Deadpool has grown to be one of Hollywood’s most lucrative and popular franchises, bringing in millions at the box office worldwide, but director Tim Miller’s 2016 feature didn’t make as much money. Miller said he was paid relatively low compensation for his directorial work on the blockbuster movie when he was speaking during a panel at CCXP in São Paulo, Brazil.
Miller revealed, “I got $225,000 to direct Deadpool,” pointing out that the figure wasn’t as big as it might sound for two years of work. “Being a first-time director in Hollywood isn’t really a profitable thing,” he said. The film grossed about $782 million worldwide, but Miller’s pay check didn’t match the performance at the box office. “I know it sounds like a lot of money, but for two years of work, that’s not a tone of money,” he stated.
Miller said that although he was originally appreciative of the chance and thought it would be a dream project to work on, he had conflicting emotions when he realised how expensive filmmaking is. He said, “I wish my contract had a piece of the merchandising, but I was really fortunate.” Miller felt excluded from the financial benefits of Deadpool’s enormous retail sales earnings. He added, “Merchandising, that’s where the real money is” since most of the revenue from blockbuster movies comes from merchandise sales, which he did not benefit from.
Even though Miller admitted that his situation was unusual, being a first-time director on a famous film, he said that many Hollywood directors, especially new ones, face the same conditions. Miller emphasised that despite the film’s popularity, he wasn’t paid enough to match its impact, saying, “It’s the reality of being a first-time director.”
Miller is nevertheless appreciative of the chance to helm Deadpool despite the low pay, pointing out that it helped him further his career. “I consider myself extremely fortunate to have contributed to something that revolutionised the superhero movie genre,” he stated. Miller did, however, add that the discrepancy between Deadpool’s initial salary and eventual success led him to recognise the need for improved pay plans for Hollywood’s novice filmmakers.
The Deadpool franchise today boasts millions of dollars worth of revenue and an earnestly dedicated fan following around the globe. Following Deadpool & Wolverine’s 2024 release, which added new characters and created new dynamics for this cherished franchise, David Leitch directed the 2018 sequel right after the original’s triumph. However, despite having a huge box office success, many directors who have made films like Miller’s are still unknown or uncredited as filmmakers.
