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Johnny Depp named Hollywood's most overpaid actor

Johnny Depp is the new Adam Sandler...when it comes to return on investment, that is.

 Johnny Depp attends the 'Black Mass' Virgin Atlantic Gala screening during the BFI London Film Festival
Johnny Depp attends the 'Black Mass' Virgin Atlantic Gala screening during the BFI London Film Festival

Depp has been named Hollywood's most overpaid actor in 2015 by Forbes -- a list Sandler topped for the last two years (he was ineligible this year due to his Netflix deal). Depp's recent movies, "Mortdecai" and "Transcendence," returned a meager $1.20 for every $1 he was paid on them. Depp came in second on Forbes' 2014 list.

"Mortdecai," co-starring Gwyneth Paltrow, grossed just $47.3 million (only $7.7 million of it at the domestic box office) on a $60 million budget, while "Transcendence" earned $103 worldwide, barely covering its production costs. With sequels to two big Disney franchises on the pipeline, "Alice Through the Looking Glass" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," his stay on the list may be short-lived.

Forbes examined the last three movies each actor starred in before June 2015, excluding animated films and those in limited release.

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Denzel Washington was runner-up, returning $6.50 for every $1 he earned from his recent films. Although the actor didn't have any big flops this year, with "The Equalizer" reeling in $192.3 million on a $55 million budget, his salary was evidently inflated.

Will Ferrell -- king of the list in 2009 and 2010 -- came in third with "Get Hard." His newest comedy, "Daddy's Home," co-starring Mark Wahlberg, hits theaters this weekend. Ferrell returned $6.80 for every $1 earned -- a slight edge over Liam Neeson's $7.20 for every $1.

A-listers Will Smith, Christian Bale, Channing Tatum, Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck and Tom Cruise rounded out the top 10.

Here's the full list of 2015's most overpaid actors:

1. Johnny Depp: $1.20 per $1

2. Denzel Washington: $6.50 per $1

3. Will Ferrell: $6.80 per $1

4. Liam Neeson: $7.80 per $1

5. Will Smith: $8.60 per $1

6. Christian Bale: $9.20 per $1

7. Channing Tatum: $10.80 per $1

8. Brad Pitt: $12.00 per $1

9. Ben Affleck: $12.30 per $1

10. Tom Cruise: $13.60 per $1


2 min read

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Source: Reuters



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