Sometimes the news leaves little room for commentary beyond a gaping jaw and/or silently shaking head, and that's pretty much what you'll experience while browsing a new list of the top Hollywood earners of 2009. It's not necessarily the mere appearance of Roland Emmerich, Owen Wilson, or the Harry Potter cast that inspires disbelief, but rather wherethey ranking among such well-heeled regulars as Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay or George Clooney that really catches one's breath. Or maybe I'm just too easily shocked. Test your fortitude with the revelations after the jump.
7. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson out-earned George Clooney by almost 50 percent.
The young actors each took home $30 million for the two-part franchise finale Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Clooney earned an estimated $22 million total for projects including Up in the Air, The Men Who Stare at Goats, The American and roughly $5 million for appearing in foreign commercials. It's a recession! A Lake Como villa owner's gotta do what a Lake Como villa owner's gotta do.
6. Daniel Radcliffe out-earned Rupert Grint and Emma Watson by almost 40 percent.
The Potter star made $40 million for Hallows. Has there been a more radically life-changing casting of an unknown? Maybe Al Pacino in The Godfather? Help me understand.
5. Todd Phillips earned $44 million from two films.
You might have heard that Phillips gambled his salary on The Hangover -- and won very big with $39 million in profit participation. But commanding $5 million to direct Due Date? It stars Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis! It directs itself!
4. Roland Emmerich earned $70 million from one film.
The disaster kingpin also rolled the payday dice on his eventual global smash 2012. I think we all know what this means: Pool party!
3. Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart got hosed.
Pulling down $18 million and $16 million respectively, they each coaxed a total of only $14 million apiece from New Moon AND Eclipse in 2009. The Twilight franchise grossed $1.1 billion in a little over a year. Maybe Rupert Grint can do the joint negotiating for them on Breaking Dawn.
2. Reese Witherspoon earned $10 million with her voice.
Her back-end deal on Monsters vs. Aliens accounted for nearly half of her income in 2009.
1. Michael Bay made $125 million.
That. Is. All.
ยท Hollywood's Top 40 [VF]