7 Cool Movies In Which Famous Actors Agreed To Play For Free

One of the perks of being a movie star is that they get paid huge sums of money for even a minute of being on screen. However, there are times when actors do not receive anything for their work.

This happens for various reasons: some fall in love with the script so much that they can play one of the roles for free. Others are ready to do anything to work with their favorite director, while others donate their fees to charity. We talk about films in which cult actors worked for the idea.

1. wicker man

The Wicker Man

• UK, 1973
• Horror, thriller, mystic.
• Duration: 88 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

Christopher Lee has many famous roles on his account: Saruman from The Lord of the Rings, Francisco Scaramanga - the antagonist James Bond, Count Dooku from the Star Wars universe and many others. However, for one of the works, which he would later call the greatest in his career, the actor did not receive a penny. It's about his role in The Wicker Man in 1973.

Why did it happen? Shortly before filming began, Lee met with screenwriter Anthony Shaffer. He had the idea to create "an intellectual horror film in which atmosphere is more important than blood."

The plot revolved around a devout police sergeant who arrived on a Scottish island to investigate a missing girl. However, everything did not go according to plan: it turned out that the locals fell into paganism, and they never heard anything about the victim.

Lee was interested in the idea of ​​starring in this film - he had already become a horror star and was looking for more interesting roles that would help him get rid of the role of a monster and a villain.

But there was one problem: The Wicker Man was on such a low budget that the company couldn't afford to work with Christopher Lee at his usual rate. The actor is not embarrassed. He fell in love with the role so much that he offered to do it for free.

As it turned out, not in vain: subsequently, the film was highly appreciated by critics, and Cinefantastique magazine even called it "Citizen Kane" among horror».

2. Regicide

• USSR, UK, 1991.
• Drama.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.8.

"The King's Killer" is a Soviet film about the most terrible night in the history of the Russian Empire - from July 16 to 17, 1918, when Nicholas II was killed along with his family.

According to the plot, several decades have passed since these events, but one of the "eyewitnesses" cannot erase them from memory. This is a patient of the psychiatric hospital Timofeev, who suffers from a split personality and during periods of exacerbation identifies himself with the leader of the execution.

The role of the mentally ill was played by Malcolm McDowell. At that time, he had already managed to become famous thanks to the film by Stanley Kubrick "Clockwork orange». The director of the "Regicide", Karen Shakhnazarov, did not even dream of a star of such magnitude. However, as it turned out, the actor himself had been following his career for a long time and wanted to work with the Soviet master.

For this, he was ready to learn Russian and act for free. In addition, the budget would still not allow hiring such a famous actor. As a result, he was paid for the way there and back, the rent of a modest Moscow apartment and food. According to some sources, McDowell received a relatively small fee, but initially there was no talk about this.

3. Four rooms

Four rooms

• USA, 1995
• Comedy.
• Duration: 98 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.7.

The film consists of four short stories shot by different directors. The plot is built around Ted, a receptionist who went to work on the eve of the New Year. He barely takes his feet from the witches who organized the coven, from the gangster kids and from the jealous husband, and even manages to take part in a strange bet.

Tarantino wrote and directed the fourth installment, Penthouse. One of the roles in it was played by Bruce Willis. However, his name is not listed in the credits.

Why did it happen? After filming inpulp fictionThe actor so wanted to work with Quentin Tarantino again that he was ready to play anyone in his film, and for free!

After these words, persuade the director didn't have to, and Tarantino offered Willis a role in the film Four Rooms. However, according to the rules of the American Actors Guild, in which he was a member, it was impossible to shoot for free. So Willis had to agree to have his name removed from the credits.

And this is not the only case of such a "charity game" in the career of an actor. A little later, Willis starred in several episodes of Friends for free, as he lost the bet to Matthew Perry, the actor who plays the role of Chandler Bing.

4. good night and good luck

Good Night and Good Luck

• USA, France, UK, Japan, 2005.
• Biography, drama.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.4.

This is a historical drama from director and actor George Clooney. It is dedicated to the events of 1953, when journalist Edward Murrow unleashed a live conflict with US Senator Joseph McCarthy, an ardent anti-communist. Incidentally, the title contains the phrase that Murrow used to end his broadcasts with.

"Good Night and Good Luck" George Clooney named “a love letter to my old man” - father Nick Clooney, a famous TV presenter and journalist. He, according to the actor, helped him understand what real freedom of speech and the responsibility of the media to people are.

The tape was warmly received by critics and was a success at the box office. She was nominated for six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. What is surprising George Clooney received only 3 dollars for work on it. This despite the fact that he acted as a screenwriter, director and actor.

L.A. Times he explained this decision is that it was more important for him to tell a story than to get rich: "I'm in the enviable position - I can get the studios to make films that they would not normally undertake."

5. Cadillac Records

Cadillac Records

• USA, 2008.
• Drama, musical.
• Duration: 109 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.

Cadillac Records is a biopic directed by Darnell Martin. The film is dedicated to the musical era of the early 1940s - late 1960s and tells about the life of the head of the record company Leonard Chess and several musicians who worked with him.

One of the singers, drug user Etta James, is played by beyoncé. In preparation for filming, the actress even spent several weeks at the House of Phoenix addiction rehabilitation center, talking with doctors and clients of the institution.

This experience influenced Beyoncé so much that her entire fee from the filming of Cadillac Records - $ 4 million - she donated "House of the Phoenix".

6. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

• UK, France, Canada, 2009.
• Fantasy, adventure, comedy, detective.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.8.

A traveling theater troupe takes the audience through a magic mirror to show them the true power of the imagination and confront them with a choice between enlightenment and ignorance. In order to be able to pull off such a number, Dr. Parnassus, the leader of the company, repeatedly gambles with the Devil.

Played the main role in the film Heath Ledger. However, when a third of the film was already shot, the participants received terrible news: the actor had died. It would seem that the end of the tape, but the creators came up with an interesting solution to the problem.

They hired three actors to fill in for Ledger in certain scenes. In the film, this was explained by the fact that the character is undergoing constant transformation, traveling through the magical realms.

Ledger's three alter egos are Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell and Jude Law. All of them, having learned about the reason for such an emergency decision, donated his royalties to the family of the deceased by acting in the film for free.

As a result, the world premiere took place during the 62nd Cannes Film Festival out of competition. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards and grossed over $60 million at the box office, double its original budget.

7. For once in your life

Begin again

• USA, 2013.
• Comedy, drama, musical.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.4.

Dan Mulligan is a poor producer on a binge, facing a creative block and trying to stay afloat. Greta is a young music performer who fled England after the betrayal of a loved one. Their chance meeting turns into a promising collaboration.

Starring Mark Ruffalo and Keira Knightley. The secondary one went to Adam Levine, the frontman of Maroon 5. He played Greta's ex-boyfriend.

His debut was met with critical acclaim. Levin himself was inspired by the new experience. Yes, he waived the fee. "I starred in this film for free, - said he is USA Today. “I want to approach acting in a completely different way. I'm lucky that I don't have to think about it in terms of making money."

And although not all critics appreciated the film, it was still nominated for an Oscar for best song. Therefore, it is worth watching at least for the sake of the soundtracks.