Summary
- Zoe Saldaña has officially overtaken Scarlett Johansson as the highest-grossing actor in history
- The milestone was reached following the continued success of James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash
- Saldaña is the only actor to star in four separate films that have each grossed over $2 billion USD
Zoe Saldaña has officially claimed the title of highest-grossing actor of all time, surpassing her Marvel Cinematic Universe co-star Scarlett Johansson. The milestone comes as her latest blockbuster, James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, pushed her career global box office total past the $16.8 billion USD mark. 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.
Saldaña’s rise to the top of the box office hierarchy is built on an unprecedented run of commercial dominance. With Avatar: Fire and Ash crossing $1.23 billion USD worldwide earlier this week, she has now appeared in four films that have each grossed over $2 billion USD — a feat no other actor has accomplished. Her resume boasts starring roles in the highest-grossing film ever (Avatar), the second-highest (Avengers: Endgame), and the third-highest (Avatar: The Way of Water).
Johansson, who previously held the record with approximately $16.4 billion USD, had briefly reclaimed the top spot last summer following the release of Jurassic World Rebirth. However, the sustained global performance of the third Avatar installment allowed Saldaña to close the gap and ultimately take the lead. The top five is rounded out by fellow MCU veterans Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt.
Despite the heavy reliance on franchise filmmaking, Saldaña’s record is unique in that it spans multiple distinct cinematic universes rather than relying on a single character’s longevity. With Avatar 4 and 5 already on the production calendar, her hold on the record is likely to strengthen in the coming years.
Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently playing in theaters worldwide. Saldaña is next expected to reprise her role as Neytiri in the fourth installment of the franchise, currently slated for a 2029 release.
