Zoe Saldaña: Highest-Grossing Actor – ‘Avatar’ Record

Zoe Saldaña Ascends to Highest-Grossing Actor of All Time Following ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ Success

Zoe Saldaña has officially reached a new pinnacle in her illustrious career, surpassing Scarlett Johansson to become the world’s highest-grossing actor of all time. The remarkable achievement comes on the heels of her leading role in the latest installment of the Avatar franchise, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and less than a year after receiving her first Academy Award for her performance in Emilia Perez.

Nearly one month after its release on December 19th, Avatar: Fire and Ash has propelled Saldaña, 47, to the top of the charts with a combined estimated box office gross exceeding $15.4 billion, according to data from The Numbers. This milestone solidifies her position as a dominant force in cinematic history.

Saldaña’s success is underscored by her consistent presence in blockbuster films. As noted on Tuesday, January 13th, she has starred in three of the highest-grossing movies ever made: 2009’s Avatar, its 2022 sequel The Way of Water, and 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Avatar: Fire and Ash currently ranks as the 29th highest-grossing movie of all time, having surpassed the $1 billion mark globally on January 3rd, according to Box Office Mojo.

The actress has also made history as the first to appear in four films that have each grossed over $2 billion worldwide, adding 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War to the previously mentioned trio of blockbusters. This unprecedented feat highlights her consistent appeal to global audiences.

Saldaña’s ascent to the top spot came after overtaking her Avengers costar, Scarlett Johansson, who previously held the title after the success of her 2025 film Jurassic World Rebirth. Johansson had, in turn, surpassed Samuel L. Jackson in July. Jackson now holds the third position on The Numbers’ list of highest-grossing stars, followed by Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Pratt.

This achievement arrives less than a year after Saldaña won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar at the 2025 Academy Awards for her critically acclaimed role in the 2024 film Emilia Perez. She also received accolades from the Golden Globe Awards, Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA Awards, and SAG Awards for her performance. Beyond her Oscar win and return to the world of Pandora as Neytiri in Fire and Ash, Saldaña lent her voice to a character in Pixar’s 2025 animated feature, Elio.

Looking ahead, Saldaña is expected to continue her portrayal of Neytiri in the upcoming fourth and fifth installments of the Avatar franchise, currently slated for release in 2029 and 2031, respectively. Franchise creator and director James Cameron revealed in December 2023 that production had already begun on portions of the fourth film, with a significant time jump planned within the narrative.

Furthermore, in December, Deadline reported that Saldaña is in negotiations to star alongside Matthew McConaughey in an upcoming Netflix film, Positano, described as “a romantic caper set in the Italian town the film is named after.”

Avatar: Fire and Ash is currently playing in theaters.