The importance of Top Billing?

[Warhammer]

- What is the major importance of top billing?
- Why did some actors like Jack Nicholson and Arnold Schwarzeneggar demand top billing for their Batman movies?
- Is it out of respect that they some actors (who were around longer and had more movies) get top billing?
- Do you have to pay to receive top billing?

May someone answer those questions for me?
Thank You, I appreciate it.

 

[xii22_loop]

does thing by any chance have to do with Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry, too?

 

[ico]

I have no idea. It isn't important to me. And I'm pretty sure that if I were an actor, I'd want my name to be top billing when I became good enough and worthy enough of a top billing. I wouldn't try and force it upon people.

 

[reggiebar]

If you are Audio Two "Top Billin' " is very important....

 

[Jolly Rolly]

That's a good question because in Miami Vice Jamie Foxx has top billing over Colin Farrel even though the character of Sonny Crocket was the star of the show.

 

[Warhammer]

Thank you for the info, everyone.

And I was also wondering that with Jamie Foxx and Miami Vice.

 

[Electrix]

does thing by any chance have to do with Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry, too?

Halle and Hugh were top billed because they are most well known and would bring an audience. I would have prefered Ian Mckellen and Patrick Stewart but its the case of having two big A-List actors over lower A-Listers, B's and C's.

If studios have paid 15 million for an actor they are going to want to use them best they can to make the money back.

 

[Dave McFly]

I think one of the worst case of 'top billing' was 78s superman

Marlon Brando

Gene Hackman

In A Richard Donnor Film

Superman

Christopher reeve

as taken from the opeing credits

 

[xwolverine2]

wtf?

 

[Jolly Rolly]

I think one of the worst case of 'top billing' was 78s superman

Marlon Brando

Gene Hackman

In A Richard Donnor Film

Superman

Christopher reeve

as taken from the opeing credits

And in Superman 2 is was still Gene Hackman before Christopher Reeve, but by the time Superman 4 rolled around Christopher Reeve comes first as it should be.

Another example would be 48 Hours
Nick Nolte
Eddie Murphy

and in Another 48 Hours it's
Eddie Murphy
Nick Nolte

 

[xwolverine2]

vin deisel prob. got paid more than the actualy star of tokyo drift!

 

[Jspider13]

I think I remember seeing a billboard for Hide and Seek and it went "Dakota Fanning Robert De Niro"

I was nothing short of furious.

 

[The Riddler]

heat had equal billing between de niro and pacino with both names appearing simultaneously onscreen.

 

[thealiasman2000]

Clint Howard got top billing in "Silent Night Deadly Night 4: Initiation" just because he played the only character that had anything to do with the previous movies.

 

[terry78]

Whichever actor has more appeal at that moment or is the hot item is the one that gets top billing. As far as Miami Vice, I never figured Crockett to be the main character, neither in the movie or the show. They're both the lead. The trailer just gave more to Crockett's sub-plot.

 

[Furious Styles]

I think one of the worst case of 'top billing' was 78s superman

Marlon Brando

Gene Hackman

In A Richard Donnor Film

Superman

Christopher reeve

as taken from the opeing credits

You realize Marlon Brando may very well be the greatest actor of all time. And that his name brought instant credibility to a "superhero" film. Christopher Reeve was a nobody in 1978. Obviously, he owned the role from then until eternity, but if you are The Salkinds, who do you sell the film on? Some unknown actor or Marlon FREAKING Brando?

 

[Karea07]

I always thought top billing just went to the most popular cast members. I don't think they pay for that, because the most popular cast members are the ones who bring more people in to the movie anyways.