The Studio Era · 1930s
Top-earning actor
≈ $275,000
$275,000 a pictureEstimate
About $6.8 million in 2025 dollars
Roman Scandals was the top-grossing film of 1933. That year the highest salary in the industry was $315,000, paid to an actor the reports didn't name.
Top-earning actress
$300,000
$300,000 a pictureDeal
About $7.5 million in 2025 dollars
She returned to MGM only for $300,000 a film and her choice of project: Queen Christina.
By U.S. theatrical rentals, the studios' share of ticket sales
$2.4 million
★ Starring Eddie Cantor
$2.2 million
$2.2 million
