Star power measured in billions. Ranked by the cumulative worldwide box office of the films they have led, these are the actors whose names have anchored the biggest franchises in history, with the order reshuffled as recently as January 2026.
The full ranking
Star power measured in billions. Ranked by the cumulative worldwide box office of the films they have led, these are the actors whose names have anchored the biggest franchises in history, with the order reshuffled as recently as January 2026.
Zoe Saldana
She became the highest-grossing actor of all time in January 2026 after Avatar: Fire and Ash, with a worldwide career total above $15.4 billion. She anchors three of cinema's biggest franchises: Avatar, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, and Star Trek.
Scarlett Johansson
She held the top spot from mid-2025 until Saldana edged past her, with a career total above $15.4 billion built largely as Black Widow across the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Samuel L. Jackson
The most prolific star on the list, with roughly 70 credited films and over $14.6 billion worldwide, a fixture from Star Wars to the MCU's Nick Fury to Pixar's The Incredibles.
Robert Downey Jr.
His run as Tony Stark and Iron Man anchored the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, lifting his career total above $14.3 billion worldwide.
Chris Pratt
Carries the highest per-film average in the top ten, thanks to Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, with a total above $14.1 billion.
Tom Cruise
The highest-grossing star whose total is built without Marvel, leading the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun franchises to a worldwide career figure of about $12.7 billion.
Chris Hemsworth
His decade-plus as Thor across the MCU drives a worldwide career total of roughly $12.2 billion.
Vin Diesel
Powered by the Fast & Furious franchise and his voice work as Groot, his films have grossed about $12 billion worldwide.
Chris Evans
Captain America across the MCU, plus Knives Out and Pixar's Lightyear, give him a worldwide career total of roughly $11.5 billion.
Dwayne Johnson
The other non-Marvel-anchored star in the top ten, built on Fast & Furious, Jumanji, and Disney's Moana, for a career total of about $11.5 billion.
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