He’s the face you spot in almost every blockbuster; she’s the one often hidden behind pixels and prosthetics. Why is Zoe Saldana suddenly rewriting the all-time box office hierarchy, and who can stop her now?
Blue skin, soaring grosses, and franchise stamina have lifted Zoe Saldana into rarefied air. As Avatar: De Feu et de Cendres fills theaters following its December 17, 2025 release, her career total has reached 15.042 billion dollars, nudging past Samuel L. Jackson and sitting just behind Scarlett Johansson at 15.401 billion. From Pandora to the Avengers, she’s become the connective tissue of the modern blockbuster machine, with the next milestone suddenly within reach.
Introduction to Zoe Saldana’s achievement
Milestones in Hollywood are not just about awards or iconic roles, but also about numbers that tell a story. Zoe Saldana has added her name to record-breaking history, officially surpassing Samuel L. Jackson in global box office earnings. Her rise to this status is no coincidence, it is the result of purposeful choices to star in some of the most successful film franchises of all time.
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A career built on franchises
When we talk about Zoe Saldana, it is impossible not to mention the big names: Avatar, Avengers, and earlier work in the Star Trek franchise. Her presence in not just one but several billion-dollar universes sets her apart. With Avengers: Endgame alone, she was part of a cinematic juggernaut that grossed $2.8 billion globally. The towering success of James Cameron’s Avatar films has also defined her career, particularly as the franchise evolves with its new chapter, Avatar 3: Of Fire and Ashes, slated for release on 17 December 2025.
The impact of Avatar 3: Of Fire and Ashes
The third installment of the Avatar saga, several years in the making, is already redefining records. Thanks to the film’s monumental performance, Zoe Saldana’s combined box office earnings have reached an extraordinary $15.042 billion, inching closer than ever to Scarlett Johansson’s $15.401 billion record. The Avatar series has proven to be one of Hollywood’s most reliable blockbusters, and its ability to draw unparalleled crowds continues to elevate the actors who bring it to life.
Where does this leave Hollywood’s icons?
Surpassing Samuel L. Jackson ($14.613 billion in earnings) is no small feat. His decades-long career boasts numerous hits like Pulp Fiction and Marvel’s Avengers series, yet Saldana, a younger force in cinema, manages to overtake him. The question now is whether she can claim the number one position, dethroning Scarlett Johansson as the highest-grossing actress of all time. While Johansson has leaned heavily on Marvel for her numbers, Saldana’s dedication to both Avengers and Avatar puts her in a strategically unique position.
Below is an extraordinary lineup of films contributing to this competition:
Avatar: A long-standing science-fiction epic.
Avengers: Endgame: One of the highest-grossing films in history.
Star Trek: Though smaller, still impactful in boosting recognition.
As box office trends lean heavily on sequels and franchise powerhouses, Hollywood’s rankings are increasingly dictated by such mega-productions, keeping franchise synergy at the center of the race.
A career worth watching
The numbers are just one aspect of Saldana’s story. Her range as an actress and her commitment to meaningful projects outside the blockbuster realm, such as Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez celebrated at Cannes, show her versatility. At 47, her career trajectory suggests she is only just beginning to reach her peak. The future could yet herald a new queen of global box office rankings.