Zoe Saldaña dethrones Scarlett Johansson as the highest-grossing actor of all time

January 19 ------ Zoe Saldaña has officially claimed the top spot as the highest-grossing actor of all time, overtaking Scarlett Johansson after the latest installment of the Avatar franchise pushed her career box office total to new heights.

According to box office tracker The Numbers, the Oscar winner’s films have now earned more than $15.46 billion (around ₱918 billion) worldwide. The milestone was reached after Avatar: Fire and Ash added more than $1.2 billion (around ₱71 billion) to her cumulative total, sealing her place at the top of the all-time list.

Scarlett, meanwhile, is now at $15.40 billion (around ₱915 billion), putting her second to the list. Much of this record-breaking figure comes from the actress’s long-running involvement in two of the most successful film franchises in history. She starred as Neytiri in all three James Cameron-directed Avatar films, beginning with the 2009 original, followed by Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, and the most recent Fire and Ash.

Zoe also became a major fixture in the Marvel Cinematic Universe through her role as Gamora. She appeared in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy released between 2014 and 2023, as well as in multiple Avengers films starting in 2012. These projects significantly contributed to her overall box office dominance.

Scarlett, whom Zoe has now surpassed, previously rose to the top of the list last year after Jurassic World Rebirth earned $869 million (around ₱51 billion) globally. Like Zoe, Scarlett also built much of her box office success through her work in Marvel films. While Avatar: Fire and Ash have been tracking behind the earlier films in the franchise in terms of overall box office numbers, it has consistently held the No. 1 spot in the US since its release in December, helping push Zoe past the record.

Away from box office records, Zoe’s career also saw critical recognition last year when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Netflix crime musical Emilia Pérez. She is currently working on the next season of the action-drama series Lioness. Following the announcement of her milestone, the actress took to Instagram on January 13 to express her gratitude. “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,” she said.

She credited the franchises and collaborators who trusted her throughout her career, thanking directors who played pivotal roles in her journey, including Star Trek filmmaker J.J. Abrams, Avengers directors Joe and Anthony Russo, and Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. The actress also paid tribute to James Cameron, saying, “For believing my potential, for seeing something in me that I have not always seen in myself, and for challenging me to always rise to the occasion.”

She added that his faith and vision helped shape not only the films but also her as an artist. She ended her message by thanking fans around the world for their continued support. “None of this exists without you showing up time and time again with open hearts and enthusiasm. This accomplishment belongs to all of us, and I’m deeply grateful and profoundly humbled.” “And may the next record breaker be another woman,” she aspired.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com