The movie Titanic is now 27 years old and continues to generate good money for its cast and crew even today. A child actor revealed how much money he still earns for just one single line.
Which actor is it about? The actor who has now talked about his earnings from Titanic is Reece Thompson. The actor, born in 1988 in Vancouver, was 9 years old in the 1997 released film.
Thompson speaks in exactly one scene: While the ship is already sinking, he asks his mother, What are we doing, Mom?
She then explains to him that the first-class passengers are boarding the lifeboats and they want to be ready when it’s time for them from the third class.
Unfortunately, the little family does not survive the disaster.
The movie is now over 27 years old. This trailer was released for the 25th anniversary:
How much did the film bring him? During production, no one suspected what a blockbuster the film would become. According to Statista.com, the earnings are now over 2.2 million US dollars. For Reece Thompson, that meant a hefty salary at the time:
In addition to his pay for his hours on set, he received an additional 30,000 dollars because the film grossed so much at the box office. Over the following years, he continued to receive checks in the four-digit range repeatedly.
By now, the checks have dropped to the hundred-dollar range. He says about it: It’s strange, because I don’t think about it anymore. I don’t wonder: ‘Oh, when will I get the next Titanic check?’ Rather, it’s more like: ‘Oh, cool, another 100 dollars.’
Specifically, he now receives between 100 and 250 dollars a year.
How is the film still generating money? Movies generate income through their release from various sources. This often starts with the cinema release, followed by the release on VHS, DVD, and later Blu-ray. Sometimes there are also theatrical re-releases.
Depending on the contractual situation, individuals involved in the film receive a bonus based on a share of the earnings. As a film like Titanic ends up generating revenue over the years through various formats and eventually streaming, this continually creates earnings that are eligible for bonuses.
This way, even actors in supporting roles like Thompson still receive small amounts for their performances in the film years later.
