Scarlett Johansson Becomes Highest Grossing Lead Actor
Scarlett Johansson Becomes Highest Grossing Hollywood Lead Actor
Jackson, and Chris Pratt. The milestone comes after the massive box office success of her latest film, Jurassic World Rebirth, which opened to record-breaking numbers worldwide. With this achievement, she becomes the top-grossing actor in a leading role, a testament to her consistent popularity and star power. Her fans and the industry alike are celebrating this new chapter in her already impressive and trailblazing career.
Scarlett Johansson Becomes Hollywood’s Highest Grossing Lead Actor, Surpassing Downey Jr. & Jackson
Scarlett Johansson has officially become the highest-grossing lead actor in Hollywood history, defeating fellow Marvel stalwarts Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, and Chris Pratt. The game-changing moment arrived with the thunderous box office debut of her latest film, Jurassic World Rebirth, which premiered globally on July 2 and swiftly climbed the ranks of 2025’s biggest cinematic releases. According to newly released data, Johansson’s cumulative global box office gross from films in which she played a leading or ensemble lead role now stands at a staggering \$14.8 billion, unseating Samuel L. Jackson’s prior record of \$14.6 billion.
Jurassic World Rebirth Changes the Game
just behind the Chinese animated film Ne Zha 2. With Johansson stepping into the central role in the iconic dinosaur franchise, replacing Chris Pratt, the film’s tremendous performance has significantly boosted her lifetime earnings as a lead actor.
On July 6, entertainment outlet The Wrap confirmed the record-breaking feat, crediting Jurassic World Rebirth as the key driver in propelling Johansson to the top of the global box office chart. The report cited box office analytics platform The Numbers, which maintains a leaderboard of actors’ career grosses in leading or lead ensemble roles. Johansson now sits atop that list, cementing her legacy as one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.
Marvel’s Influence and Johansson’s Box Office Power
Much of Johansson’s box office dominance comes from her long-standing association with Marvel Studios, where she portrayed Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, across a string of immensely successful superhero blockbusters. She starred in eight Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, including Iron Man 2, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, and the four Avengers films, all of which were box office juggernauts.
Her standalone Black Widow film, released in 2021, further bolstered her star power and gross tally. Johansson also voiced the character Ash, a punk rock porcupine, in the animated family hits Sing (2016) and Sing 2 (2021), adding further weight to her already impressive portfolio.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The updated figures from The Numbers account for only those films where Johansson held a central or ensemble lead role, ensuring the focus remains on her direct star power. These numbers are not adjusted for inflation but still give an accurate representation of an actor’s impact on the global box office over time.
In surpassing Samuel L. Jackson, Johansson takes the top spot from a legend who, apart from his Marvel role as Nick Fury, also starred in box office winners like The Incredibles and Incredibles 2, both Pixar hits that together contributed significantly to his total of \$14.6 billion.
She also leapfrogged Robert Downey Jr., the actor behind Tony Stark/Iron Man, who was long considered the face of the MCU. Downey’s total includes the Iron Man trilogy, the Avengers saga, and Captain America: Civil War. Chris Pratt, known for playing Peter Quill/Star-Lord and starring in the earlier Jurassic World films, was also surpassed thanks to Johansson taking over his position in the latest reboot.
A Milestone Four Years After MCU Exit
Johansson’s ascent to the top is especially notable considering she bid farewell to the MCU in 2021 following the release of Black Widow. At the time, many questioned whether she could maintain her dominance outside the superhero franchise. The resounding success of Jurassic World Rebirth has not only answered that question but reasserted her enduring box office draw.
This achievement is creating widespread buzz across Hollywood and fan communities. Johansson’s career now stands as a testament to her range — seamlessly moving from action-packed superhero roles to science fiction, animation, drama, and now, leading a legacy franchise like Jurassic World.
Tom Hanks: The Only Non-Marvel Star in Top Five
Rounding out the top five highest-grossing lead actors on The Numbers list is Tom Hanks, the only non-Marvel actor among them. However, the sheer box office volume generated by Marvel Studios over the past decade has made it increasingly difficult for non-franchise actors to compete.
Scarlett’s Box Office Reign: A New Era
With \$14.8 billion to her name in lead roles alone, Scarlett Johansson has set a new standard for what it means to be a global box office leader. Whether it’s as a superhero, a singing porcupine, or now the face of a dinosaur epic, Johansson continues to redefine career longevity and commercial success in Hollywood.
In a world where franchise power and global appeal dominate the cinematic landscape, Scarlett Johansson’s victory is more than just a statistic — it’s a reminder that star power still matters.