Why Jim Carrey, who once made $30 million per movie, came out of retirement for new film

Despite once demanding up to $30 million per movie, Jim Carrey has made a revelation about his finances as he is forced out of retirement.

Jim Carrey returned to the big screen because he was strapped for cash.

On Tuesday, the 62-year-old actor jokingly told reporters that he came out of retirement for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 after blowing through his savings.

“I came back to this universe because, first of all, I get to play a genius, which is a bit of a stretch,” he told the Associated Press.

“And, you know, it’s just … I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly.”

Jim Carrey explains his return to playing Dr. Robotnik in "Sonic the Hedgehog 3": "I bought a lot of stuff and I need the money, frankly." pic.twitter.com/pIFJPuAyRM

— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) December 10, 2024

The Ace Venture star reprised his role as villain Dr. Robotnik in the upcoming semi-animated action movie, which hits cinemas in Australia on Boxing Day.

The Mask star played the same character in the first two films, which came out in 2020 and 2022, respectively.

However, while promoting the second Sonic, Carrey announced his plan to step away from the spotlight.

“Well, I’m retiring,” he told Access at the time. “I’m being fairly serious.”

“I feel like — and this is something you might never hear another celebrity say as long as time exists — I have enough. I’ve done enough. I am enough,” he added.

Jim Carrey attends the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 UK Premiere in Leicester Square on December 10 in London. Picture: John Phillips/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures

Carrey was the first actor to make $30 million for a single film after starring in 1996’s The Cable Guy.

In the years that followed, the funnyman cemented himself as one of Hollywood’s wealthiest and highest-paid stars, reportedly raking in well over $280 million.

His biggest paycheck was a whopping $47 million for 2008’s Yes Man after he traded his salary for an ownership stake in the movie, which proved to be very lucrative for the actor.

Despite claiming he needed some extra cash flow, Carrey previously said it would take an extraordinary script to get him back in front of the camera.

Carrey plays Ivo Robotnik in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Picture: Paramount Pictures

“It depends if the angels bring some sort of script that’s, you know, written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road, but I’m taking a break,” he told Access.

“I really like my quiet life, and I really love putting paint on canvas, and I really love my spiritual life,” he shared.

Even before announcing his retirement, the actor became much more selective about which projects he accepted.

Sonic is voiced by Ben Schwartz in the franchise. Picture: Paramount Pictures

Carrey, who took a break from acting in the late 2010s, told The Hollywood Reporterin 2018 that he “didn’t want to be in the business anymore” and instead wanted to focus on other creative passions.

“I didn’t like what was happening, the corporations taking over and all that,” he explained. “And maybe it’s because I felt pulled toward a different type of creative outlet and I really liked the control of painting — of not having a committee in the way telling me what the idea must be to appeal to a four-quadrant whatever.”

Along with the new Sonic movie, Carrey is also expected to star in David Robert Mitchell’s film, Evergreen Pines and the Fading Summer, which is still in pre-production.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Why Jim Carrey, who once made $30 million per movie, came out of retirement for new film