Zoe Saldaña has overtaken Scarlett Johansson to become the highest-grossing film actor of all time, powered by the $1.23 billion worldwide haul of Avatar: Fire and Ash.
At a Glance
- Zoe Saldaña’s cumulative box-office total has reached $16.8 billion.
- Scarlett Johansson’s previous record of $16.4 billion now sits in second place.
- The rest of the top five remains an all-Marvel lineup: Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt.
- Why it matters: The shift ends Johansson’s long reign and highlights Saldaña’s across-the-board dominance in sci-fi franchises.
The milestone was triggered when Avatar: Fire and Ash crossed the $1.23 billion mark at the global box office on January 12, according to Box Office Mojo. Screen Rant tallies every film featuring Saldaña-ranging from Star Trek and Avengers: Endgame to Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl-to reach the new record of $16.8 billion.
Johansson had held the all-time crown at $16.4 billion, largely on the strength of her recurring role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The rest of the elite club is rounded out by her Marvel co-stars:
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Chris Pratt
Although Avatar: Fire and Ash ultimately lost the Cinematic and Box Office Achievement prize to Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler’s Sinners at the January 11 Golden Globe ceremony, Saldaña remains a favorite with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. She won the supporting-actress Globe a year earlier for Emilia Pérez and used her acceptance speech to praise her collaborators.
“This is a first time for me, and I’m just so blessed that I’m sharing this moment with Selena and Karla and [director] Jacques [Audiard] and all of my fellow nominees,” Saldaña told the audience. “I’m in awe of you, your strength, your complexity, your undeniable talent.”
The 11-year veteran of major franchises also looked beyond competition, saying, “I know that it is a competition, but all that I have witnessed is just us showing up for each other and celebrating each other, and it’s just so beautiful.” She singled out fellow nominees Ariana Grande and Margaret Qualley, calling them “magic.”
Off-screen, the actress is mother to twins Cy Aridio and Bowie Ezio, 11, and son Zen Anton, 9, with husband Marco Perego.
Key Takeaways
- Saldaña’s consistent presence in billion-dollar franchises has rewritten the record books.
- Johansson’s total remains formidable, but the gap will widen if Avatar sequels continue to thrive.
- Marvel dominance still defines the rest of the top five, underscoring the studio’s box-office supremacy.
