Matthew McConaughey has a list of iconic roles dating back to the ’90s, and he’s grateful for his extensive portfolio. But if there’s one movie he might be most thankful for, it’s the 2003 rom-com “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” During a recent podcast appearance, the legendary actor and diehard Texas Longhorns fan revealed a secret about the film that’s made it one of his all-time favorites.
Speaking with Josh Horowitz on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast earlier this week, McConaughey said that it’s hard for him to choose another film when asked about some of his favorites because “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” is “the gift that keeps on giving.”
When pressed for more information, McConaughey said it’s “probably my favorite rom-com I’ve done,” mainly because it’s a fan favorite, and because it still earns him a pretty penny to this day. “It still pays the best mailbox money of any film I’ve ever done, by far. By lengths,” he shared further, referring to the residual checks that come to actors after networks have replayed some of their work at later dates.
“It’s probably on, like, every airline forever,” Horowitz joked, to which McConaughey replied, “Sorority houses.”
Why ‘How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days’ Paid Matthew McConaughey The Most Money Every March For Years
For those who haven’t seen the 2003 box office hit, “How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days” is about a magazine writer and an advertising executive who date each other with opposite goals in mind. McConaughey’s character bets his bosses that he could make any woman fall in love with him in 10 days, while Andie, played by Kate Hudson, is assigned to write an article about … well, how to lose a guy in 10 days, and tries to put every dating mistake to the test.
In addition to McConaughey’s film being in sorority houses across college campuses, the actor pointed out that he used to receive the largest residual checks in March. “When it used to be just DVDs or cable, every March I’d get a big check because [of] Valentine’s Day,” he said.
He continued, “But, I mean, look: the movie for me, for that genre, let me just own that genre. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days … that’s a real anchor in the rom-com genre through time.”
Matthew McConaughey Is Lucky To Receive Such Hefty Residual Checks
It’s a good thing McConaughey is thankful for his time filming “How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days,” because some other actors aren’t hitting the residual jackpot like he is.
According to a previous report from The Blast, former Nickelodeon star Jennifer Hyatt Tedmori recently crashed out in an Instagram post, revealing that she’s made mere pennies from her time on “Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide.”
“All of two cents. See all of this paper I’m just littering in my car for two f–king cents,” she said. “I know, hard times [and the] economy is s–t, but like two cents? Keep it. Just f–king keep it. I don’t want it.”
Tedmori was sure to mention that it’s been a while since she’s had a regular appearance on a TV show, but it didn’t change her position on the matter. “Now, I get it, it’s been a long time. I’m surprised that I’m getting anything. But three cents? It cost you 75 cents to send this envelope, and the way it’s adding up, the math ain’t f–king mathing,” she said.
This ‘Full House’ Star Said Things Have Changed Since Streaming
During a separate conversation, “Full House” star Jodie Sweetin also talked about receiving small residual checks from her time on the hit sitcom during the ’80s and ’90s.
“No, there’s no syndication anymore because it’s all in streaming. Who gets paid for that? Nobody gets paid for that,” Sweetin said.
Pamela Anderson Struck A Bad Deal
And they aren’t alone. Even the iconic Pamela Anderson reportedly struck a bad deal when she was younger, making one of her most iconic works one of her lowest-paying gigs ever.
“When I go back, and I even look at past deals and residual checks, people would be shocked to find out how people really took advantage of her,” Anderson’s son, Brandon Thomas, told Extra. “A young girl making a bad deal on a big show, and she was the biggest star at the time.”
He shared that “a lot of people made a lot of money” from “Baywatch,” but he claimed his mom only made “$4,000 a year.”
