Bruce Willis Refused to Take a Salary in 1995 Brad Pitt Movie, Was Paid Handsomely after it Became a Cult-Classic With $139M in Profits

Bruce Willis is undoubtedly an iconic actor known for his versatile performances which has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. With a career spanning several decades, Willis has showcased his talent in a wide range of genres, from action-packed thrillers to heartfelt dramas.

Willis rose to fame with his role as John McClane in the Die Hard series, establishing himself as a charismatic action star. Despite his popularity, the Tears of the Sun star made a shocking decision by working alongside Brad Pitt in the 1995 film, 12 Monkeys, for free. 

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Bruce Willis’ 12 Monkeys Rose To Become A Cult-Classic Movie

12 Monkeys is a thought-provoking science fiction film that was released in 1995 and directed by Terry Gilliam. Starring Bruce Willis as James Cole, the story revolves around a post-apocalyptic future where Cole is sent back in time to prevent future chaos. As he traverses through time, Cole encounters Dr. Kathryn Railly (played by Madeleine Stowe), a psychiatrist, and Jeffrey Goines (played by Brad Pitt), an unstable man. With its intricate storyline, the movie explores themes such as time travel, destiny, and the vulnerability of human existence. The movie was received well by the critics and public alike.

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12 Monkeys (1995)

Bruce Willis Worked Without Any Pay In 12 Monkeys

One of the interesting yet shocking parts about the making of 12 Monkeys is surely the fact that Bruce Willis, the well-established actor, worked for free in this movie. The movie, 12 Monkeys, was produced on a small budget, yet the Die Hard star’s admiration for Terry Gilliam made him work for free. Willis was a fan of Terry Gilliam’s work and wanted to work with him. The Die Hard star surely didn’t want to miss this chance to work with Gilliam for some monetary reasons. The Surrogates star eventually agreed to work on the movie for free and what happens next results in the creation of a sensational cult-classic movie.

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Though Bruce Willis was paid accordingly after the successful release of the movie. His decision to work in the film was proven worth it from all channels. But Willis was not the only star who agreed to work in Gilliam’s movie by hurting their own pockets. Brad Pitt was also signed on to the movie for a relatively small pay despite delivering consecutive hits at that time. One can watch the 12 Monkeys on Amazon Prime Video.