Scarlett Johansson Is No Longer Hollywood’s Highest-Grossing Star—See Who Took the High Spot

For years, Scarlett Johansson held a vice grip on the title of the highest-grossing actor of all time. But as of this week, the crown has officially changed hands. The industry was rocked Tuesday morning when updated figures confirmed that a fellow Marvel alum has officially surged past the $15 billion mark, leaving the rest of Hollywood in the rearview mirror.

Scarlett’s tenure at the top was not merely a result of luck; it was a testament to a decade of strategic role selection and the monumental success of the Black Widow character. As the leading female force in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Johansson’s films consistently outperformed industry expectations, making her a symbol of box office reliability.

However, the film industry is famously volatile, and records are made to be broken.

The “Dethroned” Moment: A Billion-Dollar Shift

The seismic shift happened thanks to the relentless momentum of James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash. While the third installment of the Pandora saga has only been in theaters since late December 2025, it has already cleared the $1.23 billion milestone worldwide.

That “small” billion-dollar win was exactly what Zoe Saldaña needed to leapfrog over Johansson. According to data verified by The Numbers, Saldaña’s lifetime box office total now sits at a staggering $15.47 billion.

The landscape of Hollywood’s all-time highest-grossing actors has long been dominated by a select few, but the recent surge in Scarlett Johansson’s career earnings has turned a friendly competition into a high-stakes financial drama. Johansson, who recently saw a significant boost from her involvement in Jurassic World Rebirth, currently holds the number two spot in the all-time rankings with roughly $15.40 billion in lifetime box office revenue.

While she trails the top spot by a razor-thin margin, the momentum shifted significantly with the revitalized dinosaur franchise, proving that her drawing power extends far beyond the superhero spandex that defined her previous decade. In the unforgiving world of Hollywood bookkeeping, where every cent is tracked and every opening weekend is scrutinized, a win is a win, no matter how small the gap.

How It Happened: The Power of the “Franchise Triple Threat”

If you’re wondering how one person manages to out-earn the entire original Avengers lineup, look at Saldaña’s resume. She isn’t just a movie star; she is the undisputed Queen of the Franchise. Saldaña is the only actor in history to star in four different films that have each grossed over $2 billion:

• Avatar (2009)
• Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
• Avengers: Endgame (2019)
• Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

By playing Neytiri in the Avatar series and Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Saldaña has become a permanent fixture in the top-grossing films of all time. When you add her tenure as Uhura in the Star Trek trilogy and her early role in Pirates of the Caribbean, you have a recipe for financial world domination.

However, her success isn’t merely a matter of being in the right place at the right time; it is a testament to her unique ability to anchor massive, high-concept franchises with a grounded, emotional core that resonates across global audiences.

The Bigger Picture: A Landmark Year for Saldaña

This isn’t just about the “tea” or bragging rights. This milestone caps off what has been a transformative year for the 47-year-old actress. Just last year, Saldaña secured her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Emilia Pérez, proving she has the critical muscle to match her commercial might. In a heartfelt video addressed to fans on social media this week, Saldaña responded to the record-breaking news with humility.

“I am deeply grateful and profoundly humbled,” she shared with her followers. She notably added, “May the next record breaker be another woman!”, a nod to the friendly but fierce competition among Hollywood’s leading ladies.

What’s Next: Can Anyone ‘Catch’ Her?

Is Scarlett Johansson Down for the Count? Not quite. To suggest Johansson is out of the running is to ignore her strategic pivot toward high-concept blockbusters and producer-led projects. While her time as Black Widow has concluded, her development slate is robust. Johansson has mastered the art of the “star-vehicle,” moving into roles that offer her creative control through her production company, These Pictures.

Industry analysts note that if Johansson attaches herself to a new, multi-film cinematic universe, or if her rumored return to a legacy franchise comes to fruition, the lead could easily swap back and forth over the next few years. The box office gap between the two is currently narrow enough that a single $1.5 billion hit could tip the scales. Johansson’s appeal remains global, and her ability to draw audiences to non-superhero fare remains a potent weapon in this statistical arms race.

However, with at least two more Avatar sequels on the horizon, Saldaña’s lead appears increasingly “un-catchable.” Industry insiders suggest that by the time James Cameron finishes his five-film odyssey, Saldaña could potentially be the first actor to cross the $20 billion career mark. For now, the industry is celebrating a historic win for representation and star power. Saldaña hasn’t just broken a record; she’s rewritten the blueprint for what a “bankable” lead looks like in 2026.

The Breakdown: Everything You Should Know

Zoe Saldaña’s climb to the top of the Hollywood leaderboard isn’t just a personal win; it represents a historic shift in how we measure movie stardom in the age of the “mega-franchise.” Her ascent signals the end of an era dominated by the traditional “leading man” archetype, replaced by a new kind of global icon who anchors multiple cinematic universes simultaneously.

As of January 14, 2026, the data confirms that Saldaña has solidified a lead that may remain untouched for years. Here is the comprehensive, data-driven breakdown of how the rankings stand today.

The New Number One: A $15 Billion Milestone

Zoe Saldaña has officially seized the crown as the highest-grossing actor of all time in leading and lead-ensemble roles. Her films have amassed a staggering $15.47 billion globally, according to verified data from The Numbers. Unlike stars of the past who relied on a high volume of mid-budget films, Saldaña’s strategy has been defined by extreme precision, choosing tent-pole projects with massive international appeal.

Her filmography acts as a road map of the 21st century’s most successful cinematic ventures, spanning the MCU, the Avatar universe, and the Star Trek reboot.

The “Billion-Dollar” Catalyst: Fire and Ash

The primary driver for this definitive shift was the late 2025 release of Avatar: Fire and Ash. In just 26 days of release, the James Cameron threequel contributed over $1.23 billion to Saldaña’s lifetime total. While the film faced stiff competition during the holiday season, its legs in international markets, particularly China, France, and Germany, pushed Saldaña past the previous record holder in the first week of 2026.

This “Avatar Effect” has proven to be the most potent weapon in her statistical arsenal, with each installment adding billions to her career cumulative total.

The Current Global Leaderboard (January 2026)