As a prominent A-list star in Hollywood, Angelina Jolie is currently navigating a series of film projects that have recently faced setbacks at the box office, receiving criticism from audiences and media alike over the past eight years. Excluding her voice role in the blockbuster animated film Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016), the film that has come closest to success for Jolie is Maleficent (2014), which grossed $758.5 million at the box office against a budget of approximately $186 million.
Two of her most recent high-profile flops include Maleficent 2: Mistress of All Evil (2019) and Eternals (2021), both of which did not achieve significant box office success. With only a 40% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Maleficent 2 earned $491.7 million, which is still short of the $500 million mark needed for profitability. Meanwhile, Eternals grossed $402 million, marking the first box office disappointment for the Marvel Cinematic Universe since The Incredible Hulk (2008).
Unlike many other actors, Angelina Jolie typically only takes on one or two film roles each year to dedicate time to humanitarian work and caring for her children. As a result, her projects garner significant public interest. Despite varying audience reactions, she continues to command a high salary in Hollywood.
Over her more than 40 years in the industry, Angelina Jolie has appeared in over 40 films and has consistently been one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. From 2001 to 2011 alone, the actress earned over $120 million from her acting roles. Her salary has risen significantly after each project, starting with Lara Croft ($7 million), Lara Croft 2 ($12 million), Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Good Shepherd, and A Mighty Heart (all around $10 million), Wanted ($15 million), and Salt and The Tourist (both at $20 million).
At the age of 48, Angelina Jolie continues to attract many major film studios. With the blockbuster Eternals, she earned over $35 million for her role as Thena, despite her limited screen time. However, if she continues to pursue projects that do not perform well at the box office, it may become challenging for Jolie to maintain her high salary in the future.
In the near future, she is set to return with the animated blockbuster Kung Fu Panda 4, which is scheduled for release in March 2024. According to Screenrant, this project will allow Jolie to take a break from her film roles, which she has not done for nearly eight years. Additionally, she has several major projects currently in production, including Maude vs Maude, Maleficent 3, Maria, and Every Note Played.
