It's long been known that Hollywood scriptwriters have nothing on its accountants when it comes to creativity.

A few years ago, it emerged the actor who played Darth Vader, David Prowse​, had not received any residual payments for Return of the Jedi because it was technically yet to return a profit. This was almost three decades after a movie that cost $US32 million took $US475 million at the box office.

There are many other examples of how mysterious and impenetrable Hollywood accounting is to outsiders.

But it still seems like lunacy that director George Miller and producer Doug Mitchell are being forced to sue Warner Bros for earnings for Mad Max: Fury Road.