How Much Did Malachi Barton Make From Zombies 4

Picture this: It’s a Tuesday afternoon, and I’m hunched over my laptop, watching a blurry TikTok of Malachi Barton grooving in what looks like a high school hallway. My ten-year-old cousin leans in and asks, “Wait, how much money did he make from that zombie movie?” I froze. I had no idea. So, I went down a rabbit hole, and now I’m dragging you along with me.

Malachi Barton, for the uninitiated, is the kid who played Zoe in the Disney Channel’s Zombies franchise. Yes, Zoe—the adorable, vegan, football-playing werewolf who stole every scene. And in Zombies 4? He was back, bigger and better. But the big question isn’t about his acting chops; it’s about the cash. How much did Disney actually pay him?

The Hollywood Paycheck Mystery

First, let’s be real: Disney never publishes actor salaries for TV movies. It’s like asking a magician to reveal the rabbit trick. But we can piece together clues like detectives who really, really love spreadsheets.

For a Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM), lead actors typically earn between $50,000 and $150,000 per project. That’s for the whole shoot—not per episode, because these are movies, not series. Malachi wasn’t the absolute lead (that was Milo and Addison), but he was a main character. So we’re probably looking at the upper end of that range.

But wait—Zombies 4 isn’t just any DCOM. It’s a franchise. And franchises mean residuals, sequels, and merchandise. If Malachi was smart (and his agent was smarter), he likely negotiated a backend deal. That means he gets a slice of the pie every time the movie airs on Disney+ or streams on cable.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Let’s get specific. If Malachi made $100,000 upfront for Zombies 4, that’s a solid paycheck for a few weeks of work. But eight years after the first movie? That fame doesn’t come cheap—or free. He also likely scored a per diem (daily spending money) and maybe a hotel room during filming.

Now, here’s where it gets juicy: Zombies 4 was shot back-to-back with other franchise projects. That means Malachi was on set for months. Multiply that daily rate, and he could have pocketed $150,000 to $200,000 total. Not bad for a kid who was probably still in high school, right?

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But let’s not forget the bonus potential. If the movie smashed ratings (which it did—it trended on Disney+ for weeks), stars sometimes get a performance bonus. That could add another $25,000 to $50,000. Suddenly, we’re talking $250,000 for a few months of dancing and fake zombie makeup.

The Real Cost of Being a Disney Star

Of course, Malachi didn’t just walk away with a fat check. There are taxes—federal, state (he lives in California, ouch), and agent fees. His agent takes 10% to 15% off the top. His manager? Another 5% to 10%. So that $250,000 quickly becomes $170,000 after deductions. Still, that’s more than most 20-year-olds make in three years.

And let’s be honest: Malachi wasn’t doing it just for the money. He loves the character. In interviews, he’s talked about how Zoey’s storyline about identity and pride resonated with him. But hey, a little extra pocket change never hurt, either.

So what’s the final number? I’d bet my left sock that Malachi Barton made somewhere between $150,000 and $250,000 from Zombies 4 alone. That’s not counting residuals, which could add another $10,000 to $20,000 per year if the movie keeps playing on streaming.

The Secret Sauce: Merch and Fame

But wait—my cousin’s question didn’t stop at the movie. She wanted to know if he made more from the soundtrack. Good question. Songs like “We Got This” and “Flesh & Bone” are on streaming platforms. Each stream pays about $0.003 on Spotify. If a song gets 1 million streams, that’s only $3,000 split between all the performers. So, not much.

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The real money for child actors is in brand deals and social media. Malachi has over 1 million followers on Instagram. One sponsored post—showing off a sneaker or a skincare product—can fetch $5,000 to $10,000. Do that a few times, and it adds up fast.

So, when you add the movie paycheck, residuals, and influencer income, Malachi might have cleared $300,000 to $400,000 from his Zombies 4 era. Not bad for a guy who plays a vegan werewolf with a heart of gold.

Why We Even Care

Look, we all wonder about celebrity money because it feels like a secret code. But honestly? Malachi is probably sitting at home, eating pizza, and not thinking about his bank account. He’s just happy to have a career that lets him do what he loves. And that is priceless.

So next time you’re binging Zombies 4 on Disney+, remember: every time you press play, Malachi’s bank account goes cha-ching—just a little bit. And if you’re like my cousin, you can now answer, “About a quarter of a million bucks, give or take a little zombie makeup.”

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to check my own streaming royalties. Spoiler: they’re less than Malachi’s.