Scarlett Johansson box office ranking has shifted, as Zoe Saldaña has now surpassed her to become the highest-grossing actor at the worldwide box office. This significant change comes after the strong global performance of the latest Avatar film, cementing Saldaña’s place at the top of the earnings chart as of January 12.
Saldaña’s Historic Rise to the Box Office Summit
Zoe Saldaña’s recent leap to number one is the result of her central role as Neytiri in James Cameron’s Avatar series, with the newest installment, Avatar: Fire and Ash, pushing franchise totals to remarkable heights. The trilogy alone contributed an estimated $6 billion of Saldaña’s earnings, helping her accumulate a worldwide total of over $16.8 billion. Other notable contributions to her impressive tally include her portrayal of Gamora in Marvel’s cinematic universe, appearances in three Star Trek films, and a role in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Scarlett Johansson Slips to Second Place
Formerly leading, Scarlett Johansson now holds the second-highest grossing position, with $16.4 billion earned from her extensive film history. Johansson’s rise to the top previously occurred after the release of Jurassic World Rebirth, which allowed her to edge out fellow Marvel actors Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr. Key to her earnings has been her recurring role as Natasha Romanoff, better known as Black Widow, in the MCU. Major box office draws from her filmography include Avengers: Endgame ($2.7 billion), Avengers: Infinity War ($2 billion), as well as other Marvel titles like Captain America: Civil War and Iron Man 2. Her non-Marvel projects, such as The Jungle Book and Lucy, have also contributed significant box office returns.
Other High-Earning Hollywood Stars
Alongside Zoe Saldaña and Scarlett Johansson, the current top 10 highest-grossing actors also include Chris Pratt, Tom Cruise, Chris Hemsworth, Vin Diesel, Chris Evans, and Dwayne Johnson. Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr., both long-serving stars of the Marvel franchise, continue to hold prominent positions in the ranking. Each of these actors has contributed to blockbuster franchises that consistently attract audiences worldwide.
What’s Next for Saldaña and Johansson
Zoe Saldaña looks poised to maintain her lead, with James Cameron planning both a fourth and fifth Avatar installment. These future projects suggest that her prominence in the industry could grow even stronger. Scarlett Johansson, meanwhile, remains one of Hollywood’s top talents, with a diverse portfolio of blockbuster roles both inside and outside the Marvel universe.
The ongoing evolution of the Scarlett Johansson box office ranking reflects broader trends in global cinema, audience preferences, and the influence of long-running film franchises. With future releases on the horizon for both stars, their box office legacies are far from settled.
