Scarlett Johansson Becomes Highest-Grossing Actor Ever After ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ Opening Weekend
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Dinosaurs and superheroes have proven to be a winning combination. Following the massive opening weekend success of ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth,’ Scarlett Johansson has officially broken a major Hollywood record.
By tallying up the total box office earnings of the films she has starred in, Johansson is now the highest-grossing actor—across all genders—in Hollywood history. She surpasses fellow Marvel stars Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, and Zoe Saldana, with her films collectively bringing in $14.8 billion. What makes this even more impressive is that she’s reached this milestone with only 36 films, compared to Jackson’s 71.
By the numbers:
Avengers: Endgame – $2.7 billion
Avengers: Infinity War – $2 billion
The Avengers - $1.5 billion
Avengers: Age of Ultron - $1.4 billion
Captain America: Civil War - $1.1 billion
The Jungle Book - $951 million
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - $714 million
Sing - $631 million
Iron Man 2 - $621 million
Johansson’s rise to the top is largely thanks to her role as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which formed the backbone of her box office success. Her recent turn leading ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ gave her the final push. The film opened to a staggering $318 million, setting it on track to potentially surpass $1 billion globally.
Notably, Johansson’s own solo Marvel outing, ‘Black Widow,’ earned a modest $379 million due to pandemic-era limitations. Nonetheless, all films she appears in contribute to the record, and as an original Avengers cast member, she’s been in many.
This kind of box office dominance is common among ensemble casts, especially those tied to Marvel. In fact, seven of the top ten highest-grossing actors have been involved with the MCU. However, when it comes to women, only three make the top 20 list: Johansson at number one, Saldana at number four, and ‘Harry Potter’ star Emma Watson at number sixteen.
While Johansson’s record is remarkable, her future with Marvel remains uncertain. Her character is currently dead in the MCU, with no signs of a return. Downey Jr., on the other hand, is confirmed to appear in at least one more Marvel film, and Jackson is expected to continue his frequent Marvel appearances. Saldana may be done with Gamora, but she’s still front and center in the ‘Avatar’ franchise.
With ‘Jurassic World: Rebirth’ now under her belt, Johansson could follow in the footsteps of Chris Pratt and become a recurring face in the dinosaur-filled universe. Wherever she goes next, the competition to hold the top spot is far from over.
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