Scarlett Johansson has officially become Hollywood’s highest-grossing lead actor, surpassing industry giants like Robert Downey Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson with a lifetime box office total of $14.8 billion.
Scarlett Johansson: A New Box Office Queen
Known for her iconic role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Scarlett Johansson has made history. Her impressive career box office gross now stands at an astounding $14.8 billion globally, according to the trade portal The Numbers.
A significant portion of this incredible sum, about $8.7 billion, comes directly from her MCU appearances. This includes blockbusters like “The Avengers” (2012), “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), “Captain America: Civil War” (2016), “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018), and “Avengers: Endgame” (2019).
Diverse Roles Fueling Success
While the MCU played a huge part, Johansson’s box office dominance isn’t solely due to her superhero persona. Her voice work in Universal Pictures’ animated “Sing” franchise (2016, 2021) also contributed significantly to her overall earnings.
Her latest film, Gareth Edwards’ sci-fi action-adventure “Jurassic World Rebirth,” provided the final surge needed. This blockbuster pushed her past previous record-holder Samuel L. Jackson.
Outpacing Hollywood’s Heavyweights
Before Johansson’s recent achievement, Samuel L. Jackson held the top spot with a lifetime gross of $14.6 billion. Jackson’s impressive total also includes his voice roles in Pixar’s “Incredibles” films.
Robert Downey Jr., another MCU powerhouse, currently ranks third with $14.2 billion. A massive $11.8 billion of his earnings came from his nine appearances as Iron Man in the MCU, from “Iron Man” (2008) to “Avengers: Endgame.”
“Jurassic World Rebirth” Roars to Success
“Jurassic World Rebirth,” where Johansson took on a lead role, proved to be a massive hit. The film garnered $147.3 million in its first five days in 4,308 North American theaters alone.
Globally, the movie added an impressive $171 million from 82 international markets. This includes a strong performance in China, where it brought in $41.5 million, marking the country’s biggest MPA opening of the year.
This film is the fourth in the “Jurassic World” series and the seventh overall in the beloved franchise that began with Steven Spielberg’s 1993 classic, “Jurassic Park.”
Future Box Office Battles
While Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow character is presumed dead in the MCU, and she has confirmed she won’t return, the box office race might not be over for other stars.
Robert Downey Jr. is set to reprise his role as Doctor Doom in upcoming MCU films, “Avengers: Doomsday” (2026) and “Avengers: Secret Wars” (2027). These appearances could potentially help him challenge Johansson’s newly set record.
- Scarlett Johansson is now the highest-grossing lead actor in Hollywood.
- Her career box office total stands at $14.8 billion.
- A majority of her earnings come from her MCU films as Black Widow.
- Her latest film, “Jurassic World Rebirth,” helped her surpass Samuel L. Jackson.
- Robert Downey Jr. could challenge her record with upcoming MCU roles.
Scarlett Johansson’s remarkable achievement highlights her enduring appeal and significant impact on Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, solidifying her place among cinema’s all-time greats.
