Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Biggest Payday Wasn’t For ‘Terminator’

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the action star behind iconic blockbusters like The Terminator, Predator, and Total Recall, revealed that his most lucrative film was none of these high-octane thrillers. Instead, it was the 1988 comedy Twins, where he starred alongside Danny DeVito, that earned him his biggest paycheck. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Schwarzenegger dropped the bombshell: he made over $40 million from the Ivan Reitman-directed film, more than any other movie in his career.

A Clever Back-End Deal

The secret to Schwarzenegger’s massive earnings from Twins was a savvy business decision. He and DeVito agreed to forgo up-front salaries in exchange for a 40% share of the film’s profits. “We got no money for the salary but ownership with a piece of the back end,” Schwarzenegger explained. “It was fantastic. We went all the way to the bank with that.”

This gamble paid off handsomely. Twins grossed $216 million worldwide and continued to generate revenue through home video sales, becoming one of the most profitable comedies of its era. By betting on the film’s potential, Schwarzenegger and DeVito secured a financial windfall that outstripped the earnings from his action-heavy roles.

Defying Expectations

At the time, casting Schwarzenegger in a comedy was a risky move. Studios were skeptical, believing his box-office draw depended on his action-hero persona. “They said, ‘Are you crazy? The more people that this guy kills on-screen, the more money we make. Why would we change that?’” Schwarzenegger recalled in a Variety Actors on Actors conversation with his son, Patrick. However, director Ivan Reitman and co-star Danny DeVito saw untapped potential in the idea of Schwarzenegger playing a genetically engineered twin brother to DeVito’s character.

“If we don’t take any salaries, we can shoot the movie for $16.5 million. We worked out a deal where we got 40% of the backend of the movie. It happened to be the best deal we’ve ever made.”

A Sequel That Never Was

Fans of Twins have long hoped for a sequel, with a project titled Triplets—which would have included Eddie Murphy—once in development. Sadly, the project stalled after Reitman’s passing. “Reitman passed away before we wanted to start shooting,” Schwarzenegger noted, suggesting that the dream of a follow-up may have ended with the original director.

Despite the lack of a sequel, Twins remains a landmark in Schwarzenegger’s career, not only for its comedic success but also for proving his business acumen. By taking a chance on a low-budget comedy and a bold back-end deal, Schwarzenegger secured his biggest Hollywood payday and a lasting legacy in an unexpected genre.