushing a movie title, the paycheck really was for the Indy name, not Ford’s.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Domestic Gross – $317 million
Worldwide Gross – $787 million
Budget – $185 million
IMdb – 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes –76%; 6.9/10
Netflix – 3.4/5
Box Office Mojo – B

4. Shia LaBeouf
I’m a fan of this goofy kid and like most wasn’t aware of his existence prior to Transformers. So no, I didn’t watch much Even Stevens.
Besides repeatedly being cast in big-budget action movies that are generally well liked by audiences, my favorite thing about LaBeouf is his involvement in one of the top-five funniest SNL skits ever. When you’ve got the time, check out Sofa King. It is worth it.
Note: I’m omitting the 2007 animated movie Surf’s Up. LaBeouf only did voice work for the film and was so far down on the list of talent for that movie, so I am not counting it.

Eagle Eye (2008)
Domestic Gross – $101 million
Worldwide Gross – $178 million
Budget – $80 million
IMdb – 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes –27%; 4.6/10
Netflix – 3.8/5
Box Office Mojo – B

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Domestic Gross – $317 million
Worldwide Gross – $787 million
Budget – $185 million
IMdb – 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes –76%; 6.9/10
Netflix – 3.4/5
Box Office Mojo – B

Transformers (2007)
Domestic Gross – $319 million
Worldwide Gross – $710 million
Budget – $150 million
IMdb – 7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes –57%; 5.8/10
Netflix – 4/5
Box Office Mojo – B+

Disturbia (2007)
Domestic Gross – $80 million
Worldwide Gross – $118 million
Budget – $20 million
IMdb – 7/10
Rotten Tomatoes –67%; 6.2/10
Netflix – 3.7/5
Box Office Mojo – B