Being involved in major movie franchises has proven very lucrative for Zoe Saldaña, who is now benefiting from her roles in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Avatar series. With Avatar continuing to earn money – adding to its already impressive $1.25 billion box office total – Saldaña’s films have collectively grossed $15.47 billion, slightly surpassing Scarlett Johansson’s $15.4 billion, boosted by Johansson’s work in the Jurassic World franchise.
Looking at leading roles alone, both actresses have impressive box office numbers, placing them above even some established Marvel stars like Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt. This top five list clearly shows how much the Marvel Cinematic Universe has boosted actors’ careers, especially with Avengers: Endgame earning $2.79 billion and significantly contributing to the success of its cast.
Being in all three of James Cameron’s Avatar films – which have collectively earned $6.5 billion at the box office – has significantly boosted Zoë Saldaña’s career, placing her above many of her peers. However, whether she can maintain her position as one of the highest-grossing actors depends on the continued success of major franchises like Avatar.
Who Will Be the Highest Grossing Star in Hollywood by 2028?
Marvel Studios
It might seem strange to ask now, but whoever is the most popular actor by January 2028 could stay at the top for a long time – unless some currently unannounced, incredibly successful movies change everything.
James Cameron intends to keep making Avatar films, with two more scheduled for release in 2029 and 2031. However, Avatar: Fire and Ash may not perform as well as earlier installments, potentially limiting future films to box office earnings between $1.5 and $1.8 billion. Zoe Saldaña is set to return as Neytiri in these upcoming movies, but other films could challenge her position as a leading box office draw.
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The upcoming Avengers movies, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, are expected to be huge successes, potentially each earning over $2 billion at the box office in December 2026 and 2027, despite recent challenges for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A key factor is the return of Robert Downey Jr., who will play Doctor Doom and could add another $4 billion to his already impressive $14.3 billion in career earnings. Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson is also set to star in several major films, including a new Jurassic World movie, The Batman Part II, and Mike Flanagan’s The Exorcist, potentially regaining her position as a top box office draw.
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2026-01-15 04:34