Ethan Hawke Earned Almost No Upfront Payment, Slept on a Couch Filming ‘The Purge’
Ethan Hawke has been in showbiz since the ’80s when he appeared in classic dramas such as Dead Poets Society and Explorers. The actor has received critical acclaim for his work in various movies, and by the early 2000s, he was one of Hollywood’s hottest commodities. But despite being a high-profile star, Hawke doesn’t mind forgoing some luxuries for projects he’s passionate about. That was the case with 2013’s The Purge, a low-budget dystopian horror film that became wildly successful. Hawke later revealed he earned almost no salary upfront for his work on The Purge. Instead, he chose to take a piece of the film’s overall profits.
What is ‘The Purge’ about?
The Purge is a dystopian horror film that tells the story of a society that passes a law sanctioning “the Purge,” an annual event that makes all crimes legal and suspends emergency services. To survive the Purge, people must barricade themselves in their homes, often constructing elaborate security systems to keep evildoers at bay. The Sandin family is no exception, and as the Purge descends, the family members find themselves faced with armed intruders, IMDb reports.
Ethan Hawke stars in the film as family patriarch James Sandin. A wealthy man who pours a lot of money into the security system protecting his house, Sandin is ultimately taken down by the effects of the Purge.
The Purge became a hit, spawning a series of sequels, including The Purge: Anarchy and The Purge: Election Year.
Ethan Hawke revealed he made almost no money upfront for ‘The Purge’
Although Ethan Hawke was already a big star in 2013, he was willing to take a chance on The Purge and worked for a smaller-than-usual salary.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Purge producer James Blum persuaded Hawke to work on the film for a small salary and receive a chunk of the film’s profits instead.
“There were no perks,” Hawke said of his experience working on The Purge. “No trailer, no driver, no BS — just a great role, a great director. Hell, on The Purge, I slept on his couch the whole shoot.”
Though the amount Hawke made for The Purge is unclear, the film opened to $34 million on a sparse $3 million budget. That’s a good indication Hawke’s gamble paid off.
What is Ethan Hawke’s net worth?
Even if The Purge hadn’t become a horror classic, Ethan Hawke likely wouldn’t have suffered. Over the years, the actor has grown his fortune by appearing in popular movies such as Training Day, Gattaca, and Lord of War.
Hawke also earned a reputation as an actor who wasn’t afraid to try new things, appearing in everything from sci-fi to low-key romantic flicks. His marriage to fellow Hollywood star Uma Thurman boosted his status further, with the two welcoming two children during their union.
These days, Ethan Hawke’s net worth is a cool $55 million, Celebrity Net Worth estimates. With a recent high-profile role in Marvel Studios’+ limited series Moon Knight, Hawke is still a bankable star willing to take chances on projects that inspire him.
