Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has disclosed that his most financially rewarding film wasn’t one of his blockbuster action movies, but rather the 1988 comedy Twins, co-starring Danny DeVito.
During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, the 77-year-old actor shared that Twins earned him over $40 million — more than any other film in his decades-long career. Schwarzenegger explained that instead of receiving a traditional salary upfront, he and DeVito agreed to take a percentage of the film’s profits.
“It was fantastic,” Schwarzenegger recalled. “We went all the way to the bank with that one.” The deal proved extremely lucrative as Twins went on to gross more than $200 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo.
When host Andy Cohen guessed he might have earned around $20 million, the Terminator star laughed and corrected him. “Oh, much more, come on! What’s the matter with you?” he joked, adding, “It was more than any movie I’ve ever made, let’s put it this way.”
Twins, directed by the late Ivan Reitman, marked Schwarzenegger’s first major comedic role, a departure from his usual action-packed films like Predator and The Terminator. The film tells the story of two unlikely brothers — one tall, athletic, and brilliant (Schwarzenegger), the other short and streetwise (DeVito) — who discover they are twins separated at birth.
The film’s blend of humor and heart resonated with global audiences, turning it into a commercial success and proving Schwarzenegger’s versatility beyond action roles.
Schwarzenegger also touched on the scrapped sequel Triplets, which was expected to feature Eddie Murphy. Unfortunately, the project was shelved following the death of director Ivan Reitman.
The actor’s revelation offered a rare glimpse into the smart financial moves behind one of Hollywood’s classic comedies — a film that continues to pay dividends, both emotionally and monetarily, decades later.