Zoe Saldana has become the world’s highest-grossing actor, overtaking Scarlett Johansson. Here’s how the Avatar and Marvel star reacted to the record-breaking achievement.
Zoe Saldaña has officially become the highest-grossing actor in global box office history, overtaking Scarlett Johansson, a milestone driven largely by her appearances in some of the biggest film franchises of all time.
According to recent box office calculations, Saldaña’s films have collectively earned over USD 14 billion worldwide, propelled by her
leading roles in James Cameron’s _Avatar_ franchise and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where she portrayed Gamora. With multiple Avatar sequels already released or in production, her box office total is expected to continue climbing.
Saldaña is currently the only actor to star in four films that each grossed more than USD 2 billion globally, including Avatar, Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. Industry analysts have noted that her consistent presence in large-scale, globally appealing franchises has made her record particularly difficult to surpass.
Reacting to the achievement,
Saldaña expressed humility rather than triumph. “I just want to express my sincerest gratitude for the extraordinary journey that has led me to become the highest-grossing film actor of all time today,” Saldaña, 47, said in an Instagram video shared Tuesday. “An achievement made possible entirely, entirely by the incredible franchises and the collaborators that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of. I don’t think about it as beating anyone,” adding that she feels grateful to be part of films that have resonated with audiences across cultures and generations. She also credited filmmakers, collaborators and fans for the milestone, stressing that box office success is always a collective effort.
The achievement places Saldaña ahead of Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr., all longtime leaders on the all-time box office charts. While Johansson remains the highest-grossing actress in lead roles, Saldaña’s cumulative numbers across ensemble and franchise films have now placed her at the very top.
As a Latina actor anchoring multiple blockbuster franchises, her success reflects shifting industry dynamics and the growing global appetite for diverse storytelling.
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