Scarlett Johansson has officially become Hollywood’s highest-grossing lead actor at the worldwide box office, surpassing former record-holder and fellow Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) veteran Samuel L. Jackson. Johansson’s cumulative global gross now stands at an impressive $14.8 billion, according to box office tracking site The Numbers, edging out Jackson’s $14.6 billion. Notably, Jackson still holds the top spot for domestic box office earnings.
A significant boost to Johansson’s record came from Jurassic World: Rebirth, which earned $318.3 million globally during its opening weekend, including $147.3 million in the U.S. Despite mixed critical reviews, the film’s appeal to a wide audience helped solidify Johansson’s box office dominance alongside co-stars Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali.
Johansson’s journey to this milestone reflects a 30-year career spanning diverse roles. Starting with a small part in Rob Reiner’s 1994 film North, she gradually rose through supporting roles in movies like The Horse Whisperer and The Man Who Wasn’t There, before landing starring roles in critically acclaimed films such as Lost in Translation and Match Point.
Her role as Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow) in the MCU, which she took over in 2010, marked a turning point, establishing Johansson as a leading action star. Her ensemble work in the four Avengers films, which each grossed over $1 billion worldwide, significantly contributed to her overall box office haul. Notably, Infinity War and Endgame each crossed $2 billion globally, with combined MCU films accounting for approximately $10.5 billion of her total earnings.
Other non-Marvel blockbusters boosting her gross include Jon Favreau’s Jungle Book ($951.8 million), the Sing franchise ($631 million and $404 million), and Lucy ($457 million).
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Looking ahead, Johansson is poised to maintain her momentum with upcoming projects like Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme and her directorial debut Eleanor the Great, alongside filming James Gray’s Paper Tiger with Adam Driver and Miles Teller. However, she confirmed she will not return to the MCU for the upcoming mega-productions Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, stating her character’s story is complete and respecting fans’ attachment to Natasha Romanoff’s arc.
Meanwhile, the absence of both Johansson and Jackson from the upcoming MCU films opens a potential opportunity for Robert Downey Jr., currently third in worldwide box office earnings, to reclaim the top spot by December 2026.
