Getting involved with a major film franchise can be a great way for an actor to make bank while getting some positive exposure. Just look at what happens when someone lands a primary role in the MCU. It changes everything instantly.
Michael Caine is an acting legend who reaped the benefits of working with DC. Years before this, however, Caine appeared in a franchise that was kicked off with a Spielberg classic. Unfortunately, the movie he appeared in was terrible, but his reason for appearing in it was pretty genius.
Let's take a look at Michael Caine and the reason why he starred in a terrible franchise flick.
Michael Caine Is An Acting Legend
At this stage in his incredible career, Michael Caine is a performer that millions of movie fans have seen perform brilliantly on the big screen. Caine has an amazing acting range that he has flexed through the years, and he is a genuine legend of the movie business.
Caine initially rose to fame in the 1960s, and since then, he has spent decades in the business turning in fantastic performances. He can do it all while the cameras are rolling, and seeing him in recent smash hits like The Dark Knight, Inception, Kingsman, and Interstellar has been amazing for fans.
Caine could retire at any point, but the actor continues to press on.
The actor said, "Regarding retirement, I’ve spent over 50 years getting up at 6:00 a.m. to make movies, and I’m not getting rid of my alarm clock!”
Caine has had a storied career, but even he has not been immune from starring in a bad flick.
He Starred In 'Jaws 4'
In 1987, the Jaws franchise was kept alive with Jaws 4, also known as Jaws: The Revenge. By that point, the franchise was pretty played out, but the movies were still making some coin at the box office.
Never seen Jaws 4? Well, you're not missing out on a whole lot. There is a reason why this movie is never mentioned alongside the classic, and it's more of just a footnote in the franchise's history. While not the be-all and end-all, Rotten Tomatoes currently has this film with a 0% critics score and a 15% audience score. Frankly, we're surprised audiences liked it that much.
Now, in what came as a surprise to many, Michael Caine agreed to star in the film. We see some major stars today taking roles in terrible films, but most of these performers don't have the same range as Michael Caine. This sure seemed like an odd decision by the actor back in the 80s, and eventually, he would open up about why he took a role in a film that was thrashed by critics and fans alike.
He Did It For The Money
So, why in the world would an accomplished and celebrated performer like Michael Caine take a role in a film like Jaws 4? Sometimes, you just have to secure the bag, which is precisely what Caine did all those years ago.
"According to Caine, he and his family were preparing to move from Los Angeles to Oxfordshire, England, and were having a house built. Unfortunately, the building costs ended up being way more than anticipated, and Caine was experiencing a bit of a dry spell acting-wise, so things were getting worrisome. Then, Caine was offered what he calls a "tremendous free" to appear in Jaws 4, reportedly around $1.5 million dollars for a week's work," ScreenRant reported.
That is a hefty salary for any performer, especially considering the era in which the film was made. So, needing some extra cash for his new home, Caine signed on board this terrible film, collected his check, and enjoyed his new palace.
Caine himself would say, "I have never seen the film, but by all accounts it was terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built, and it is terrific."
Whether it's for the love of the craft or the love of the check, we can't pretend like getting paid isn't a huge part of an actor's decision to take part in a bad movie. There are some current performers who are seemingly always in bad movies, but you just know that they are making bank, regardless of how many people actually watch and enjoy it. You have to respect the hustle at some point.
Jaws 4 is a film that Michael Caine will never watch, but he got to enjoy his beautiful home for years on end.