At the time, the amount sounded outrageous. But let’s be honest—after watching her fiery, determined performance as Erin, it’s hard to argue she wasn’t worth every cent.
**The big mistake in Julia Roberts’ Oscar speech**
Roberts may have taken home the Academy Award for Best Actress for *Erin Brockovich*, but her acceptance speech came with a face-palm moment.
Caught up in the emotion of the night, she completely forgot to thank the real Erin Brockovich-Ellis. Ouch. Later Roberts laughed at herself, joking, “It doesn’t exactly give you that Albert Einstein moment you were hoping for.”
**Money, money, money…**
The real Erin Brockovich-Ellis sold the rights to her incredible story for 100,000 dollars—and the movie went on to become a box-office smash. On a budget of 52 million, *Erin Brockovich* pulled in over 250 million dollars worldwide.
Its opening weekend brought in 28.1 million dollars across 2,848 theaters, making it the second-biggest March debut at the time, right behind *Liar Liar*. It was also Roberts’ second-largest opening weekend, just after *Runaway Bride*. Financially, it was a runaway success.
**“What a stupid title for a movie”**
At a party celebrating the film, everyone was discussing what the final title should be. Up to that point, the working title was simply *Erin Brockovich*.
Curious, the real Erin asked director Steven Soderbergh what they were going to call the movie. His answer: “Erin Brockovich.” Her reaction? “Damn!”
“In that moment I thought, ‘Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no,’” she later remembered, “because everyone kept saying, ‘What a stupid title for a movie.’ It put me in a position that made me really nervous.”
**A sneaky nod to Aaron Eckhart**
Around the 23-minute mark in *Erin Brockovich*, there’s a small but hilarious slip.
After Erin’s kids finish playing cards with George, one of the boys says, “Good night, Aaron,” accidentally calling George by actor Aaron Eckhart’s real first name.
**Did you spot the timeline error?**
If you watch closely, there’s another fun little mistake in a scene with George and Erin’s kids. Around 1 hour and 7 minutes in, they’re playing *Monopoly: Harley-Davidson Authorized Edition*. The catch? That particular version of the game wasn’t released until 1997—several years after the events depicted in the film.
It’s a minor chronological hiccup, but exactly the kind of thing eagle-eyed viewers love to notice.
**Erin Brockovich’s favorite scene in the film**
When people asked the real Erin about her favorite scenes in the movie, she didn’t hesitate—she adores some of the sharpest, funniest moments. One that tops her list is the line, “They’re called boobs, Ed.” She laughed, calling it hysterical and “such a smart line.”
Another standout for her is the bold, shocking quip: “I’m actually exhausted—I’ve just given 634 blow jobs.”
She giggled recalling it: “I’m sorry, but that was funny. It was so outrageous, and Julia delivered it perfectly.” Those moments captured the biting, unapologetic humor that was such a defining part of her real-life personality.
After the film’s huge success, it was the real Erin Brockovich who kept its legacy alive in the media, continuing to speak out and tell the story behind the movie.
**Julia Roberts had never heard Erin’s story**
Meanwhile, the woman doing the heavy lifting in front of the camera—Julia Roberts—mostly stayed a bit removed from the spotlight around the real case. That’s surprising when you consider how much the film changed her life too. It brought her her first Oscar—a monumental milestone that few actresses ever reach.
So what did Julia say about her experience making the film?
For one thing, she admitted that before signing on, she had never even heard of the scandal involving PG&E.
She also talked about how much she enjoyed playing the role: “It’s exciting material because you have this person who is the most unsuspecting heroine, and yet she’s fabulous and sort of larger than life and vibrant and incredible, and she swears like a sailor—all these amazing things to play.”
**Erin Brockovich today**
Today, Erin Brockovich isn’t just a well-known name—she’s a dynamic media figure who’s still fighting for people who need a voice. She has hosted television programs like *Challenge America with Erin Brockovich* on ABC and *Final Justice* on Zone Reality, inspiring others with her refusal to back down from tough battles.
Beyond her media work, Erin serves as president of Brockovich Research & Consulting, where she helps communities harmed by environmental problems.
She is also a consultant for the prestigious New York law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, which specializes in health-damage cases related to asbestos exposure, and she collaborates with Shine Lawyers in Australia.
**Erin Brockovich’s husband**
Erin’s first marriage, to Shawn Brown, ended in divorce. Later she married Stephen Brockovich, with whom she had a daughter, Beth.
After that relationship ended, Erin married her third husband, Eric L. Ellis, an actor and country-music DJ.
**Erin Brockovich’s children**
Alongside all her professional achievements, Erin is a devoted mother of three. She has a son, Matthew, and a daughter, Katie, from her first marriage to Shawn Brown, and a daughter, Elizabeth (“Beth”), from her second marriage to Stephen Brockovich.
**Erin Brockovich’s story is every bit as bold as her personality.**
**The film may highlight her daring wardrobe and razor-sharp tongue, but her real legacy lies in her relentless determination to secure justice for the people who needed it most.**
**So the next time you watch *Erin Brockovich*, remember: it’s not just about plunging necklines or snappy comebacks—it’s about a woman who refused to back down and proved that sometimes the most powerful weapon you have is simply being yourself.**