James McAvoy has built a prolific career starring in acclaimed dramas, major superhero franchises, and chilling horror titles. Despite headlining big-budget studio projects throughout his career, the Scottish actor revealed that the vast majority of his residual checks amount to negligible sums, with only one specific film continuing to provide steady financial returns: M. Night Shyamalan's 2016 psychological thriller "Split."
Speaking on a recent episode of the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, McAvoy broke down the reality of Hollywood residual checks. He explained that while some projects yield irregular and minuscule payments, the low-budget horror hit stood out immediately by generating profits almost instantly after hitting theaters.
Box Office and Budget Summary for 'Split' (2016)
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $6 million |
| Domestic Box Office | $138.29 million |
| International Box Office | $140.16 million |
| Worldwide Total | $278.45 million |
The Realities of Residual Checks in Hollywood
During his appearance on the podcast, McAvoy offered a candid look into how actors receive secondary payments for past screen work. He noted that payouts from the entertainment industry often vary wildly in size, occasionally yielding amounts that are hardly worth the postage required to deliver them.
"You get the odd check for, you know, a couple 100 quid here or sometimes you get checks for, like, 25 cents and you’re like, 'It literally costs more to post this than it did for me to cash it,'" McAvoy shared. Despite an extensive filmography that includes films such as "Atonement," "X-Men: First Class," and "Speak No Evil," McAvoy stated that "Split" remains the exception to the rule. "The only one that really consistently pays me is 'Split,'" he added.
Low Budget and High Box-Office Returns for 'Split'
The enduring financial return of "Split" stems directly from its exceptionally lean production cost compared to its substantial theatrical earnings. McAvoy recalled that the feature was produced on a tight budget, which allowed it to reach profitability almost immediately upon release.
"I think it was made for like $6 million or something like that? And let’s say they spent 30 advertising it. In our first weekend, we made 40, so we were in profit," McAvoy stated, adding, "Our first residual check came at the end of the first weekend. It was bonkers."
In the 2016 film, McAvoy portrayed a man diagnosed with 23 distinct personalities who abducts three girls, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jessica Sula, as the characters brace for the arrival of a dangerous 24th personality. Produced for just $6 million, "Split" went on to generate $138.29 million domestically and $140.16 million internationally, achieving a worldwide total of $278.45 million.
Lessons from M. Night Shyamalan's Directorial Approach
Beyond the financial success of the project, McAvoy reflected on his creative collaboration with director M. Night Shyamalan. The actor, who later reunited with the filmmaker for the 2019 sequel "Glass," praised Shyamalan's disciplined approach to production and his ability to maximize limited resources.
McAvoy noted that while he regularly absorbs techniques from various directors he works with, Shyamalan's preparation left a lasting impression. He explained that the director kept both "Split" and "Glass" running efficiently by adhering to modest budgets and maintaining clear, focused communication on set.
"The thing I took away from him is his preparedness," McAvoy explained. "He made that film, and [sequel] 'Glass,' on incredibly modest budgets, and very focused on how he would maximize his day and maximize his shots and maximize what he got out of the story by just being incredibly well-prepared and being able to share that and communicate that with the crew."
As discussions surrounding talent compensation, project financing, and backend residuals continue to evolve within the film industry, McAvoy's remarks illustrate how disciplined micro-budget genre filmmaking can yield lasting financial stability compared to traditional big-budget studio releases.
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Source: Variety
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