Forget Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman, this villainous actor revealed that he had earned six figures from The Shawshank Redemption.
The Shawshank Redemption/Best Scene/Tim Robbins/Bob Gunton/Morgan Freeman/William Sadler
Morgan Freeman's storytelling played a significant role in bringing The Shawshank Redemption to millions of viewers over the years. However, he was paid very modestly at the time for his role as Ellis Boyd Redding, reportedly less than half a million. The film had a low budget of $25 million and failed to make its budget back in theaters.
But the film made a strong comeback after its Oscar nomination in 1995, earning considerable money from re-releases and video rentals. Interestingly, Freeman and Tim Robbins are likely still earning residuals from the film, given what Bob Gunton, who played the antagonist, revealed about his Shawshank income.
Morgan Freeman's The Shawshank Redemption was considered a box office flop, earning only $18 million at the time. The Academy's recognition allowed Warner Bros. to re-release the film and reportedly earn an additional $10 million in revenue (via Box Office Mojo). The re-release boosted video sales of the film, earning $80 million in sales (via Business Insider).
