Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minutePC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Tom Hanks was reportedly paid a $40 million salary for The Polar Express, plus a separate guaranteed 20% share of first-dollar gross. The salary and participation were distinct compensation terms; contemporary reporting does not establish Hanks’s final total payout.
What was Tom Hanks’s reported salary?
The American Film Institute’s AFI Catalog records a $40 million salary for Hanks, citing a November 17, 2004, Los Angeles Times report. The newspaper’s coverage also reported $40 million salaries for Hanks and director Robert Zemeckis. This was $40 million for each man, not a combined figure.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Polar Express, The (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray) | $17.84 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
![The Polar Express [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51JS4hQFl+L._SL160_.jpg)
|
The Polar Express [Blu-ray] | $18.41 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
The Polar Express (Single Disc Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray Combo) | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
What did the first-dollar gross share mean?
AFI’s summary of the reported deal says Hanks was guaranteed 20% of first-dollar gross. That was a separate participation term in addition to his salary, not a stated final earnings total. The same account gives Zemeckis a separate 15% first-dollar gross share.
The contemporary reports do not calculate how much Hanks ultimately collected through that participation. The $40 million salary is therefore the reported salary figure, not a verified total for all compensation from the film.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches#1 Best Overall
- The Polar Express
- Product type: ABIS_DVD
How large was the film’s financial undertaking?
A separate Los Angeles Times report published October 22, 2004, described The Polar Express as a major financial risk. It reported a $170 million production cost and $125 million for global marketing and distribution—figures from 2004, not current-dollar estimates. Warner Bros. President Alan Horn said, “It is a big risk, and the decision to do any movie this expensive is not done lightly.” These project costs provide context but do not establish Hanks’s final payout. Read the Los Angeles Times report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What can be concluded from the available reporting?
- Hanks’s reported salary was $40 million.
- His reported deal also included a guaranteed 20% share of first-dollar gross.
- The reporting does not state his final aggregate compensation after gross participation or later receipts.
The compensation terms come from historical reporting cataloged by AFI, rather than a publicly audited payment ledger.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Warner Brothers The Polar Express (Single Disc Blu-Ray/Blu-Ray 3D Combo)
Rank #2
- Directors:Robert Zemeckis
- Writers:Robert Zemeckis,William Broyles
- Producers:Gary Goetzman,Steve Starkey,William Teitler
- Language:English
- Subtitles:Spanish, English, French
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
