“Tobey Maguire Got $17.5M + Backend, Kirsten Dunst Got $7M… Despite Being All Over the Poster”
Kirsten Dunst portrayed Mary Jane Watson in the highly successful Spider-Man film trilogy, which generated global box office revenues exceeding $2.5 billion. As a central figure in the franchise, her image appeared prominently alongside Tobey Maguire on promotional materials.
Despite her significant role, her compensation was considerably lower than that of her male co-star.In a 2024 interview with Variety, Ms. Dunst discussed the earnings disparity. For the first Spider-Man film in 2002, Mr. Maguire reportedly received $4 million, while Ms. Dunst earned approximately $3 million. However, with the release of the hugely successful Spider-Man 2 in 2004, Mr. Maguire’s compensation rose to $17.5 million, plus 5% of the box office gross.
Ms. Dunst’s estimated earnings for the sequel were around $7 million — creating a compensation gap of more than $10 million, despite comparable screen time and promotional visibility in the same franchise.Upon learning of Mr. Maguire’s $17 million deal, Ms. Dunst remarked: “It might have been more, actually. It was different. A lot different. And I was in Bring It On and had a track record.”This situation is further highlighted by her 2021 statement to
The Independent, in which she noted that during the first film she was only 19 years old and did not initially focus on the financial side. She also emphasized her prominent placement on the marketing for the second film, stating: “But you know who was on the cover of the second Spider-Man poster? Spider-Man and me.”Although her image was central to the franchise’s marketing, her compensation did not reflect this equivalent prominence.
