Keanu Reeves, the A-list action hero who rides the subway and tips waitresses thousands, once again proved money means nothing to him when he voluntarily gave up $2 million of his The Devil’s Advocate salary in 1997 to ensure Al Pacino could portray Satan opposite him – a behind-the-scenes bombshell that underscores why fans and peers alike crown him the nicest guy in showbiz.

The Warner Bros. supernatural thriller, directed by Taylor Hackford, hinged on the volcanic showdown between Reeves’ undefeated Florida attorney Kevin Lomax and Pacino’s demonic law firm overlord John Milton. With a $57 million budget already stretched thin on lavish New York sets and effects, studio execs balked at Pacino’s asking price. The film teetered on losing its dream villain.

Reeves, then 33 and flush from Speed’s $350 million global haul, stepped in without hesitation. Multiple production sources confirm he restructured his deal, forfeiting roughly $2 million in guaranteed pay – a figure first reported by Premiere magazine in 1998 – to bridge the gap.

“I want Al in this movie,” Reeves told Hackford, according to the director’s 20th-anniversary commentary track. “Do whatever you have to do.”

Pacino, 57 at the time and selective after Scent of a Woman’s Oscar win, accepted a scaled-back upfront fee sweetened by Reeves’ concession. The result: a box-office hit that grossed $153 million worldwide and gifted cinema one of its most quotable monologues – Pacino’s “God’s a prankster” rant.

A Recurring Theme of Generosity

This wasn’t Reeves’ first paycheck sacrifice. For The Replacements (2000), he reportedly took a 90% pay cut to secure Gene Hackman. On The Matrix sequels, he redirected tens of millions in backend points to visual effects and costume departments, telling producers, “The crew makes the movie.”

Crew members from Devil’s Advocate recall Reeves anonymously covering medical bills for a grip’s sick child and gifting leather jackets to the stunt team. “He never wanted credit,” said one longtime collaborator. “He just did it.”

Tragedy Fuels the Selflessness

Friends trace Reeves’ ethos to profound loss: his father abandoned the family when he was three; best friend River Phoenix overdosed in 1993; his daughter with Jennifer Syme was stillborn in 1999; Syme died in a 2001 car crash. “Pain taught him money doesn’t buy peace,” a source close to the actor told People.

In a rare 2006 Parade interview, Reeves said: “Money is the last thing I think about. I could live on what I’ve already made for the next few centuries.”

Cultural Aftershock

The Devil’s Advocate opened October 17, 1997, to $12.2 million and never looked back, finishing with strong legs driven by Pacino’s scenery-chewing turn. Critics gave it a 64% on Rotten Tomatoes, but Pacino’s performance became instant legend; Reeves’ earnest everyman grounded the supernatural stakes.

Hackford later reflected: “Keanu didn’t just save the movie – he elevated it. Most stars guard their slice of the pie. He handed his over.”

Pacino, now 85, still name-drops the gesture. At a 2022 BAFTA event, he joked: “Keanu paid for my horns. I just supplied the fire.”

Reeves Today: Unchanged

At 61, Reeves commands $15–20 million per John Wick installment yet lives modestly in a West Hollywood bungalow. He’s been spotted buying breakfast for homeless veterans and flying coach. His Matrix Resurrections (2021) press tour saw him dodge praise: “I just love making movies with good people.”

As John Wick: Chapter 5 gears up for 2026, the $2 million sacrifice remains a whispered Hollywood parable – proof that in an industry of egos, one man consistently chooses art over avarice.

Reeves never confirmed the exact figure. When asked on set about the pay cut, he reportedly smiled: “Al’s worth every penny. And then some.”

In a town where devils bargain for souls, Keanu Reeves keeps giving his away.