Photo: Emma McIntyre/WireImage
Apparently going blue can lead to a lot of green. Zoe Saldaña announced Tuesday night that she is now the highest-grossing film actor of all time. Saldaña most recently starred in James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash, the latest in the franchise, which grossed $1.23 billion at the worldwide box office and tipped the actress into the top spot, per the New York Post. “I just want to express my sincerest gratitude for the extraordinary journey,” the 47-year-old said in an Instagram video. “An achievement made possible entirely, entirely by the incredible franchises and the collaborators that I have been fortunate enough to be a part of.”
“To every director who placed their trust in me, thank you,” she added, naming Star Trek director J.J. Abrams, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo, and Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn.
“And most importantly, thank you James Cameron for believing in my potential, for seeing something in me that I have not always seen in myself, and for challenging me to always rise to the occasion,” she went on. “Your faith, your guidance, and your vision, they shape not only these films but me as an artist.”
With four major franchises to her name, and two more Avatar projects to come in 2029 and 2031, we can likely expect Saldaña to remain at the top of the box office for at least a few more years. She unseats previous record holder Scarlett Johansson, who snagged the top spot with the help of 2025’s Jurassic World Rebirth, which grossed more than $800 million. Prior to Johansson, the record was held by Marvel regulars Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr.
“None of this exists without you showing up time and time again with open hearts and enthusiasm,” Saldaña said to her fans. “This accomplishment belongs to all of us and I’m deeply grateful and profoundly humbled. And may the next record breaker be another woman.”
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