The Growth of Streaming Hits Actors and Producers in the Wallet

When WarnerMedia announced on Dec. 3 that it would release a year’s worth of movies on HBO Max, its new streaming service, cinephiles and critics bemoaned the demise of theaters. Yet many of the loudest voices were mourning the end of something else: their pathway to astronomical riches.

For decades, movie stars and A-list directors have earned both a salary and a share of a movie’s profits, often bolstered by how well a film performs in theaters. Members of the crew, writers, and other actors have made money from residuals: Every time a movie is purchased on DVD or licensed to a TV network, they get a check.