Like "Man of Steel" and "Wonder Woman" before it, 2019's "Shazam!" starts out by depicting Billy Batson's pre-superhero life. Asher Angel plays the teenage foster kid, whose trouble with the law can't hide his heroic heart. This sterling nature leads the wizard Shazam to deem him a worthy champion. Thanks to his brand-new superpowers, Billy becomes able to transform from a wiry teenager into a powerful adult (Zachary Levi).
Because he was a minor at the time of filming, Angel's contract was filed in court and reported by TMZ. The outlet reported his salary for the feature was $85,000. However, if the movie made more than $400 million, he was set to rake in a significant bonus of $25,000. As the film made $365 million worldwide, he missed out on that additional $25,000. Hope springs eternal, though: Angel's contract stipulates he'll get a nice bonus if any further "Shazam!" movies top the $400 million mark.
The popularity of the franchise is already clear. The first film garnered glowing reviews, with much praise going to Angel in particular. His salary increase for the 2023 sequel, "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," represents that: Angel will take home $200,000 for the flick, with the potential for a $35,000 bonus. As TMZ noted, Angel has the potential to take home millions more if additional "Shazam!" sequels become a reality. If the franchise makes it to a fifth installment, for example, he's set to earn $1.6 million, with the potential for a $150,000 bonus.
