The Top Box Office Titans: Who Reigns Supreme in Hollywood?
It’s no secret that movie stars rake in huge sums of money, but which actor truly dominates the box office?
According to a June 2024 report from Statista, Samuel L. Jackson stands as Hollywood’s highest-grossing actor, boasting an astounding $5.85 billion in box office earnings. While this might come as a surprise at first, a closer look reveals his success is tied to his involvement in some of the biggest franchises in film history, including Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Additionally, Jackson frequently appears in Quentin Tarantino’s blockbuster hits, action-packed films like Snakes on a Plane, and lends his voice to beloved animated movies like Pixar’s Incredibles. With such a diverse and successful portfolio, it’s no wonder Jackson sits at the top.
Trailing behind Jackson are some of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. Robert Downey Jr., who recently retired from the MCU but is set to return as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, secures the second spot. Thanks to his starring roles in the Jurassic World series and the MCU, Chris Pratt rounds out the top three. Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, and Zoe Saldaña also rank highly on the list—Johansson and Saldaña for their work in the MCU, with Saldaña also starring in the Avatar franchise, and Hanks for his enduring appeal as a box office draw. However, it’s Jackson who holds the distinction of being Hollywood’s top-grossing actor.
Who Was the Highest Paid Actor from 2023 to 2024?
While Samuel L. Jackson may top the box office earnings list, being the highest-grossing actor doesn’t necessarily mean being the highest-paid. According to TechReport, the title of highest-paid actor between 2023 and 2024 belongs to Adam Sandler.
Sandler’s massive payday is largely thanks to his lucrative production deal with Netflix, which has resulted in a series of successful projects. In 2023 alone, Sandler worked on several Netflix originals, including Murder Mystery 2, The Out-Laws, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah—which featured his real-life daughters Sadie and Sunny Sandler as well as his wife Jackie—and Leo. Additionally, Sandler starred in Spaceman and is set to appear in the upcoming comedy Kinda Pregnant. For these projects, Sandler earned an impressive $73 million, proving that his unique brand of comedy continues to pay off handsomely.
2024: A Banner Year for a New Box Office Star
As for 2024, a different star has dominated the box office: Glen Powell. According to The Numbers, Powell’s breakout year has cemented his status as a leading man in Hollywood. His romantic comedy Anyone But You, co-starring Sydney Sweeney, slowly gained traction after its late 2023 release, ultimately becoming a sleeper hit at the box office.
Powell’s biggest success this year, however, is undoubtedly Twisters, the standalone sequel to the 1996 classic Twister. Starring as a storm chaser alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones and Anthony Ramos, Powell helped propel the film past the $300 million mark. The movie’s success has been so significant that it will re-release in immersive 4DX theaters later this month. Powell may still have a way to go before reaching Samuel L. Jackson’s level, but 2024 has undoubtedly been a career-defining year for him.
