Zoe Saldaña Becomes the Highest-Grossing Actor of All Time With “Avatar: Fire and Ash”

Zoe Saldaña has officially made movie history.

Thanks to the massive global success of Avatar: Fire and Ash, Saldaña is now the highest-grossing actor of all time, surpassing every other star in Hollywood. Her films have collectively earned an astonishing $15.47 billion worldwide, according to industry tallies.

A Record-Breaking Filmography

Saldaña holds a distinction no other actor can claim: she has appeared in three of the highest-grossing movies ever made.

Those include:

• Avatar – No. 1 of all time

• Avengers: Endgame – No. 2

• Avatar: The Way of Water – No. 3

She is also the first actress to star in four films that each earned more than $2 billion, with Avengers: Infinity War joining that elite list.

Beyond Avatar and the Marvel Cinematic Universe — where she played Gamora across three Guardians of the Galaxy films — Saldaña also starred as Nyota Uhura in the Star Trek trilogy, which earned over $1 billion worldwide.

From Third Place to No. 1

As of 2024, Saldaña ranked third on the all-time box office list, behind fellow MCU stars Scarlett Johansson and Samuel L. Jackson.

That changed in December, when Avatar: Fire and Ash crossed $1.23 billion globally, pushing Saldaña to the very top.

An Oscar-Winning Year

The box office milestone caps off an extraordinary run for Saldaña. In March 2025, she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Emilia Pérez, becoming the first Dominican American to win an Oscar.

The bold musical, directed by Jacques Audiard, swept awards season, earning Saldaña honors at Cannes, the SAG Awards, BAFTA, Golden Globes, and Critics Choice.

“It feels really good,” Saldaña said recently, laughing about suddenly being introduced everywhere as an “Academy Award winner.” Despite the accolades, she added, “I’m honored, I’m very happy — and I’m ready to keep working.”

Returning as Neytiri

In Avatar: Fire and Ash, Saldaña reprises her role as fierce Na’vi warrior Neytiri, opposite Sam Worthington as Jake Sully. The films rely heavily on advanced performance-capture technology developed by filmmaker James Cameron, allowing actors to focus fully on emotion and connection.

“Performance capture gives you the gift of putting all your heart and energy into the moment,” Saldaña explained.

And She’s Not Done Yet

Saldaña is expected to return for Avatar 4 and Avatar 5, meaning her box office reign may only grow stronger.

With record-breaking numbers, critical acclaim, and a growing legacy, Zoe Saldaña isn’t just part of film history — she’s rewriting it.