Zoe Saldaña Makes History as the Highest-Grossing Actor of All Time

A New Box Office Champion Emerges

Zoe Saldaña has officially become the highest-grossing actor of all time, surpassing Scarlett Johansson thanks to the success of Avatar: Fire and Ash, which brought the total gross of all movies starring Saldaña to $16.8 billion. This milestone marks a significant moment in cinema history, as she has now appeared in four films that have each grossed over $2 billion — a feat no other actor has accomplished.

The Power of Blockbuster Franchises

This achievement cements Saldaña’s status as Hollywood’s most bankable star, largely driven by her integral roles in three massive franchises: Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Trek. The latest installment in the Avatar series reached $1.23 billion at the worldwide box office on January 12, pushing Saldaña past the previous record-holder.

Scarlett Johansson previously held the record at $16.4 billion, earned through her extensive work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and other major franchises. Additional MCU actors — Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt — occupy the next three spots, highlighting how superhero films have transformed the industry’s earning landscape.

What This Means for Modern Cinema

Saldaña’s record reflects a broader shift in Hollywood, where franchise dominance has reshaped what it means to be a successful actor. Even in the prime heyday of marquee movie stars driving Hollywood, the returns on those films were nothing compared to the modern hauls taken in by blockbuster franchises, and if a modern actor is lucky enough to land a place in one of those franchises, their earning power can quickly skyrocket.

For audiences and industry professionals alike, this milestone underscores the importance of choosing roles in enduring, culturally significant franchises. Saldaña’s success demonstrates that strategic career choices in blockbuster cinema can lead to unprecedented box office achievements, setting a new benchmark for future generations of actors in an increasingly franchise-driven entertainment landscape.