Zoe Saldaña Becomes the 2nd Highest-Grossing Actor Ever With $15B

Actress Zoe Saldaña has reached a historic milestone within Hollywood.

According to USA Today, the Afro-Dominican beauty has officially surpassed Samuel L. Jackson and is now the second-highest-grossing actor in film history. Saldaña’s film credits now total an estimated $15 billion in global box office revenue. These were pushed by the ongoing success of the new movie, Avatar: Fire and Ash. 

Saldaña is now second on the all-time list of grossing actors, behind Scarlett Johansson, whose films total just over $15.4 billion. 

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Avatar

The main driver of this momentum has been the Avatar sequel. It debuted in late December 2025. The blockbuster grossed more than 1 billion in global ticket sales just weeks after it was released in theaters.

Domestically,  in the United States, the film earned $300 million and roughly $777 million abroad. This is according to box office figures.

For James Cameron, this marks a major commercial success for his sci-fi saga. Fire and Ash is now part of a franchise that has grossed billions of dollars across three films. This is, although the latest fixture has made the least amount of money from its predecessor films, (Avatar (2009),  Approximately $2.92 billion, and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Over $2.3 billion) 

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Zoe Saldaña’s rise

Saldaña’s rise has been taking place over the years. She has starred in many blockbuster franchises that have consistently brought huge ticket sales. Some of her best-known roles include Neytiri in the Avatar universe, Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and she has also appeared in the Star Trek franchise. Her roles in these major franchises have given her a broad, global appeal, setting her up for success.

Moreover, her career box office tally has steadily increased as these films continue to reach more audiences across the continents. Avatar, Fire and Ash has also helped push her past other Hollywood heaveweights who had totals way ahead of hers. 

For years, the number two spot was held by Samuel L. Jackson on the all-time list. This was due to his work in Marvel films, Star Wars, and other major releases. Now, Saldaña has shifted the landscape of Hollywood’s highest grossers. Fire and Ash is new and still in the theaters, thus industry analysts say Saldaña is positioned to continue climbing the list as the new movie finishes its run. Ultimately, if the Avatar sequel edges above $1.1 billion worldwide, she could challenge Johansson’s top spot sooner rather than later.

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The significance

This achievement highlights how the franchise films continue to shape the modern movie industry. Saldaña’s success reflects both her longevity and her ability to embody characters that resonate with audiences. Each of the Avatar chapters has expanded the saga’s world and also drawn viewers back to thearters in large numbers. 

Critics have also noted that Saldaña’s ascent speaks to broader changes in Hollywood. This is due to leading female actors now dominating the top of the box office lists, a trend that becomes clearer as more films push storytelling forward. 

Avatar: Fire and Ash continues its run in theaters. It remains in competition with other high-budget films, and its strong global figures keep it near the top of box office charts. The film’s performance will play a key role in determining whether Saldaña eventually reaches the number 1 spot on the list of highest-grossing actors. 

Main Image: Zoe Saldaña by Flickr