Hold onto your seats, movie buffs, because the crown for the highest-grossing actress of all time has just changed hands! Scarlett Johansson, long reigning at the top, has been dethroned by none other than Zoe Saldaña, thanks to her powerhouse performances in blockbuster franchises like Avatar and Marvel. But here's where it gets controversial: is Saldaña's success a testament to her star power, or is she simply riding the coattails of these mega-franchises? Let’s dive in.
Published on 14/01/2026 - 9:27 GMT+1, the news broke that Saldaña’s recent role in Avatar: Fire And Ash, the third installment of James Cameron’s epic saga, propelled her to the top spot. According to industry publication The Numbers, Saldaña’s films have now grossed a staggering $15.46 billion worldwide, narrowly surpassing Johansson’s $15.4 billion. But this isn’t just about numbers—it’s about dominance. Saldaña has starred in four of the seven highest-grossing films of all time, including the top three: Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, and Avatar: The Way of Water. At 47, she’s not just a star; she’s a box office titan.
And this is the part most people miss: Avatar: Fire And Ash isn’t just another sequel; it’s a billion-dollar milestone, becoming Cameron’s fourth film to cross that mark after Titanic, Avatar, and Avatar: The Way of Water. As of Tuesday, it’s already raked in $1.23 billion, though whether it’ll surpass the $2 billion mark remains to be seen. If it does, a fourth Avatar film feels inevitable—and Cameron has already hinted at plans for not just one, but two more installments.
But here’s the kicker: in our review of Avatar: Fire And Ash, we called it an “epic but tiresome rehash”. While the film’s technical wizardry is undeniable, its story feels like a reheated mishmash of disjointed plot threads. And this raises a bold question: Are audiences flocking to these films for the storytelling, or are they simply dazzled by the visuals? If it’s the latter, does that diminish Saldaña’s achievement?
Cameron himself seems aware of the stakes. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, he joked that if Avatar: Fire And Ash underperforms, he’d reveal the plots of Avatar 4 and Avatar 5 in a press conference. “I don’t know if the saga goes beyond this point,” he admitted. “But we prove that business case every time we go out.”
So, here’s the real question for you: Does Zoe Saldaña deserve the title of highest-grossing actress, or is her success too tied to the franchises she’s in? And more importantly, what does this shift say about the future of Hollywood’s box office dominance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one debate that’s just getting started!
