James McAvoy has revealed that despite headlining massive franchises and major studio blockbusters, he received his first residual check for the 2016 thriller Split at the end of the film’s opening weekend. Speaking on the Happy Sad Confused podcast on October 15, 2026, the actor detailed a stark divide between the financial rewards of low-budget hits and big-studio tentpoles.
The financial structure of Split, directed by M. Night Shyamalan, was atypical for a star of McAvoy’s profile. Produced on a modest budget of approximately $9 million, the film went on to gross over $278 million worldwide. McAvoy reported that his contract was structured in a way that he began seeing profit participation almost immediately, claiming he received his first check as early as the end of the film’s opening weekend.
This immediate payout is characteristic of “backend” deals often found in the Blumhouse production model. In these arrangements, actors frequently accept lower upfront fees in exchange for a percentage of the film’s gross or net profits. This differs from standard SAG-AFTRA residuals, which are usually smaller, ongoing payments generated when a film is licensed for streaming, television, or home media.
McAvoy contrasted the success of Split with the earnings from other portions of his filmography.
According to McAvoy, he does not receive significant residuals from some of his most recognizable roles, including the 2008 action film Wanted or his multi-film tenure as Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise. While those films were produced with budgets exceeding $100 million and generated hundreds of millions at the box office, the contractual agreements for large-scale studio productions often favor higher upfront salaries over long-term profit sharing for the cast.
The actor’s comments on his past financial gambles come as he has been active on the press circuit, including an appearance on Watch What Happens Live on October 12, where he reflected on his career trajectory.
