Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was a risk, far from his usual slapstick comedies. Yet, it became one of his most celebrated performances. After his breakout year in 1994 with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, and Dumb and Dumber, Carrey jumped to the A-list. A year later, he played the Riddler in Batman Forever and returned as Ace Ventura in When Nature Calls. Both films were huge hits.
By 1996, Jim Carrey made history. He became the first actor to earn a $20 million paycheck for The Cable Guy. The film, a dark comedy, was divisive. It earned only $60 million at the box office, making Carrey’s salary nearly half the production budget. But his price tag was set. He remained one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors.
Carrey kept the blockbuster streak going. In 2003, he played a man gifted with God-like powers in Bruce Almighty. The film grossed $485M worldwide. His paycheck? A jaw-dropping $25M.
Then, he did something unexpected. Instead of cashing in on another big-budget comedy, he slashed his asking price for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The Richest reported he took $10 million, less than half of his Bruce Almighty salary.
Why? He believed in the project. Michel Gondry’s Eternal Sunshine was a trippy, emotional ride. Carrey’s heartbreak felt real, and fans called it one of his best.
This was not the first time Carrey stepped away from broad comedy. He had already proven his dramatic chops in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. But Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind cemented his range.
Despite his ability to deliver in both comedy and drama, Hollywood continued to typecast. Carrey once described the industry’s reluctance to see him beyond physical comedy, even after his more nuanced roles.
He kept bouncing between genres. He went from indie projects to big studio films, from The Number 23 to Yes Man. Then came Sonic the Hedgehog. The 2020 film and its 2022 sequel brought him back to blockbuster status.
Carrey’s career choices were always unpredictable. But with his recent talks of retirement, fans wondered if he would take another dramatic leap. If Sonic the Hedgehog 3 happened, would he return? Or would he chase another passion project?
One thing was certain. Jim Carrey never played it safe. Even at the top, he bet big on the roles that mattered.
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