Scarlett Johansson has officially lost her long-held crown as the highest-grossing box office star, with a surprise contender rising to the top of Hollywood’s all-time earnings list. Zoe Saldaña has now claimed the No 1 position, becoming the highest-grossing actor in global box office history.
According to figures compiled by The Numbers, Saldaña has amassed a staggering $15.46 billion in worldwide box office revenue, edging past Johansson, who now sits at No. 2 with $15.40 billion.
The milestone marks a major achievement for Saldaña, whose dominance has largely been driven by her roles in some of cinema’s biggest franchises.
The 47-year-old Oscar winner is best known for starring in Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy and Star Trek, franchises that collectively reshaped modern blockbuster cinema.
Her recent return as Neytiri in James Cameron’s latest epic Avatar: Fire and Ash further cemented her box office power.
The $400 million-budget sequel reportedly pulled in $1.23 billion globally, pushing Saldaña past Johansson at the top of the rankings.
Saldaña, who is of Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage, shows no signs of slowing down. Her upcoming slate includes two more Avatar sequels, season three of Paramount+’s Lioness, Netflix’s romantic caper Positano, and Matt Ruskin’s sci-fi film Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow.
Johansson’s slip to second place comes after a quieter box office year. While she scored a solid hit with Gareth Edwards’ Jurassic World: Rebirth, which earned $869.1 million worldwide, her 2025 directorial debut Eleanor the Great struggled commercially, grossing just $3.1 million.
She also appeared in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, which delivered a modest $40.2 million globally.
Despite the setback, Johansson could reclaim the top spot soon. Reports suggest she is in final negotiations to star opposite Robert Pattinson in The Batman Part II, a move that could significantly boost her box office tally.
She also has several high-profile projects lined up with filmmakers including Mike Flanagan, Andrea Arnold, James Gray and Christopher McQuarrie.