In a remarkable milestone for the film industry, Zoe Saldaña has officially claimed the title of the highest-grossing actor in cinematic history. This 47-year-old Oscar-winning actress has surpassed the previous record held by Scarlett Johansson, primarily due to the massive success of her latest film, "Avatar: Fire and Ash," which has contributed over $1.2 billion to her career earnings. As it stands, Saldaña's films have grossed an astonishing total of more than $15.46 billion worldwide, as reported by The Numbers.
This impressive figure is largely attributable to her iconic roles in the "Avatar" franchise, alongside her memorable performance as Gamora in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" trilogy and various "Avengers" installments. In addition to these blockbuster franchises, Saldaña has also starred in the "Star Trek" series and made a notable appearance in the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, further solidifying her status in Hollywood.
Last year marked a significant moment for Johansson when her movie, "Jurassic World Rebirth," achieved a global box office gross of $869 million, propelling her to the top spot among high-grossing actors. Like Saldaña, Johansson has also been a prominent figure in several Marvel films, which have undeniably played a crucial role in her financial success.
Although "Avatar: Fire and Ash" has not performed as strongly as its predecessors in the franchise, it has maintained its position at No. 1 at the domestic box office since its debut in December. Additionally, Saldaña lent her voice to the Pixar film "Elio," which, unfortunately, did not meet expectations at the box office.
In a noteworthy achievement last year, Saldaña won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Netflix’s crime musical "Emilia Pérez." Currently, she is gearing up for the next season of the action drama series "Lioness."
James Cameron, the visionary director behind the "Avatar" series, has hinted at plans for the next two sequels, although official confirmation is still pending. He recently stated, "If we don’t get to make 4 and 5, for whatever reason, I’ll hold a press conference and I’ll tell you what we were gonna do. How’s that?"
According to The Numbers, following Saldaña and Johansson on the list of highest-grossing actors are Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt, all of whom have also appeared in various Marvel projects. Interestingly, the highest-grossing actors who haven’t participated in Marvel films include Tom Cruise, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and Tom Hanks, showcasing a diverse range of talent across the industry. After Saldaña and Johansson, the next top-ranking female actors on the list are Emma Watson at No. 16, Karen Gillan at No. 23, and Elizabeth Olsen at No. 25.
This development raises intriguing questions about the evolving landscape of the film industry. Is the dominance of blockbuster franchises like Marvel and "Avatar" redefining success for actors? What does this mean for upcoming talent trying to break into the industry? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this! Do you agree with the rankings, or do you think other actors deserve a mention? Let us know in the comments!
