The existence of a free market does not preclude the possibility of paying too much for something.

Kevin, London,

What about CEOs that earn even more than $20m a year? Isn't $500,000 a year enough for all theirs luxuries? (or at leat theirs Xmas presents?) If all these "stars" are this well paid it's because the studios can and are willing to pay them that.

Boaz, Jlem, Israel

Movie stars (or TV) are not over paid. They are paid what the market will support. Even way up here in Wisconsin, I have been employed due to some movie stars work, and I'm not in the movie business. One of those times happened to be for an advertisement for a Russell Crowe movie. I have heard the argument that a person is not worth what they are paid for just about every job in America. In a free market, the market sets the price. Do you honestly think a baseball player is worth $275 million for tens years work, when a surgeon will only make about 10 million in the same time? Ric in Wisconsin.

Ric Trexell, Berlin, WI

Stars who light up the silver screen and feed the frenzied fodder of tabloid journalism and entertainment TV have chosen their roles and the good and bad that comes with it. Some stars chose to do good with their time, fame and money like George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Angelina Jolie, Michael J. Fox, and Denzel Washington. There are many others, but these are just a few who come to mind. They are passionate in their support of important causes. They donate their time, money , energy and their considerable talents to get the word out about everything from Global Warming, and the Devastation still facing the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to the tragedy going on in Darfour. Health crises such as Parkinson's, Aids, and Children's Cancer, also have celebrity spokespersons. If the sensational story seeking tabloid reporters would just forget about Britney and Lindsey for a while and report a little POSITIVE news for a change, it would be a WELCOME CHANGE!

imaginetmolly56, zachary, LA

Of course the truth is no-one, repeat no-one is worth $20m for a few month's work, no matter how talented they are or what the income from the final product might be.

Such salaries unnecessarily inflate the movie's budget meaning that it has to do that much better just to break even... which heightens the risk for the film-maker, which means that fewer risks can be taken with the content of the movie.

The result is films that are ever more formulaic and ultimately unsatisfying.

It's instructive to learn that some of the most entertaining as well as profitable films have been made on total budgets of less than the $20m that the likes of Nicole Kidman is supposed to demand.

In the end the film-makers have to stand together and simply refuse to pay these amounts.... anyone can live quite comfortably on $500,000 a year so why shouldn't be the absolute maximum payment per film?

Stuart, Halifax, West Yorkshire

Is it a case of sour grapes? Actors or actress get paid according to the box-office success or otherwise. No film makers are prepared to spend more money than they have to. Any way there are only a handful of people in the world who can command multi-million-dollar fee per film. In the capitalist world supply and demand is the rule of the game and film industry is no exception. Remember the reason they earn such a fantastic amount of money because they entertain people in a world of fantasy.

Wing, Poole, UK

I think you miss the point. The star system exists to re-inforce the "belief" that anyone in America, by simply trying harder, can rise from obscurity to Royalty in a few short years. Any "star" who believes they are really worth it, versus, simply lucky to be on the showcased fast track is kidding themselves. The system picks a few dozens of people out of a nation of 300 million to be the modern day "cash Saints" of yore. The entire economic system depends on them to create a harness for the masses to pull the economic machine foward. Their real role isn't art; its to project a fantasy that captures the energy of an entire people. That is why they are paid so much, not because they are so good, but because the machine, the system, feels it is worth it in enhanced productivity and profits, in cementing the very fabric of the social code, and in promoting the unlikely concept that there is true financial mobility for everybody. Its highly profitable!

Brian Stewart, Los Angeles, USA

I believe the movie stars are overly arrogant and overly paid. Jennifer Aniston, Denzel Washinton are two exceptions. Brad Pitt is the Pitts. Some movie stars actually believe they are rolyalty.

moviefan, columbia, boone county,Mo.

A lot of the so called great actors and actresses are paid outrageously, not for their ability to act, but rather for their ability to be in the public eye. Acting is a hit and miss profession for most; sometimes that great break was not really because of an amazing performance, but rather a great publicity machine that tells the world who is important and why they are so special. With most movie stars, there also comes a sense of entitlement. They begin to believe in their own press releases.
It has become impossible to go to the movies without paying an outrageous price. I personally have chosen to spend my money more wisely and wait to watch new flicks after they have lost their sense grandeur. With the passage of time, I can on average buy any movie, starring any great celebrity,for the cost of a drink at your favorite restaurant.

Cher, Durant, U.S./Oklahoma