Zoe Saldaña has officially made box office history.
As of January 2026, the Hollywood star has become the highest-grossing actor of all time worldwide, overtaking Scarlett Johansson after the massive global success of Avatar: Fire and Ash.
The milestone was sealed following the film’s extraordinary theatrical run, which has now grossed over $1.2 billion globally since its release in late 2025. With that performance added to her résumé, Saldaña’s cumulative box office total now stands at over $15.4 billion, narrowly surpassing Johansson’s long-held record.
A Career Built on Blockbuster Franchises
Saldaña’s box office dominance is the result of one of the most strategically powerful filmographies in modern cinema. She is the only actor to star in multiple billion-dollar franchises simultaneously, playing key roles in:
- Avatar franchise (Neytiri)
- Avengers and the wider MCU (Gamora)
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Star Trek reboot series
With Avatar: Fire and Ash marking another billion-dollar chapter in James Cameron’s sci-fi universe, Saldaña’s position at the top of the global box office rankings is now firmly cemented.
Scarlett Johansson previously held the record with an estimated $15.4 billion in global box office earnings, driven largely by her run as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Saldaña’s achievement is particularly notable given that her success spans multiple franchises across different studios, rather than being tied to a single cinematic universe.
Beyond the numbers, Saldaña’s record reflects a broader shift in Hollywood, where long-running franchises and global audiences now define box office power. Her ability to anchor some of the biggest films ever made has placed her in a league of her own.
With future Avatar installments already planned, industry analysts believe her lead at the top could continue to grow.