Zoe Saldaña Becomes the All-Time Highest-Grossing Actor Thanks to Avatar’s Ongoing Success

Zoe Saldaña’s recent blockbuster, Avatar: Fire and Ash, has catapulted her to the pinnacle of the highest-grossing actors list. This achievement isn’t surprising, given her roles in some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, where she has brought to life memorable characters like Gamora in the MCU, Neytiri in the Avatar series, and Nyota Uhura in Star Trek.

Currently surpassing Scarlett Johansson and leading ahead of Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt, Saldaña’s films have amassed over $15.4 billion globally. In 2023, she made history as the first actor to have four films each cross the $1 billion mark worldwide, adding yet another record to her already impressive career.

Since her debut in the early 2000s, she has been part of major hits like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, all three Avatar films, five MCU entries—including the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame—and the three Star Trek reboot films. Last year, she also won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the musical Emilia Pérez.

Currently, Saldaña is featured in the Paramount+ series Lioness. As for the future of the Avatar franchise, director James Cameron has yet to confirm the status of Avatar 4. He recently expressed uncertainty about continuing the saga, stating, “I hope it does,” while acknowledging the challenges of sustaining the project for another six or seven years.

For now, Avatar 4 is still scheduled for release on December 21, 2029, with a new narrator confirmed.