Lincoln (2012)
Centered Around the Actions of: Abraham Lincoln
Main Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis
Film Cost: $65 million*
Main Actor Income: $6-8 million*
Lincoln showcases the invaluable contributions of one of America’s most celebrated presidents, Abraham Lincoln, who is played by Daniel Day-Lewis. Steven Spielberg, who produced and directed Lincoln, follows the former president’s championing of the American Civil War. Tony Kushner wrote this wartime epic, using writer Doris Kearns Goodwin’s descriptions of the events, called Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln
It isn’t often that a movie about a seemingly perfect historical figure also illustrates their personal struggles in a frank way. The American history drama achieved a huge success, earning $275 million within the box office. Lewis was joined by other acting legends such as Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tommy Lee Jones.
The Doors (1991)
Centered Around the Actions of: Jim Morrison
Main Actor: Val Kilmer
Film Cost: $38 million*
Main Actor Income: $6 million*
Not every movie on this list was a massive box office success, with The Doors only earning a meager $34 million, which cost its studio $4 million in losses. The movie did go on to become something of a cult film, steadily growing in its fan base in time. These fans were namely followers of The Doors and its lead singer, Jim Morrison.
The Doors
The reckless vocalist is portrayed by Val Kilmer. Morrison’s place as a godlike icon throughout the counterculture scene of the 1960s is dramatically showcased in The Doors. Kilmer adequately showed just how much Morrison battled with substance abuse, not to mention his obsession with death. Despite the movie’s cult following, the actual band did not think too highly of it.
