Hollywood has long wondered whether movie stars are losing the power they once had. But even in the age of streaming, artificial intelligence and weaker box office sales, the biggest names in the industry still earn tens of millions of dollars a year.
Forbes' latest list of the highest-paid actors and actresses shows that the top of Hollywood's A-list continues to receive huge fees, even though overall earnings have declined.
The twenty highest-paid film and television stars in 2025 earned about $590 million combined, about 20 percent less than the previous year.
Adam Sandler topped the list again, earning $48 million thanks to his long-term deal with Netflix. Streaming platforms remain the mainstay of support for many actors as they offer guaranteed royalties, often without reliance on movie revenue.
Big fees are still paid to those studios believe can attract audiences. Scarlett Johansson has landed a lucrative deal for the next installment in the Jurassic World franchise, while Brad Pitt is leading Apple's ambitious Formula 1 film.
For many stars, streaming platforms have become the most stable source of income. Sandler's deal with Netflix is one of the richest in the industry, and Denzel Washington and Daniel Craig have also received similar deals in recent years.
At the same time, streaming has created a new generation of stars . The youngest person on this year's list is Millie Bobby Brown , who built her career almost entirely on Netflix thanks to the series Stranger Things.
Although negotiations between studios and actors' agents are becoming increasingly tense, both sides agree on one thing: big names remain an important part of any successful film or television story.
Forbes' list of highest-paid actors and actresses in 2025
1. Adam Sandler – $48 million
2. Tom Cruise – $46 million
3. Mark Wahlberg – $44 million
4. Scarlett Johansson – $43 million
5. Brad Pitt – $41 million
6. Denzel Washington – $38 million
7. Jack Black – $28 million
8. Jason Momoa – $28 million
9. Daniel Craig – $27 million
10. Millie Bobby Brown – $26 million
11. John Cena – $26 million
12. Reese Witherspoon - $ 26 million
13. George Clooney – $25 million
14. Leonardo DiCaprio – $25 million
15. Rob McElhenney – $23 million
16. Chris Pratt – $22 million
17. Tom Hardy – $21 million
18. Jennifer Aniston – $20 million
19. Cameron Diaz – $20 million
20. Jason Bateman – $19 million
