Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Universe now monopolize all superheroes, long before Jim Carrey caused a sensation in the genre with The Mask. Released in 1994, the quirky comic book adaptation demonstrated Carrey’s incredible talent for bringing to life a character with two totally opposite personalities.
That year marked the career of Carrey, who also starred in two other cult classics: ‘Ace Ventura’ and ‘Dumb and Dumber’. With this trio of hits, Carrey became a comedy legend… Although his pocketbook didn’t reflect it yet. His journey as a superhero did not end there, since in 1995 he participated in Batman Forever. However, it was ‘The Mask’ that really changed the fate of his career, combining humor, action and innovative effects. Despite its huge box office success, Carrey’s salary for the film was surprisingly low compared to the fortune he made.
The film follows Stanley Ipkiss, a shy bank employee whose life is turned upside down when he discovers a mysterious mask imbued with the spirit of Loki, the Norse god of mischief. Once he puts it on, Stanley transforms into a trickster with endless charm and confidence. This new personality not only helps him win the heart of nightclub singer Tina, played by Cameron Diaz, but also puts him in the crosshairs of a dangerous crime boss.
In 2012, Carrey revealed in an interview with Roger Ebert that he was inspired by his father’s personality for his role. His father’s lively, almost cartoonish nature helped Carrey bring Stanley to life, turning the character into something flamboyant, over-the-top, and unforgettable. The Mask was a massive hit, making Carrey a star and launching Cameron Diaz with her film debut. From Carrey’s over-the-top antics to the iconic suit, every element of the film became unforgettable. Decades later and fans are still talking about it…
But despite the enormous box office success of the film, Carrey’s salary is nothing out of this world: he earned $425,000, a significant sum for the time, but negligible compared to the enormous income. Made on a modest budget of $23 million, the film grossed an impressive $351.6 million worldwide. More information: Carrey earned a whopping $7 million for Dumb and Dumber. And in 1996, with ‘A Crazy Man at Home’ he became the first actor to earn $20 million for a single film according to Variety.
Joaquín Gasca is an expert in competitive sports, technology and motorsports. Some time ago he hung up his cleated boots to focus on paddle tennis and running… age-related things, he complains. But he also signs up for any bombing that has to do with pushing his body to the limit, whether driving an Aston Martin or going to the office on a scooter.
He is very Atlético de Madrid, so when footballers like Marcos Llorente or Álvaro Morata have starred on the cover of Men’s Health, he was there to write them. He has just run his first marathon for Runner’s World, and as happens in this universe, he is already looking for the next one to get under 3 hours. If you have to test any type of paddle tennis racket, vehicle or watch, it is no problem. Even sneakers. Whatever you need in sports equipment.
Joaquín graduated in journalism from USP-CEU in 2013, but since 2009, when he joined the University newspaper, he began working as a 360-degree “journalist” in digital and print. The next steps of his almost 15-year career were taken doing culture and sports at Shangay magazine, until he joined Hearst a week before the start of the pandemic in 2020. He is also a professor of social networks and new technologies at Universitas Senioribvs CEU and is part of Hearst’s Innovation HUB to research new trends.
