Hollywood Heavyweights, Hidden Stars: Actors With The Most Billion Dollar Movies, Ranked
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Highlights
- Tom Holland and Chris Evans are among the actors with the most billion-dollar movies, each starring in five.
- Robert Downey Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, and Andy Serkis also have impressive track records, each featuring in six or more billion-dollar movies.
- Samuel L. Jackson holds the record for the most billion-dollar movies at nine, while also being the highest-grossing actor in Hollywood with $27.7 billion in total box office earnings to date.
Until fairly recently in the film industry, the concept of a "billion dollar movie" sounded like a far-fetched dream — then James Cameron's Titanic broke the ice, so to speak.
Not only did this movie shatter the $1 billion mark, it also reached a once thought to be impossible $2 billion gross.
Titanic took 74 days to become a billion-dollar movie, and another 5,233 days to reach its astonishing $2 billion box office gross milestone.
It opened the gate for billion-dollar movies.
A trend that started as recently as 1997 has since become something of a norm, with 53 billion dollar movies at the box office to date.
After Titanic, it typically took months for films to earn the title of "billion dollar movie" — now, they are hitting that landmark in days.
The fastest release to become a billion dollar movie was Avengers: Endgame, which surpassed a billion gross in an astonishing five days … yes, in less than a week.
Many billion dollar movies have come and gone since Titanic, which brings us to another question: which actor has the most billion-dollar movies under their belt?
Today, we're looking for the answer to that question, exploring which actors have truly conquered the box office, and tallying how many of their projects saw a billion dollar (or higher) return at the box office.
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Counting Tom Holland's Billion Dollar Movies: 5
At the age of just 27, Tom Holland has emerged as the youngest sensation among actors with the most billion dollar movies, web-slinging his way into this circle of Hollywood’s elite.
Spider-Man's newest "Peter Parker" launched his career with The Impossible – and was nominated right away for myriad accolades, winning several "Best Newcomer" awards.
Upon seeing his on-screen talent, many anticipated that Holland was destined to be Hollywood's next big thing:
| Year | Billion Dollar Movie | Total Box Office Haul |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | $1.15 Billion |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | $2.05 Billion |
| 2019 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | $1.13 Billion |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | $2.8 Billion |
| 2021 | Spider-Man: No Way Home | $1.92 Billion |
His portrayal as the legendary Peter Parker in Captain America: Civil War in 2016 sped up his pace to massive stardom, and cemented him as the newest superstar in the veritable constellation of Marvel stars.
Holland's affiliation with Walt Disney and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) further solidified his status, paving the way for him to star in a string of billion-dollar grossing blockbusters.
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Counting Chris Evans' Billion Dollar Movies: 5
Before Captain America, Chris Evans starred as another superhero in Marvel's Fantastic Four, portraying Johnny Storm (also known as the Human Torch).
At that time, no one suspected that Chris Evans would go on to become Captain America, the first Avenger in the Avengers series; Marvel is the largest franchise in terms of revenue.
Evans, who has appeared in many prominent roles in several movies, is now best known for his portrayal of Captain America, the superhero in a flag-colored suit.
| Year | Billion Dollar Movie | Total Box Office Haul |
| 2012 | The Avengers | $1.52 Billion |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age Of Ultron | $1.54 Billion |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | $1.15 Billion |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | $2.05 Billion |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | $2.8 Billion |
Voted People's Sexiest Man Alive in 2022, Evans has grossed over $11.2 billion with his movies.
He is currently the tenth highest-grossing actor in the world.
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Counting Warwick Davis’ Billion Dollar Movies: 6
Prolific British actor Warwick Davis, 54, started his career with Star Wars: Episode VI Return Of The Jedi, when he was just 13.
In both the old and new Star Wars films and series, he has performed many unforgettable roles, like Wicket W. Warrick, Weeteef Cyubee, Grettir, Wald Wollivan, and others.
Moviegoers who haven't seen Star Wars likely know him best as the Harry Potter characters Filius Flitwick, Griphook, and a goblin bank teller.
| Year | Billion Dollar Movie | Total Box Office Haul |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | $1.02 Billion |
| 2011 | Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 | $1.35 Billion |
| 2015 | Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens | $2.07 Billion |
| 2016 | Rogue One | $1.05 Billion |
| 2017 | Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi | $1.33 Billion |
| 2019 | Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise Of Skywalker | $1.07 Billion |
Warwick Davis stands as one of the most recognizable supporting actors in both the Star Wars and Harry Potter franchises, which are among the most profitable franchises in the history of film.
Davis has appeared in an impressive 92 film projects, and tallied together, his movies have grossed over $14 billion at the box office.
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Counting Robert Downey, Jr.'s Billion Dollar Movies: 6
In 1983, a then 17-year-old Robert Downey, Jr. started his career with a small role in Baby It's You.
Four decades later (41 years, to be exact), this former teen actor is one of the highest-grossing, most prominent, and most acclaimed actors in the world:
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From promising star to Hollywood outcast, Robert Downey Jr. fought back against addiction and legal troubles, reclaiming his place as a top actor.Downey Jr., very well known to Marvel fans as Tony Stark or Iron Man, or also as Sherlock Holmes, has six billion-dollar projects on his resume.
| Year | Billion Dollar Movie | Total Box Office Haul |
| 2012 | The Avengers | $1.52 Billion |
| 2013 | Iron Man Three | $1.21 Billion |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age Of Ultron | $1.54 Billion |
| 2016 | Captain America: Civil War | $1.15 Billion |
| 2018 | Avengers: Infinity War | $2.05 Billion |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | $2.8 Billion |
Downey, Jr. currently holds the title of being the third highest-grossing leading actor in the film industry.
When combined, all of his movies have earned $14.8 billion dollars.
RDJ is in a specific echelon, a $14 billion club (with co-stars Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson), with the ranking between them fluctuating often, depending on their respective film projects.
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Counting Andy Serkis’ Billion Dollar Movies: 7
As is often the case on this list, Andy Serkis has performed in several blockbuster franchises in this era in Hollywood.
Among his franchise roles are the legendary, cunning, and greedy Gollum in the Lord Of The Rings franchise, Kong in King Kong, and Caesar in Planet Of The Apes.
Serkis also portrayed Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars, and Ulysses Klaue in Black Panther and Avengers.
| Year | Billion Dollar Movie | Total Box Office Haul |
| 2003 | The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King | $1.18 Billion |
| 2012 | The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey | $1.01 Billion |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age Of Ultron | $1.54 Billion |
| 2015 | Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens | $2.07 Billion |
| 2017 | Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi | $1.33 Billion |
| 2018 | Black Panther | $1.34 Billion |
| 2019 | Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise Of Skywalker (Voice) | $1.07 Billion |
Andy Serkis is particularly notable for being seen as one of the greatest motion capture actors in the world, a trait that sets him apart.
Motion capture (or performance capture acting) is a "specialty" type of acting required for animation, wherein human actors wear markers or sensors to bring animated characters to life on screen.
Also an Emmy winner, Serkis has appeared in 115 movies, produced ten, and directed six.
Collectively, Serkis' films have raked in $15.2 billion.
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Samuel L. Jackson is the highest-grossing leading actor in Hollywood, with over 120 movies that have grossed $27 billion at the box office.1 Samuel L. Jackson
Counting Samuel L. Jackson’s Billion Dollar Movies: 9
Actor and Hollywood legend Samuel L. Jackson (the "L" stands for "Leroy") is the king of the elite "Billion Dollar Movie" club.
An Honorary Academy Award winner, Jackson has starred in many "cult classic" movies, like Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, Jurassic Park, Goodfellas, and The Long Kiss Goodnight.
But his billion-dollar projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are the reason Jackson is now at the top of the billion dollar charts – although the fact he is also a frequent presence in the Star Wars and Jurassic Park franchises hasn't hurt, either.
| Year | Billion Dollar Movie | Total Box Office Haul |
| 1993 | Jurassic Park | $1.11 Billion |
| 1999 | Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace | $1.02 Billion |
| 2012 | The Avengers | $1.52 Billion |
| 2015 | Avengers: Age Of Ultron | $1.54 Billion |
| 2018 | Incredibles 2 (Voice) | $1.24 Billion |
| 2019 | Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise Of Skywalker (Voice) | $1.07 Billion |
| 2019 | Spider-Man: Far From Home | $1.13 Billion |
| 2019 | Captain Marvel | $1.13 Billion |
| 2019 | Avengers: Endgame | $2.8 Billion |
A Cannes Film Award winner in the category of "Best Actor," Samuel L. Jackson has starred in nine billion dollar movies in his career to date.
Jackson has starred in a whopping 214 films, all of which collectively grossed $27.7 billion, the largest gross of any actor.
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