Who gets paid more for a movie- director or lead actor?

Question

In a typical budget for a movie film, who gets paid more-- director of the movie or the lead actor?
I would like this information for Hollywood and Indian Cinema as well.

Answer 1

In Hollywood that depends on the deal. Every picture is different.
Only certain stars get astronomical salaries and the directors of their pictures usually get considerably less (relatively).

Some pictures are director driven and the leads get 'scale'
which is the base salary allowed by their union while the director might be paid more.

Some pictures include gross points which means the director and/or the lead actor get a percentage of the gross profits.

It all depends on how powerful the director is and how powerful the actor is; 'power' being defined as the ability to generate sales at the box office.

In some pictures the directors are interchangeable which
makes them less expensive. In some pictures, the stars are interchangeable which makes them less expensive.

The one thing missing from your equation is the Producer; the person from whom the project originates. The Producer basically gets paid by making sure other people take as little as possible.
In many cases you can find that the lead actor or the director is producing the film and therefore takes the biggest cut for himself.

http://www.salary.com/careers/layouthtmls/crel_display_Cat10_Ser146_Par246.html

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos093.htm

"The Sixth Sense"
earned $300 million in domestic ticket sales

Direcctor AND Writer - M. Night Shyamalan - $2.6 million
also received a share of any film's "back end," (gross points)
(This means extra money in the $10's of millions)

Lead Actor - Bruce Willis - $14 million
private jet tab - $450,000
"other allowance" - $339,492

Actress - Toni Collette - $1 million
Other Lead Actor - Haley Joel Osment - $150,000

More about:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0227061hollywood1.html

Answer 2

Directors usually only make 1 or 2 million per film, BUT they also get a percentage of the box office take which is usually enough to put them above the wage of the lead actor. But if the movie loses money, so does the director. Producers, who put up the money to make the film, earn the most because they have the most to lose. The highest paid actor in Hollywood right now is Chris Tucker who has reportedly been given 30 million for 'Rush Hour 3'!!!!!!!!! Crazy!!!!!!!!!

Answer 3

After the movie is made... this is how it works..... when on set the movie director/producer pays for everything: hotel,food and other stuff that is needed...and finishing making the movie the actors have to wait for at least 6 weeks for their pay check.. oh...and for the stunt men/woman they don't get paid much...they only get 10 grand for each stunt they do... If your wanting to be an actor/actress start studying cause i'm in the middle of doing it.....

Answer 4

PRODUCER earns the most.
i think the director gets paid a higher wage, but if the movie is sucessful i guess the lead actor may be given more credit.

Answer 5

depends....but in most cases its the director who is highest paid

Answer 6

actor