In recent years, the concept of what a movie star is has been under fears of extinction. But that fear has been greatly overstated. In 2025, after a compelling summer release slate, the list of highest-grossing actors has shifted in Hollywood, and there’s a new leader atop the list.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been one of the biggest properties in movies, so for our top six list, it’s going to play a major role. However, the way the actors line up may still surprise some fans.
So, without further ado, here are the top six grossing actors of all time.
6. Tom Cruise – $13,377,890,989
Tom Cruise needs no introduction, and although he’s technically at the bottom of our list, he could easily be number one if comic book movies were removed.
Cruise is a movie star in the classic sense. He has made comedies, action films, and even dramatic pieces, but these days, he’s perhaps best known for his stunts in the Mission: Impossible series. What makes this ranking so mind-blowing is that Cruise has technically only been a part of one franchise in his career.
5. Chris Pratt – $14,136,190,397
Chris Pratt’s inclusion on this list represents one of the most mind-blowing career progressions in Hollywood history. Pratt was an external player in the industry, starting in TV shows alongside the recently troubled Scott Wolf in Everwood.
He was reportedly always overprepared in his countless supporting roles, including Parks & Recreation and the Angelina Jolie-led Wanted, but everything changed when James Gunn saw him as a lead for Guardians of the Galaxy. That role turned him into a leading man, who also went on to tame dinosaurs in the Jurassic universe.
4. Zoe Saldana – $14,254,606,626
Every person who sees the recent Oscar-winning actress on this list is always taken aback. Yes, she has been in a few Marvel movies — notably playing the character who proved Thanos actually cared about someone other than himself — but nobody typically thinks of her as one of the most financially successful actors.
The reason this can be overlooked is that she’s also in James Cameron’s Avatar films in motion capture. The performances are fantastic, but her face not being visible makes these groundbreaking roles easy to forget. Luckily for her, numbers don’t lie.
3. Robert Downey Jr. – $14,346,904,626
If all goes according to plan, and Avengers: Doomsday figures out its script while managing its massive cast without feeling forced, Robert Downey Jr. is destined to end our generation atop this list.
At this point, however, his story of redemption is impressive enough. Battling drug problems in the 2000s made it seem like his talents would ultimately be wasted, but much like his beloved portrayal of Tony Stark, he found a way to change the worst parts of himself and turn into a hero for millions. And he got millions for his efforts, too.
2. Samuel L. Jackson – $14,827,843,117
Samuel L. Jackson is on this list for one simple reason: he works the hardest.
With 66 films, he has made the most movies of anyone on this list. He has been part of the Die Hard franchise, the King Kong franchise, is a trusted Quentin Tarantino collaborator, and of course, he’s Nick Fury in the MCU.
Jackson led this list for the longest time, but his reign at the top has finally ended.
1. Scarlett Johansson – $14,946,161,117
Scarlett Johansson moved from the MCU to the dinosaur universe in Jurassic Park.
Johansson is one of the most famous actors in the world, so it’s no shock that she’s here. What makes her career so interesting is that she has maintained the almost mythical “one for them, one for me” mantra. She makes hits so often that you could be forgiven for forgetting she’s also just as prolific in making Oscar-nominated films.
