By Harshit
LOS ANGELES, JANUARY 14, 2026 —
Zoe Saldaña has reached a historic milestone in Hollywood, becoming the highest-grossing actor of all time at the global box office. The record was cemented following the billion-dollar performance of Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third installment in James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar franchise.
According to industry tracking service The Numbers, films in which Saldaña has appeared in a leading role have now generated approximately $15.46 billion worldwide, narrowly surpassing the previous record held by Scarlett Johansson, whose comparable total stands at about $15.40 billion.
How ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Pushed Saldaña Past the Record
Released globally in December, Avatar: Fire and Ash has already crossed $1.2 billion at the worldwide box office. While its opening pace trailed behind the franchise’s earlier entries, the film demonstrated strong staying power, remaining at the top of the domestic box-office charts weeks after release.
Saldaña reprises her role as Neytiri for the third time, continuing a collaboration with director James Cameron that has proven to be one of the most commercially successful actor-director partnerships in cinema history. The original Avatar (2009) remains the highest-grossing film of all time globally, while Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) ranks among the top three.
Marvel’s Role in a Record-Breaking Career
Beyond Pandora, Saldaña’s box-office dominance is closely tied to her portrayal of Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and multiple Avengers films. Her appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame placed her at the center of the Marvel Cinematic Universe during its most lucrative era.
Avengers: Endgame alone remains one of the highest-grossing films in global history, meaning Saldaña now holds the rare distinction of starring in three of the top-earning films ever released.
Franchise Strategy Over Star Vehicles
Saldaña’s career highlights a broader shift in Hollywood economics. Rather than relying on standalone star vehicles, modern box-office dominance is increasingly built through long-term participation in expansive franchises. Alongside Marvel and Avatar, Saldaña starred as Uhura in the rebooted Star Trek, which collectively grossed over $1 billion worldwide, and appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
This franchise-heavy résumé distinguishes her from many contemporaries and explains how she overtook Johansson, whose record was briefly boosted in 2025 by Jurassic World Rebirth.
How Other Actors Rank
Following Saldaña and Johansson, the list of highest-grossing actors is dominated by performers associated with Marvel projects, including Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt.
Among actors who have not starred in Marvel films, names such as Tom Cruise, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and Tom Hanks remain the highest-ranked globally. After Saldaña and Johansson, the next highest-ranking female actors on the list include Emma Watson, Karen Gillan, and Elizabeth Olsen.
Critical Recognition and What Comes Next
Saldaña’s commercial success has coincided with growing critical acclaim. In 2025, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Emilia Pérez. She is currently working on the next season of the action-drama series Lioness.
While Cameron has confirmed story plans for Avatar installments four and five, official greenlights have yet to be announced. If the franchise continues, Saldaña’s box-office record is expected to widen further.
What the Record Ultimately Represents
Saldaña’s achievement reflects more than individual stardom. It underscores how modern Hollywood rewards consistency, franchise loyalty, and global storytelling scale. In an era dominated by cinematic universes, her career stands as a case study in how long-term strategic casting can redefine box-office history.