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| Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals the Movie That Earned Him the Most Money — And It’s Not Terminator. |
When people think of Arnold Schwarzenegger, most instantly associate him with his iconic role in Terminator. However, in a surprising revelation, the legendary action star shared that the film that brought him the most financial success wasn’t Terminator, but rather the 1988 comedy Twins.
He Didn’t Get Paid Upfront – But Earned a Fortune Through Profit Sharing
In an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, Arnold explained that he didn’t receive a traditional paycheck for Twins. Instead, he and his co-stars struck a unique deal to receive a percentage of the film’s profits — and it turned out to be a brilliant move.
“We got nothing up front — no salary, no fees,” Schwarzenegger said.
“But we got a percentage of the profits, and it worked out really well.”
Although he didn’t disclose the exact figure, Arnold confirmed that he earned over IDR 640 billion (equivalent to more than $40 million USD) from the film. This makes Twins the most profitable film in his acting career.
What Twins Is All About
Twins follows the story of a genetically-engineered man (played by Schwarzenegger) who is physically perfect but naive and innocent. He discovers that he has a long-lost twin brother, played by Danny DeVito, who is his complete opposite — street-smart, short, and full of attitude.
The hilarious contrast between the two characters became the film’s comedic core, helping it become a box office success. Despite having a modest budget, Twins earned over IDR 3.2 trillion (more than $200 million USD) globally.
A Planned Sequel That Never Happened
Interestingly, a sequel titled Triplets was in the works. The story would have introduced a third brother, to be played by Eddie Murphy. However, the project was eventually shelved after the original film’s director, Ivan Reitman, sadly passed away before production began.
A Bold Career Move That Paid Off
One of the most interesting parts of this story is that Schwarzenegger accepted the role in Twins without any upfront pay because he wanted to prove that he could succeed in comedy, not just in action films. The gamble paid off. Not only did Twins become a hit, but it also broadened Arnold’s acting range and redefined his place in Hollywood.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey with Twins proves that taking unconventional risks can lead to huge rewards. What seemed like a financial risk at the time turned out to be the smartest business decision of his movie career.