Mark Wahlberg's Streaming Dominance Earned Him a Massive Payday
Hollywood veteran Mark Wahlberg has found a new kingdom to rule: the world of streaming. While other A-listers struggle at the box office, Wahlberg is quietly banking millions from movies that go straight to your living room. Discover how he pulled off one of the smartest career moves in recent history.
Mark Wahlberg, a long-time fixture in Hollywood, has successfully carved out a new niche for himself at the top of the entertainment world. The actor has made an incredible amount of money this year, with Forbes reporting his earnings at an estimated $60 million. His strategy has been to focus on movies released directly on streaming platforms, a move that has cemented his A-list status with paychecks of $20 to $25 million for each project from services like Apple and Prime Video. Since 2020, the star of The Departed has appeared in seven streaming-exclusive projects, collaborating with Netflix and Paramount+ among others.
A Streaming-First Strategy Pays Off
Wahlberg's 2025 has been defined by two major releases: Play Dirty and The Family Plan 2. His film Play Dirty launched on Prime Video and immediately became the number one movie across all streaming services. Meanwhile, The Family Plan 2, despite receiving very low ratings from critics, shot to the top spot on Apple TV as soon as it was released. This success stands in stark contrast to the struggles of big-budget theatrical releases starring other major actors. Movies like Dwayne Johnson’s Smashing Machine and Glen Powell’s The Running Man have underperformed at the box office, highlighting a major shift in how audiences consume content.
The Numbers Don't Lie
The distinction in Wahlberg's success has not gone unnoticed. His agent, Ari Emanuel, made it clear who he thinks is leading the charge in the new media landscape.
The biggest star in streaming is Mark Wahlberg. Without a doubt on the movie side. There’s no question, just go look at all his movies.
This claim is backed by hard data. According to valuations from Parrot Analytics, which tracks global streaming revenue across all major platforms, Wahlberg's films have brought in an estimated $680 million since 2020 alone.
From Box Office Flops to Streaming Gold
Even when his films don't perform in theaters, they find new life online. Wahlberg's movie Flight Risk was considered a box office failure, but that didn't stop it from climbing to the top of the streaming charts. This has made him one of the most bankable actors in the industry, earning him the title of "The King of Streaming" from Forbes. Even his older work is getting a second wind; his 2007 film Shooter cracked the Paramount+ Top 10 in November 2025, almost two decades after its initial release.
This pivot to streaming was not just a good move, it was a necessary one. In the 2020s, his only real theatrical success was Uncharted. The rest of his big-screen efforts, including Arthur the King, Father Stu, Joe Bell, and Scoob!, were all critical and commercial disappointments. Shifting his focus to streaming was the smartest decision he could have made, solidifying a major comeback for the veteran actor. With a slate of new movies on the horizon, it looks like Wahlberg's rise is set to continue.