Move over, Scarlett Johansson—there’s a new box office queen in town! Zoe Saldaña has officially snatched the crown as the world’s highest-grossing movie star, thanks to yet another record-shattering performance in James Cameron’s epic Avatar series.

The latest blockbuster, ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’ blasted past $1.23 billion at the global box office as of January 12, catapulting Saldaña’s career total to a jaw-dropping $16.8 billion, per The Numbers.

At 47 years old, Saldaña is not just racking up receipts—she’s making history. With leading roles in 18 smash-hit movies, including Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ the high-octane ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ and the beloved ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,’ the Oscar winner has carved out a place in Hollywood’s record books. In fact, no other actor can boast top billing in the three most lucrative films ever made: ‘Avatar,’ ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ and ‘Avatar: The Way of Water.’

Meanwhile, Johansson, who soared to the top spot last summer after ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ dominated theaters, now finds herself slipping to second place with $16.4 billion in total earnings. Both these powerhouses became household names under the Marvel Cinematic Universe spotlight—Saldaña with her unforgettable turn as Neytiri, and Johansson as the fierce Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff.

And who else is running with this elite pack? Superstars Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt round out the top five highest-grossing actors, all thanks to their roles in the ever-expanding Marvel franchise.

Despite her unmatched streak of box office successes, Saldaña has been candid about the difficulties working within Hollywood’s mega-franchises. In a December 2024 interview with The Independent’s Annabel Nugent—just months before she snagged the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in ‘Emilia Perez’—Saldaña opened up about the bittersweet reality of franchise fame. ‘I never want those incredible directors to feel let down,’ she admitted, reflecting on the balancing act between personal artistry and blockbuster demands. ‘I don’t take these moments for granted—they’re why I’ve reached this point. But when a project that started special evolves into this commercial juggernaut, creative freedom can slip through your fingers… Unless you have true control, your voice as an artist gets lost in the noise.’