Some Hollywoo (and Rich) Success d Teens a Smashing

Child and teen stars are nothing new in Hollywood, and they're popular with producers because, generally speaking, it costs less to obtain their services than those of their adult counterparts. That said, there are a handful of teen stars that are drawing top dollar at the b

ox office and with their contracts. Unsurprisingly, Daniel Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter for the first time while just 11 years old, leads the way making $20 million per film for the last two movies in the Harry Potter series. His co-stars, Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, and Rupert Grint, who plays Ron, are right behind Radcliffe at the top of this list.

What makes the young actors even more promising for producers is the fact that teens love seeing people their own age in films, and will often go to the movies multiple times while it is in the theaters and buy merchandise associated with the film. Recently, however, Radcliffe and others have started to receive more for their part in these teen-friendly films. Dakota Fanning is the latest to transform from child to young woman in front of the eyes of the movie-watching world. Now 16, Fanning started at the age of 7 in 2001 with "I Am Sam,"

Fanning is now in the midst of shedding the "child actor" label and trying to segue into being a true "adult" actress. She'll star in "The Runaways," a film about a 1970s band that is fronted by Joan Jett. Fanning's co-star in "The Runaways" and the most recent "Twilight" film, Kristen Stewart, also is near the top of the earnings list for teens, and her Twilight films have earned $1 billion thus far.