Jurassic World Success Pushes Johansson Ahead
Scarlett Johansson has become Hollywood’s highest-grossing lead actor following the global success of Jurassic World: Rebirth. The film earned $318 million globally in its opening week. This pushed Johansson’s total career gross to $14.8 billion, surpassing Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Downey Jr.
The 40-year-old actor now leads the list of box office earners. Jackson previously held the record with $14.6 billion, while Downey Jr. followed with $14.2 billion. Johansson’s total reflects earnings only from roles where she held a lead or ensemble lead position.
Jurassic World Rebirth’s success lands Scarlett Johansson as the highest-grossing Hollywood actor
MCU Roles Drive Record-Breaking Numbers
Much of Johansson’s total earnings come from her work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Seven of her ten top-grossing films are Marvel releases. Avengers: Endgame grossed $2.7 billion globally, while Avengers: Infinity War made $2 billion. The Avengers also brought in $1.5 billion.
In total, Johansson’s Marvel projects generated over $8.7 billion in global revenue. These include Iron Man 2, Captain America: Civil War, and all four Avengers films. Her roles in the two Sing films, where she voiced Ash, also contributed to her earnings. The consistency of Marvel’s box office dominance played a critical role in elevating Johansson’s career earnings over the past decade.
Avengers: Endgame remains Scarlett Johansson’s highest-grossing film
Jurassic World Role Drives Latest Surge
Jurassic World: Rebirth launched globally on July 2. Johansson replaced Chris Pratt in the lead, portraying ex-military operative Zora Bennett. The film follows her mission to a remote dinosaur-inhabited island.
The film recorded the second-largest global opening for 2025, trailing only Ne Zha 2, a Chinese animated film. Johansson’s performance added another blockbuster to her career portfolio. It has already become her 13th highest-grossing title. Analysts expect it to climb higher as international markets continue to report strong weekend numbers.
Ongoing Projects and Future Milestones
Johansson remains active in several major productions. She stars in Paper Tiger, directed by James Gray, alongside Adam Driver and Miles Teller. She also joins Tom Cruise in The Gauntlet, directed by Christopher McQuarrie.
Her third upcoming project is Featherwood, directed by Andrea Arnold. Johansson will portray FBI informant Carol Blevins, who played a critical role in dismantling the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas. Each role marks a strategic expansion of her filmography into new genres and character types beyond superhero franchises.
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MCU Legacy and Potential Future
Despite departing from the MCU after Black Widow in 2021, Johansson’s Marvel legacy continues to impact box office figures. Some industry speculation surrounds the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, set for release in 2026. There is interest in whether multiverse storytelling could facilitate a return for Black Widow.
Johansson has consistently stated her time with the MCU has ended. Downey Jr. may reclaim the lead box office position depending on future MCU projects. Studios have not confirmed casting decisions for future instalments beyond Secret Wars, expected in 2027.
Box Office Rankings Reflect Franchise Dominance
The five highest-grossing actors all have connections to major franchises. Johansson, Jackson, Downey Jr., and Chris Pratt all appeared in Marvel films. Tom Hanks, the only exception, rounds out the top five with no Marvel credits.
Downey Jr.’s nine Marvel films earned approximately $11.8 billion. His Oscar-winning role in Oppenheimer does not contribute to his lead total due to its supporting classification.
Lead Ensemble Definitions Shape Rankings
The Numbers calculates gross totals based on lead or lead ensemble appearances. This scarlett includes animated roles such as Johansson’s in Sing and Jackson’s in Pixar’s Incredibles series. Supporting or cameo roles are excluded from lead rankings.
Johansson’s rise underscores the scarlett continued dominance of major studio franchises in shaping box office outcomes. The enduring popularity of the MCU, along scarlett with new roles like Jurassic World: Rebirth, positions her at the top of Hollywood’s box office hierarchy. Her ability to scarlett transition across genres while maintaining commercial appeal reinforces her influence in the global film industry.
