Anna Faris says starring in one of the most successful comedy franchises of the 2000s didn’t make her rich.
In a new interview with Variety, the actress reflected on her early years in Hollywood and revealed she earned just 65,000 Canadian dollars (about $46,000 USD) for the first Scary Movie, signing a multi-picture deal that ultimately kept her salary low throughout the franchise’s initial run.
“When I got the role for Scary Movie, I got a three-picture deal,” Faris said. “My new manager celebrated it, but I didn’t know what it meant.”
However, a young Faris didn't understand what it entailed. “What it means is that they can lock you into a movie franchise and not pay you much,” she explained.
Faris said she earned “65,000 Canadian dollars” for the first film, a paycheck she says quickly disappeared after taxes and management fees.
“And then I wasn’t paid much for the second one or the third one,” she added.
The actress played Cindy Campbell, the lovable and accident-prone heroine of the horror spoof series, beginning with 2000’s Scary Movie. The film became a box office sensation, grossing more than $275 million worldwide and spawning multiple sequels.
Despite the franchise’s success, Faris admitted her feelings about the experience were complicated.
“My feelings about the franchise were tough,” she said. “And I felt so arrogant if I ever dismissed my massive stroke of luck in getting the role of Cindy Campbell.”
She continued, “That made me feel grotesque, as though I’d been poisoned by the fame; but at the same time, I felt, fuck, if I’m good enough to compete, let me run with the champs!”
Faris’ comments echo remarks made by her longtime co-star Regina Hall, who previously suggested that the cast behind the early Scary Movie films wasn’t compensated in a way that reflected the franchise’s enormous popularity.
Things have changed this time around.
Faris confirmed to Variety that she is returning for the upcoming reboot after receiving a call from Marlon Wayans in 2025, describing the experience as a long-overdue victory.
“It’s been a victorious feeling, the last year and a half since Marlon called in 2025,” she said.
The actress admitted she was in a very different place emotionally when the original films wrapped.
“My feeling at the time was that I was slowly fading out,” Faris said. “Because I didn’t come to Hollywood with stars in my eyes, I just didn’t know what any of it meant, and I didn’t feel funny or confident in being funny at all.”
