Keanu Reeves became the highest-paid actor in the late 90s after the success of The Matrix. He became Hollywood's most sought-after actor. Warner Bros immediately hired him to produce Reloaded and Revolutions.
Keanu received a $30 million upfront salary, profit share, and residual income promise for the two films shot and produced simultaneously. Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions grossed $1.2 billion in 2003.
OTT and TV have shown the two films multiple times. All this has brought Keanu's earnings from the two to $156 million, the most for any actor in a single production.
Keanu's victory over other stars The Matrix sequels' two-film release helped them earn more at the box office, giving Keanu Reeves over $100 million.
The previous record was $94 million for Star Wars by Alec Guinness, including multiple re-releases. No actor has come close in 21 years to $156 million. The highest salary Tom Cruise has ever received is $100 million. Shah Rukh Khan earned $40 million for Jawan at home.
Keanu's earnings were spread over two films, so the record has an asterisk. Bruce Willis, Tom Cruise, and Will Smith have earned $100 million for one film. Will Smith for Men In Black 3, Bruce Willis for The Sixth Sense, and Tom Cruise for Mission Impossible 2, War of the Worlds, and Top Gun: Maverick.
Incidentally, Keanu Reeves never earned so much again. The actor charged $15-30 million per film for the John Wick series, which relaunched him.