Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-American bodybuilder turned actor, businessman, and politician, has an estimated net worth of $450 million as of 2023, according to Celebrity Net Worth. But how did he amass such a fortune? Let’s delve into the journey of this action movie icon.
Arnold’s journey began in the small village of Thal, Austria, where he was born in 1947. Introduced to bodybuilding at a young age, he quickly rose to prominence, winning the Junior Mr. Europe Contest in 1965 and the Mr. Universe title multiple times. By the age of 21, he had moved to America with a dream of making it big in Hollywood. But before his acting career took off, Arnold was already a millionaire at age 25, thanks to his savvy real estate investments.
Box Office Success
LOS ANGELES – JUNE 13: Body builder, actor and future Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger poses for a portrait session on June 13, 1985 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images)
Schwarzenegger’s film career began with Hercules in New York and gained traction with movies like Conan the Barbarian. However, it was the 1984 blockbuster The Terminator that catapulted him to international stardom. Over the years, he starred in numerous hits, including The Running Man, Predator, Total Recall, and True Lies. Interestingly, one of his biggest paychecks came from the 1988 comedy Twins, where he, along with Danny Devito and director Ivan Reitman, took no upfront salary but owned a significant portion of the film’s profits.
Political Aspirations & Real Estate
SAN BERNARDINO, CA – OCTOBER 16: California Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger holds a press conference following his appearance with U.S. President George W. Bush October 16, 2003 in San Bernardino, California. Bush and Schwarzenegger met today to get to know one another before discussing the economic challenges facing the governor-elect. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
In 2003, Schwarzenegger took a detour from acting to serve as the Governor of California, a position he held until 2011. His political career, while impactful, reportedly cost him potential movie wages, but his dedication to public service was evident. Further, outside of his film salaries, Arnold’s wealth can also be attributed to his real estate empire. From his early days in the US, he invested his earnings in real estate, building a portfolio that’s likely worth between $100-200 million today. His commercial properties, primarily in Southern California, testify to his business acumen.
Personal Life & Ventures
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 22: Arnold Schwarzenegger poses with the Premier League Trophy in Santa Monica, ahead of the Premier League Mornings Live fan festival taking place at the LA Memorial Coliseum on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 October on October 22, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images for Premier League)
Arnold’s personal life has also been in the spotlight, especially his marriage to Maria Shriver, niece of President John F. Kennedy. The couple has four children, including Katherine Schwarzenegger, married to actor Chris Pratt. Despite facing personal challenges, including a high-profile divorce, Schwarzenegger has continued to thrive both professionally and personally.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s net worth in 2023 reflects his hard work, determination, and ability to reinvent himself. From bodybuilding to Hollywood and politics, he has left an indelible mark in every field he has ventured into. His story is a testament to the fact that with passion and perseverance, one can achieve unimaginable heights.
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 hit theaters last weekend. The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe offering was also the final entry for the beloved team that’s been a part of fans’ hearts since 2014. It also marked the final time James Gunn will work with Marvel since he’s been hired to fill the Kevin Fiege role at DC Studios. What a way for them all to go out [SPOILERS AHEAD]. James Gunn & Co. have delivered a perfect swan song for their beloved team.
James Gunn Gives Rocket The Story He Deserves
This is, at its core, a story about Rocket Raccoon. The feisty character, voiced by the stellar Bradley Cooper, has been a key part of what was always considered Peter Quill’s story. With the third installment, Gunn shifted the focus while also showcasing that the story was always about all of them. [Light spoilers] When talking with a friend, Rocket is told that it’s always been his story. That may very well be true, but the film devotes a lot of time to giving every character what they need.
Rocket, naturally, gets a lot of attention. His painstaking backstory is put on screen for all to see, with the most gruesome parts being left to our imaginations. Even though the present-day version is out of commission for about 40 percent of the film, he’s still the most prominent character. His arc and character growth from the first film to now is on full display and it’s excellent work from all involved.
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Gives Every Player Focus
By this time, the Guardians crew has grown. It now includes Groot, Rocket, Star-Lord, Gamora, Nebula, Drax, Mantis, Kraglin, Cosmo, and several other key characters. Each of them gets enough screen time to satisfy and good depth. The story is Rocket’s, but one could argue that it’s just as much about each of the rest of them.
Peter Quill, a.k.a. Star-Lord, embarks on his final journey. He finally accepts what has happened to him and decides to stop running from his past. Over the last decade, Quill has been a key member of the MCU without ever really returning to his traumatic home. It wraps up his story nicely.
Gamora is not even the same Gamora. That version died, and this version is from 2014, when she hadn’t undergone any character growth. That’s challenging work for a thespian, but Zoe Saldana handles it perfectly. She has to experience a new arc and come to a new place for the character, and the film handles that well, too.
Drax, who is often considered the big dumb idiot of the group, finally sees his own value. He’s finally shown to have value after largely being the comic relief for the first two films. Nebula also ascends to leader status, something that suits her perfectly. Kraglin, still reeling from losing his friend Yondu, can’t master his new weapon. He suffers from anxiety over everything. He, too, has an impressive, if muted, character arc. Every character shines in their own way.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Shines In Every Way
From the editing to the cinematography and from the acting to the costumes, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is one of the best entries in the MCU. The acting, in particular, stands out. The voice acting for Rocket and Young Rocket, a.k.a. 89P13, is excellent. Chris Pratt isn’t exactly known for his range, but he puts on a dynamic performance ad Star-Lord—by far his best Marvel outing. As mentioned, Saldana excels in her role, too.
Perhaps the film’s best and most welcome performance is by newcomer Chukwudi Iwuji. The actor collaborated with Gunn on his DC television show Peacemaker, which debuts in Marvel here. He plays the villainous High Evolutionary, and he does it extremely well. Good films need menacing villains, and that’s exactly what Iwuji brings to the table. He also brings a complex nature to the role so that his villain is at least somewhat morally complicated. Like Thanos before him, his crimes are in pursuit of what he perceives as a better world in Guardians of the Galaxy 3.
The performance was not without challenges. Iwuji had to be unnaturally cruel to animals, which is hard for most people. “But I have to say, the first time I saw — I was doing an ADR or something, and I saw a scene with Rocket’s eyes, I literally saw my dog’s eyes…I saw his face, and I was like, ‘I am going to hell,’ when I saw that,” he said in an interview. “It really helped that when I was dealing with the animals, I wasn’t really dealing with any animals, because it would have been much harder that way. My agent couldn’t talk to me properly for like two days after a screening. She went home and hugged her dog, and was like, ‘I don’t know how I can talk to you.’” It translated to one of the best villain performances in the MCU.
While it’s always hard for MCU actors to get Oscar recognition (save for Angela Bassett last year), look for Iwuji to have at least some steam for a Best Supporting Actor nomination from Guardians of the Galaxy 3. The year is very young, and it could be a stacked field. Still, there will be plenty calling for recognition for his impressive performance. Eventually, the MCU will break through that ceiling.
Not to be overlooked, Will Poulter added a fresh face to the cast. Adam Warlock, who was teased at the end of Volume 2, showed up in a big way in Guardians of the Galaxy 3. One of Marvel’s most powerful characters made his on-screen debut, and Poulter ate it up. Playing a prematurely born Greek god is no easy feat, and the actor easily stepped into the role. His journey in the MCU will be one to look out for.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Is Top Tier MCU Output
PARIS, FRANCE – APRIL 22: (L-R) Karen Gillan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt, James Gunn, Pom Klementieff and Vin Diesel attend the “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” European gala event at the Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris on April 22, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julien Hekimian/Getty Images)
The reports of the death of the MCU may have been greatly exaggerated. Phase 4 was met with a lot of disappointment, and Phase 5 was off to an inauspicious start with Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. While Phase 4 was not as poor as many said, it was a step down from Phase 3. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is a step back up.
Many believe it to be the best MCU movie to date, and that’s not exactly a hot take. On Letterboxd, the popular movie review app, it has a 4.2 combined score. That’s the highest of any film—topping Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: No Way Home‘s 4.0. On Rotten Tomatoes, it is certified fresh, and it has an 8.4 on IMDb. That’s tied for the best with Avengers Endgame and the aforementioned prequel to that one.
Many critics are calling it the best film since Endgame. That is to imply that it’s been all downhill from there, but it’s not the case. Spider-Man: Far From Home, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever were all excellent. Fans generally liked all of the television shows, too. Regardless, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is not just a top film for a given time. It’s a top output in the entire franchise.
Chris Pratt was asked about the negative criticism he has received over the years, including being labeled the “Worst Chris” and being accused of belonging to an anti-LGBTQ church. Although he has also faced backlash for his role as Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Pratt claims that he isn’t bothered by it. During a special New York screening of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Pratt was asked if he feels that he is attacked because of his Christian faith.
He acknowledged that he does receive criticism, but stated that it’s not new and even quoted a biblical reference to support his point. He drew a comparison to Jesus, who was also not accepted during his time. “If I was of this world, they would love me just like that but as it is, I’ve chosen out of this world. That’s John 15:18 through 20,” he said, quoting the Bible. “That’s the way it is, nothing new, 2,000 years ago they hated him, too.”
How Chris Pratt Became The “Worst Chris”
Storyteller Chris Pratt speaks onstage at The Motion Picture & Television Fund Presentation of “Reel Stories Real Lives” at Milk Studios. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Motion Picture & Television Fund)
In an old meme, Chris Pratt was labeled the least desirable “Chris” in Hollywood due to his past controversies. These include his support of President Donald Trump, his association with right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro, and his religious beliefs. Following the meme that circulated online, some of Pratt’s celebrity friends and co-stars spoke up in his defense. They argued that the meme was hurtful and that Pratt is a good person who has done many positive things throughout his career. Despite this support, the controversy surrounding Pratt’s personal beliefs and associations continues to be a topic of discussion and debate within the entertainment industry.
One of the biggest accusations leveraged against Chris Pratt was his supposed membership at Hillsong Church. The church, which many celebrities attend, is somewhat infamously anti-LGBTQ. However, in June 2022, Chris Pratt denied attending the church. While it is true that he doesn’t attend Hillsong, Pratt does attend a Hillsong-adjacent church. He goes to Zoe Church, which has strong connections to Hillsong. It was reportedly even modeled after Hillsong, although Chris Pratt says that they open their doors to everyone. What do you think of Chris Pratt’s designation as the “worst Chris”? Let us know in the comments!
The character of Mario‘s storied history has spanned over 200 video games, several animated adaptations, myriad comics, and now a trio of feature films. Since his creation in 1981 by legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, a gaming figure hasn’t been as recognizable as the red overall-wearing plumber. Like characters such as Superman and Mickey Mouse, Mario is part of the cultural zeitgeist due to the sheer volume of media output featuring his likeness and his innate charisma. With The Super Mario Bros Movie, directed by filmmaking duo Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic (Teen Titans Go! To the Movies), the omnipresence of the titular turtle-stomping elder brother continues to grow, for better and worse.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie, produced by amination powerhouse Illumination (Minions, The Secret Life of Pets), manages to distill over forty years of pop culture into a tight ninety-two-minute run time. This truncation sacrifices any meaningful storytelling to please the broadest of audiences. The film’s plot centers around a pair of scrappy Italian American plumbers struggling to make ends meet in modern-day Brooklyn. Meanwhile, the villainous Bowser (Jack Black) is ravaging through a fantastical realm to court Princess Peach (Anna Taylor-Joy). After a botched job back on Earth, Mario and Luigi (voiced by Chris Pratt and Charlie Day, respectively) find themselves entangled in the conflict.
“Super Mario Bros” Was All Vibes; No Filler
The soon-to-be super brothers are separated early in the film, leaving Luigi stranded in the Dark Lands. Mario trains to become a hero to help Peach defeat Bowser, save her Mushroom Kingdom, and reunite with his brother. It’s all pretty textbook stuff. There isn’t going to be much in the way of shock and awe here. The Super Mario Bros Movie might be rote and simplistic, but where it lacks creative storytelling, it more than excels in charm and wit.
The film appeals to fans no matter when they may have fallen in love with these characters. Sadly, this appeal is often akin to rattling keys at an infant. You can be a 10-year-old who brags about the number of moons they have acquired in Super Mario Odyssey. Or rather, an aging millennial who knows every word of “The Mario Rap” from the 1989 animated series The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! The film provides something here for everyone.
Myriad callbacks aside, a few sequences are clever from both a narrative and visual standpoint. Illumination’s soft-edged animation style lends itself well to the plush visuals of Mario’s world (both the grounded and fantastical). The film takes moments to illustrate how the once 2D environments of Mario and Luigi would play out in the real world to houmous effect. There are wonderful creative side-scrolling cartoon gags employed that are fast-paced and beautifully rendered. Yet, some viewers well-versed in the franchise may find these segments a bit grating or downright silly…even if that’s the point.
Introducing The Cast
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: Chris Pratt attends special screening of Universal Pictures’ “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” at Regal LA Live on April 01, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/FilmMagic)
The voice cast here is mostly solid. Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Charlie Day (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as the titular brothers are charming, if not terribly inspired. Keegan-Michael Key (Key and Peele, Schmigadoon!) is almost unrecognizable as the pint-sized hero Toad. Additionally, Seth Rogan (Pineapple Express, This is the End) is infectiously hilarious as Donkey Kong. The only weak link is Anna Taylor-Joy (The Queen’s Gambit, The Menu) as Princess Peach. She comes off as disinterested and somewhat bland, which is a huge disappointment considering her immense talent and captivation as an on-screen presence.
Jack Black (School of Rock) as Bowser is the biggest standout in the voice cast, who gets to flex his vocal range by growling through insane dialogue. There are even a couple of musical numbers that might take some fans out of the film but will delight most movie-goers. The other vocal highlight is Khary Payton (The Walking Dead) as the adorable Penguin King. There’s something magical about Payton’s stern timbre coming out of the mouth (beak?) of an adorable blue flightless bird. It is immensely charming and magnetic…but when is Payton’s presence not charming and magnetic?
Ultimately, The Super Mario Bros. Movie manages to be entertaining despite not being terribly engaging. There isn’t a lot of depth here. The film relies mostly on nostalgia and pretense from audience members of all ages. Casting such a wide net makes it a great time for kids and a sweet, albeit vapid, experience for more discerning fans. It’s hard to call this one a wash, but it is far from being a benchmark for video game adaptations. It suffers from the same rudimentary trappings as films like Uncharted and Sonic the Hedgehog, which came before. However, if you can look past the simplicity of the film’s narrative and predictable plotting, you might just find yourself “h-hooked on the brothers.”
Chris Pratt says that the original voice he tried to use as the titular character in the new film, The Super Mario Bros., sounded too much like Tony Soprano. The directors, Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, told him he had to switch it up as to not sound like he was copying James Gandolfini’s character in the iconic HBO series.
“For a minute, I walked in and they were like, ‘That’s a little New Jersey. You’re doing a Tony Soprano thing,’” Pratt said during a new interview with Entertainment Weekly. “[The voice] was a really exciting and daunting challenge. Talking to these guys, they say, ‘You wanna do the Mario movie?’ I think both [Charlie Day and I] said yes. Didn’t even ask, ‘What’s the deal? What’s the story?’ ‘Yes, I’m in.’ And then we had to really dig in and figure out…are they Italian? Are they American?”
Chris Pratt & Charlie Day At A Screening Of “The Super Mario Bros.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: (L-R) Chris Pratt and Charlie Day attend a Special Screening of Universal Pictures’ “The Super Mario Bros.” at Regal LA Live on April 01, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images)
Pratt added: “We know a little bit about Charles Martinet’s voice that he’s sprinkled in there with the ‘Wahoo!’ and ‘It’s-a me!’ and these Mario things, but how do you craft a 90-minute narrative with an emotional through-line and create a living, breathing person about who you’ll care?” Pratt’s costar, Charlie Day, who voices Luigi, added: “We tried different things, different voices. Every now and then they would say, ‘Charlie, maybe a little less ‘Goodfellas’ in this one’ — I’m like, ‘Alright! I think you’re wrong, but fine!’ — until they landed on something they liked.”
The casting of Pratt in the lead role originally received backlash as he is not actually Italian. Horvath defended the decision to Total Film magazine, last month. He argued: “For us, it made total sense. [Chris is] really good at playing a blue-collar hero with a ton of heart. For the way that Mario is characterized in our film, he’s perfect for it.”
In the sea of highly-anticipated film trailers that aired during the Super Bowl, Marvel released the trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.The first Guardians of the Galaxy movie since 2017 will reunite the Guardians with Gamora, played by Zoe Saldaña. The Super Bowl trailer showed audiences that Gamora will return, despite the fact that she was killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. A new Gamora returned in Avengers: Endgame, but she had no memory of Star-Lord. Now, Peter Quill must get her memories back while the Guardians fight one last mission against Chukwudi Iwuji’s villain, the High Evolutionary.
Marvel revealed the first official trailer to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3in December 2022. The initial trailer showed the Guardians teaming up for a mission “one last time,” as Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) tells Star-Lord. Returning cast members include Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Saldaña as Gamora, and Cooper as Rocket. With them, Dave Bautista will return as Drax the Destroyer. Vin Diesel will return as Groot, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Karen Gillian as Nebula, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord, and Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha. There will also be newcomers to the franchise, including Will Poulter as Adam Warlock, Iwuji as the High Evolutionary, and Maria Bakalova as Cosmo the Spacedog. Bakalova’s character was introduced in the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.
“Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3” Trailer
James Gunn directed all three films in the Guardians of the Galaxy series. He was recently chosen to lead DC Studios for Warner Brothers Discovery in October. While starting his new position as co-chairman and CEO, Gunn is seeing the Guardians of the Galaxy saga through. He is overseeing post-production on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. He confirmed to fans at 2022’s San Diego Comic Con that this is the final film for the fan-favorite crew of superheroes. He said, “This is the end of that story. I’m sorry. Some stories have an end. It doesn’t mean everybody dies.”
Bautista visited The Tonight Show on January 31. He announced to fans that the upcoming third Guardians of the Galaxy movie would definitely be his last performance as Drax the Destroyer. He said, “With Drax, I just got to end the perfect way. And I would never sign up for another job as Drax just to get a paycheck. I would tarnish that [perfect ending], and I won’t do it.” Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 will release in theaters on May 5.
