Zoe Saldaña shared a grateful message to her Instagram after becoming the highest-grossing actor of all time. She thanked her fans and colleagues for their part in her journey to this position. Saldaña surpassed Scarlett Johansson’s previous record on January 13 after her films netted an impressive total of $15.47 billion.
Saldaña Shares a Message to Social Media
Saldaña took to Instagram to post a reel, thanking directors she’s worked with such as James Cameron, J.J. Abrams and James Gunn.
She gave a special shout out to Cameron, telling him that she appreciates not only his creation of the “Avatar” franchise, but also for “believing in my potential, for seeing something in me that I have not always seen in myself.”
Saldaña added, “your faith, your guidance and your vision shape not only these films, but me as an artist.”
Speaking to her fans directly, Saldaña thanked them for their “unwavering support, passion and loyalty,” which she dubbed the “true foundation” of her accomplishment that “belongs to all of us.”
“None of this exists without you showing up time and time again with open hearts and enthusiasm,” she said. The actress added that she is both “deeply grateful and profoundly humbled” after breaking this record. She concluded her video with the hope that the next actor to surpass her will be a woman.
Saldaña, “Avatar” and Other Ventures
Saldaña’s rise to riches is thanks to her role in the three highest-grossing movies of all time. In the top spot is Cameron’s hit, “Avatar.” In the series, Saldaña plays Neytiri, a member of the tall, blue-skinned Na’vi and one of the franchise’s’ protagonists. She returned for the role in “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” She is set to continue to play Neytiri for the next two “Avatar” sequels.
The science fiction film debuted with critical acclaim and served as a re-imagining of the power of visual effects. “Avatar” made $1 billion in just three weekends. “Avatar: The Way of Water,” holds the number three spot on the list of highest-grossing films.
“Avengers: End Game” holds the title for the second highest-grossing film of all time. In the widely adored franchise, Saldaña plays Gamora, an assassin and adopted daughter of supervillain Thanos. She first appeared on screen as the character in 2014 in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and returned for its two subsequent sequels. The “Avengers” franchise has brought in over $30 billion at the box office as of 2024.
Saldaña also appeared in the 21st century reboot of “Star Trek,” starring as Nyota Uhura. In 2025, she took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Rita in Netflix’s “Emilia Perez.” She also voiced Olga Solis in Pixar’s 2025 release, “Elio.”
Scarlett Johansson Previously Held the Record
Prior to Saldaña taking the title, Scarlett Johansson was the highest-grossing actor of all time, beginning in July 2025. Her films have brought in over $15.40 billion worldwide. Johansson has appeared in both blockbusters like “Jurassic World” and indie hits such as Sofia Coppola’s “Lost in Translation.” Her most profitable role was her run as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She first appeared as the trained assassin in “Iron Man 2” and continued to play the character for over 10 years.
Johansson’s biggest smash at the box office in 2025 was “Jurassic World: Dominion.” She also starred in Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme” and made her directorial debut with “Eleanor the Great.” Johansson is set to appear in Mike Flanagan’s upcoming addition to the “The Exorcist” franchise.
